A Whole Lot of Seismic News Going On

The 100th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake has dovetailed rather uncomfortably with a lot of news coming out of the U.S.G.S. this week.

First up is this news of volcano-like termors being detected near the San Andreas fault:

Tremors within the Earth are usually–but not always–related to the activity of a volcano. Now, such vibrations have been recorded nowhere near a volcano, but at a geologic observatory at the San Andreas Fault. Scientists believe the fault tremors may be related to activity at a subduction zone–a place where one of Earth’s constantly moving tectonic plates slips beneath another.

The rumblings are the first recordings of non-volcanic tremors in a deep borehole, providing scientists with data to better understand such mysterious underground movements.

And once again proving that seismology is a constantly evolving science, a panel of geologists presented a paper this week that should have folks up in Fort Bragg and Mendocino biting their fingernails to the quick:

Scientists tracing fresh evidence from ancient dead-end streambeds along the far northern reaches of the San Andreas fault system have discovered at least three active seismic faults that were previously unknown.

The three newfound faults are all located between Fort Bragg and Westport in Mendocino County, and a trace of one runs directly beneath the Pacific Star Winery, whose 40 acres of vineyards lie along Highway 1, overlooking the Pacific Ocean some 12.5 miles east of the San Andreas Fault. That fault lies beneath the seabed in that region, leaving the land at Point Arena to the south and rejoining it near Shelter Cove to the north.

And then there’s this bizarre move from Governor Schwarzenegger:

The firing and rehiring of a leading seismologist from a state earthquake safety commission sparked a controversy in California this week.

Members of the California Seismic Safety Commission were meeting in San Francisco when the governor’s office called to tell Dr. Lucille Jones, who has been critical of the governor’s plans to revamp the commission, that Schwarzenegger no longer needed her advice on earthquake preparedness.

“Effective immediately, I was off the commission and I was not given a reason,” Jones said.

About two hours later, the governor’s office called back to say that Jones was reinstated. A spokesman said her firing was a misunderstanding, according to NBC4’s Conan Nolan.

The commission is an independent body of experts that advises the State Assembly and the governor on the best methods to prevent major damage or loss of life because of an earthquake.

Schwarzenegger has said he plans to make the commission part of a state agency in order to streamline the state’s earthquake preparations.

“We want to actually give it more power,” Schwarzenegger said. “Right now it’s floating out there by itself and really not accomplishing as much as we would expect.”

Lucy Jones took the center stage as the official Cal Tech/USGS spokesperson a few years ago after the Powers That Be grew weary of the pragmatic Dr. Kate Hutton.

Kate was cool. Kate didn’t mince words, always using the latest ground rumblings to remind the public that another great quake in the Golden State is not a matter of if, but when.

Jones, on the other hand, projects a more warm and motherly “There ain’t nuthin’ to worry about, earthquakes are normal” persona that somatizes California residents into a state of ignorant bliss.

It would’ve been nice to see a pragmatist like Hutton back in the driver’s seat

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Published:
4.20.06 / 11am
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L.A. Stories, Politics
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