Earthquakes

Citation

(2007), "Earthquakes", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 16 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2007.07316dag.001

Earthquakes

Below are new or updated internet resources that the Natural Hazards Center staff have found informative and useful. For a more complete list, visit www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/sites.html

Earthquakes

EQNet www.eqnet.org

EQNet is a collaborative effort of many of the institutions providing earthquake information in the US It is a free, one-stop source for locating Internet information related to earthquake hazards mitigation.

US Geological Survey http://earthquake.usgs.gov

The US Geological Survey provides much earthquake information via dozens of different Internet avenues (a few of which are listed below). The amount of information is daunting, and, in the past that abundance, along with the multiplicity of USGS sites offering information, has sometimes made it difficult to locate and sort out the information. To remedy that problem, the Survey has launched this Earthquake Hazards Program site - “Earthquake Hazards on the Web” - as an entry point for all USGS earthquake information. It provides information for both global and regional earthquakes and includes sections on earthquake activity past, present, and future; earthquake education for children, grownups, and teachers; earthquake products such as maps, publications, fact sheets, videos, etc.; earthquake research; the USGS Regional Centers and regional Web sites; seismic networks; and frequently asked questions about quakes.

Survey’s “Theme Page” www.usgs.gov/themes/earthqk.html

The Survey’s “Theme Page” on earthquakes provides information about the many USGS programs and products dealing with seismic hazards as well as a “Hazard-Related Fact Sheet” on earthquakes. See < a href="http://quake.wr.usgs.gov">http://quake.wr.usgs.gov and http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov. The USGS Regional Centers each offer Web pages on seismic hazards. The Western and Central Regions at the URLs above are good examples. The Western Region Earthquake Hazards Information home page is an excellent place to begin any search for seismic information. It includes pages on the latest seismic events, earthquake hazard preparedness, and all other aspects of earthquakes. It also has an entire section devoted to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and an extensive annotated list of other Web quake sites.

USGS National Earthquake Information Center www.neic.cr.usgs.gov

The US Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center Web site comprises pages and pages, maps and maps of seismicity information from around the world. It offers general information about the center and its services, current quake information, general quake information, and access to other earthquake information sources. In addition, users can now search the National Earthquake Information Services historical database to identify historical seismic events (2100 BC to the present) for any location, using several user-defined parameters. It also provides a means for users to report a quake, and the “Products and Services” section offers several different earthquake e-mail notification services, several USGS publications on quakes, and numerous NEIC maps portraying local, national, and global seismicity.

Earthquake Science Explained http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2006/21/

Earthquake Science Explained is a series of ten short articles for students, teachers, and parents that were originally published as weekly features in the San Francisco Chronicle. The US Geological Survey created the series to present new understandings gained and scientific advances made in the century since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

The Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center http://peer.berkeley.edu

The Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center brings together the premier earthquake engineering research universities in the western US with a common objective of developing technologies and strategies to reduce the human and economic risks due to major earthquakes. Center researchers have expertise in diverse areas including earthquake hazards, analysis, design, risk and reliability, and economics and policy planning. The center was established with primary funding from the National Science Foundation and matching funds from the participating states and industry partners. The PEER Web site includes sections describing PEER, its various research programs and studies, PEER’s extensive education programs, its “Business & Industry Partners” program, the PEER newsletter, and a link to the NISEE Web site described below, which provides information services for PEER.

National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering (NISEE) http://nisee.berkeley.edu/

The Earthquake Engineering Research Center (EERC)/National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering (NISEE) Web site includes links to all EERC/NISEE databases searchable on the web: Earthquake Engineering Abstracts; Engineering Reports; computer software for earthquake engineering; protective systems; training resources (demo database). The site also offers numerous papers, reports, and visual images of recent major events and historical quakes of the twentieth century.

National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering (NISEE) http://mceer.buffalo.edu/http://mceer.buffalo.edu/infoService/default.asp

The National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering (NISEE) (formerly the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research) Home Page offers a wide variety of resources, as well as links to other Internet information on earthquake engineering and natural hazards mitigation. The main menu features an interactive connection to MCEER’s Quakeline database, background information on MCEER, a list of MCEER technical reports with ordering information, a comprehensive list of upcoming conferences, and access to many of the other information resources produced by the center. In 1998 MCEER began offering “Express News” (Enews)

MCEER Web site. ENews http://mceer.buffalo.edu/infoService/enews/default.asp) via the MCEER Web site. ENews is a customized electronic service that, based on a reader’s self-defined interest profile, alerts readers via e-mail to the publication of selected earthquake/hazards information in the most recent issue of MCEER Information Service News

Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center http://mae.ce.uiuc.edu

The Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center is a multidisciplinary center of expertise whose aim is to reduce losses in future earthquakes that may strike the central and eastern United States. It supports coordinated research programs on essential facilities and transportation networks in order to acquire the data needed to determine possible earthquake hazards and to develop improved strategies for seismic retrofit of constructed facilities. Center research is directed at developing effective and economical mitigation measures considering the unique physical, technical, social, and economic features of the earthquake problem in mid-America. Center programs in education, outreach, and implementation provide the necessary links to extend research results to the public and professional communities.

