Transcript pptx

Delivering earthquake warnings
to the U.S. west coast
Earthquake early warning summit
April 4-5, 2011, UC Berkeley
Why we are here…
The U.S. west coast is a
tectonic plate boundary
Therefore we must be ready
for big earthquakes
North-south
divide in the
character of the
earthquakes
Why we are here…
The U.S. west coast is a
tectonic plate boundary
Therefore we must be ready
for big earthquakes
To the north: subduction zone
 A magnitude 9 earthquake similar
to the one that just occurred in
Japan is possible
Why we are here…
To the south: San Andreas Fault
Network of onshore and offshore
faults, including the Hayward Fault
Expect an earthquake similar to
1995 Kobe earthquake: 6000
fatalities, $100 billion losses
March 11, 2011: The warning
For a user in Tokyo
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYctjv7ouBc
Download mp4: http://seismo.berkeley.edu/~rallen/research/WarningsInJapan/HomeComputerWarningThenShaking_wExplanation.mp4
Yesterday
University and
government
scientists from:
• Caltech
• Central Washington
University
• Stanford
• Southern California
Earthquake Center
• UC Berkeley
• UC San Diego
• University of
Washington
• U.S. Geological
Survey
Yesterday
University and
government
scientists from:
• Caltech
• Central Washington
University
• Stanford
• Southern California
Earthquake Center
Summit resolution
Warnings can be provided before earthquake shaking
Warnings complement good buildings and planning
In the recent M9 earthquake in Japan a warning was
successfully issued in the region of strongest shaking
• UC Berkeley
• UC San Diego
• University of
Washington
• U.S. Geological
Survey
Areas for improvement of the Japanese system have been
identified
Testing of a warning system in the US has been ongoing.
Now it the time for broader engagement of users.
Sustained and enhanced funding is needed to make
warnings a reality
Introductions
Today
The March 11, M9 Tohoku earthquake: What happened
Hiroo Kanamori (Caltech)
The current status of early warning in the U.S.
Tom Heaton (Caltech)
Applications of early warning in the U.S. and what is
needed to deliver them
Richard Allen (UC Berkeley)
Open discussion
End of
webcasting