USGS nearly doubles California's odds of massive, 8.0 earthquake
The chances that California will be rocked by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake or greater in the next 30 years was just bumped up to 7 percent, from 4.7 percent, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Tuesday. That would be really bad news, especially if the Big One hit near a population center — an 8.0 earthquake would produce 89 times the energy of a magnitude 6.7 Northridge temblor that shook Los Angeles in 1994, and similarly more powerful than the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta that rattled the Bay Area in 1989.
The reason for the boosted odds is that the USGS used to think "faults were separate and isolated," USGS seismologist Ned Field tells the Los Angeles Times, but it has become increasingly clear that California has a "vast interconnected fault system," and that a quake on one fault can jump to another. A 7.2 earthquake that hit Baja California in 2010 probably jiggled at least six faults, putting Southern California at greater risk.
The USGS isn't predicting when the Big One will hit, just that it's more likely to than previously thought. "The message to the average citizen hasn't changed," said Field, the lead author of the USGS's new report. "You live in earthquake country, and you should live every day like it's the day a Big One could hit." So why focus on the next 30 years? The LA Times explains: "It's the typical term a homeowner is paying off the mortgage on a house." Now you know.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'The disconnect between actual health care and the insurance model is widening'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Cautious optimism surrounds plans for the world's first nuclear fusion power plant
Talking Point Some in the industry feel that the plant will face many challenges
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Explore new worlds this winter at these 6 enlightening museum exhibitions
The Week Recommends Discover the estrados of Spain and the connection between art and chess in various African countries
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published