With PEER and MCEER (described above), the MAE Center is one of three national earthquake engineering research centers established by the National Science Foundation and its partner institutions. The MAE Center consists of a consortium of seven core institutions, and is funded by NSF and each core university as well as through joint collaborative projects with industry and other organizations. Center projects fall under four general types:

1. 1.

   research

2. 2.

   implementation of research results;

3. 3.

   education; and

4. 4.

   outreach.

The center’s web site offers more information about the organization, its goals and intended products, each of its core programs – coordinated research, essential facilities, transportation networks, hazards evaluation, outreach, and education – as well as recent news from the center.

National Science Foundation-sponsored Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) www.erc-assoc.org

This is the common Web site of the three National Science Foundation-sponsored Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) listed immediately above – the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER), the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center, and the Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center. This group of interdisciplinary centers, located at universities across the United States, promotes the pursuit by academia and industry of cutting-edge research in complex system engineering. ERCs also promote the dissemination of earthquake hazard mitigation information, and engineering education, including the education of both graduate and undergraduate students. The ERC web site is intended as an information clearinghouse for use by the ERCs, their faculty, students, and any other persons interested in the work of the centers. Among its components are a Best Practices Manual, an Annual Meeting Summary, links to individual center sites, an ERC students’ page, a listing of ERC education programs, a special topics section, a site map, and a site search mechanism.

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) www.eeri.org

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is a national, non-profit, technical society of engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners, public officials, and social scientists – including researchers, practicing professionals, educators, government officials, and building code regulators – all of whom are concerned about mitigating earthquake hazards. The EERI web site provides an introduction to the institute; a list of upcoming EERI meetings and other events; descriptions of EERI services; a catalog of publications, slides, and videos available from the institute; and other information and news about earthquake hazard mitigation. Additionally, EERI now has several full-text earthquake reconnaissance reports on-line, as well as other information about current events. EERI has established an e-mail listserve to apprise members and other persons interested in earthquake hazard mitigation of special EERI announcements. To subscribe send an e-mail to subscribe@eeri.org and in the body of the message write, “subscribe eeri-announce.” Persons can also subscribe through the EERI web site listed above.

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute www.eeri.org/lfe/clearinghouse/

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute offers this online virtual clearinghouse to facilitate information dissemination after major earthquakes. The clearinghouse is meant to be a centralized location for researchers of all disciplines to exchange event- particular data. It is a place to store data obtained directly after an earthquake as well as longer-term projects, such as presentations and papers on lessons learned.

Guidelines for Developing an Earthquake Scenario http://mitigation.eeri.org/files/Developing.a.Scenario.pdf

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Guidelines for Developing an Earthquake Scenario describes how to create an earthquake scenario in any community with seismic risk to increase public awareness and stimulate mitigation planning.

Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) www.scec.org

The Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) is a Science and Technology Science Foundation that brings scientists together for joint research to reduce vulnerability to earthquake hazards in Southern California. The formal mission of the center is to promote earthquake hazard reduction by estimating when and where future damaging earthquakes will occur, calculating the expected ground motion, and disseminating that information to the public. The SCEC Home Page contains background information about the center, links to its many member academic institutions. It includes sections on the center’s research programs (with links to databases, publications, and other information); communication, education, and outreach (including maps and other products and publications); and access to SCEC InstaNET News, the center’s web and e-mail news service. Abundant seismic data of the region is also available from the SCEC Seismic Data Center.

University of California, Los Angeles www.sscnet.ucla.edu/issr/da/earthquake/erthqkstudies2.index.htm

This site provides survey data collected as part of research at the University of California, Los Angeles, on earthquake-related behaviour. Data sets, questionnaires, an earthquake bibliography, and links to other resources are available.

Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) www.cusec.org/

The Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) Home Page provides an overview of the agency and the state agencies and geologists participating in the consortium. It includes a list of events and programs, describes CUSEC products and services, and provides a catalog of publications (including all Federal Emergency Management Agency publications related to the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program). It also provides background information about the New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake hazard, safety information, useful Internet links, and an on-line version of the consortium’s CUSEC Journal.

