Politics & Government

The 'Big One' In SoCal Would Not Compare With Japan's Quake, Professor Says

UCR professor says California would most likely experience a maximum quake of magnitude-8.

It’s nearly impossible for an earthquake on the scale of the 8.9-magnitude one that struck Japan to hit the Coachella Valley, according to a UC Riverside earth sciences professor.

Professor David Oglesby, an expert in quake physics, said the 8.9-magnitude quake that struck Japan was normal for that region.

“What happens is the quake begins in the hypo center, a tear in the earth that allows the fault to slip,'' the professor said.

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“This is a very large fault area. It takes time for the seismic waves ... to hit the surface of the earth and bounce around in canyons and basins. Even after the fault line is done slipping, the ground is still shaking. It's a reverberation.''

According to the professor, the quake's intensity had a lot to do with its duration, which may have been about five minutes.  

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California’s major fault lines do not have the dimensions of faults running beneath Japan.

“Our faults don't go as deeply. They're long, but they don't go down as far,'' the professor said. “We could not produce a quake as big as the one in Japan. I think a magnitude-8, plus or minus point-one, would be the biggest we'd see.''

He said he hoped Japan’s catastrophic quake would awaken Southern Californians to the need for preparedness.

“People need to be aware that services will be cut, fresh water will run out, communications and electricity will go out,'' Oglesby said.

“There will be fires and freeways destroyed. These are things you can't hope to prevent,'' he said. “You need to have enough water, food, medicine and spare clothes available in easy-to-reach locations. Secure loose objects. Don't put a giant picture frame above your bed. Use common sense.''

Palm Desert and Coachella Valley residents have already aid to earthquake victims, according to the American Red Cross.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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