GeoHazards International RADIUS Project www.geohaz.org/ www.geohaz.org/radius/RADIUSIntro.htm

One of the major initiatives of the United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction addressed the issue of reducing seismic risk in large cities of the developing world. The RADIUS (Risk Assessment Tools for Diagnosis of Urban Areas Against Seismic Disaster) Project has resulted in much helpful information and some useful tools for evaluating urban earthquake hazards and planning for their mitigation. GeoHazards International, a consulting firm centrally involved in RADIUS, has provided extensive information about the project via its Web site. Included are a description and outline of the project, case studies from around the world, guidelines for developing local RADIUS-type risk management projects, a description of a “Tool for Earthquake Damage Estimation” developed for RADIUS and available on CD, a comparative study of the RADIUS initiative around the world, and a project evaluation. The GeoHazards site itself provides information about subsequent international seismic hazard mitigation efforts, such as the Global Earthquake Safety Initiative.

Seismosurfing” www.geophys.washington.edu/seismosurfing.html

“Seismosurfing” is an index of known Internet connections where seismic data or seismic research information are available. It also offers instructions for persons without access to the World Wide Web about obtaining seismic data.

Seattle Fault Earthquake Scenario http://seattlescenario.eeri.org/

The Seattle Fault Earthquake Scenario, a collaboration between the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the Washington Emergency Management Division, drew upon the knowledge and advice of many of the region’s experts in the fields of earth and life sciences, earthquake engineering, planning, and emergency management. The multidisciplinary team developed a broad, unbiased look at the vulnerability of the Puget Sound region and Washington State to one of their top earthquake threats – the Seattle Fault. Scenario documents and presentations are available here.

Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/bayarea.htm

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) maintains a state-of-the-art Web site that includes a series of colorful maps depicting potential earthquake effects in the Bay Area. A person can choose not only a specific locale in the area, but also a specific magnitude and earthquake source (i.e. a specific fault) and then view the consequences of the given scenario. The site includes additional information about the maps, about earthquake hazards in Northern California, and about seismic hazard mitigation generally.

Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) www.wsspc.org

The Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) Web Site describes the council, its mission, and its work. It includes a catalog of member states’ earthquake preparedness and mitigation products, a membership database, WSSPC annual meeting abstracts, information about that conference, a calendar of related events, a “Public Policy Center,” a “Tsunami Center,” information about recent quakes, and copious links to other World Wide Web resources. WSSPC also offers a useful e-mail news service; information can be obtained by e-mailing wsspc@wsspc.org.

UK Seismometers www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/

This web site houses online information from a network of seismometers throughout Britain monitors seismic activity and provides the database for research and seismic hazard assessment – the prediction of ground motion parameters at the sites of vulnerable or high-consequence structures such as dams and nuclear power stations. Rapid information on significant earthquakes is provided 24 hours per day to a consortium of industrial and government departments.

International Seismological Centre (ISC) www.isc.ac.uk

The International Seismological Centre (ISC) in the U.K. is a nongovernmental organization charged with the final collection, analysis, and publication of standard earthquake information from all over the world. The centre prepares a definitive global seismicity Bulletin that includes event locations and magnitudes and has created this new web site to publish its information even more broadly. The site contains information about the ISC, including contents and analyses from the Bulletin, as well as searches of recent issues of that periodical. Indeed, some data sets are now searchable on-line.

“Soil Liquefaction” www.ce.washington.edu/ ∼ liquefaction/html/main.html

The “Soil Liquefaction” Web site was developed to provide general information for interested lay persons, and more detailed information for engineers and other professionals, on this seismic phenomenon. Visitors who are not familiar with soil liquefaction can find answers to such typical questions as: What is soil liquefaction? When has soil liquefaction occurred in the past? Where and why does soil liquefaction commonly occur? How can soil liquefaction hazards be reduced? For each question, more detailed information is provided separately for earthquake and engineering professionals. The site is well illustrated with photographs and animated graphics and includes links to much additional information on liquefaction and earthquakes in general.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Preparedness, Training, and Exercises Directorate www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/

Via the internet, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Preparedness, Training, and Exercises Directorate provides “fact sheets” – including preparedness tips – concerning most natural and technological hazards.

1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance http://1906centennial.org/

The 1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance was formed to commemorate the legendary quake. The alliance unites policy makers, scientists, engineers, historians, teachers, and emergency responders in an exploration of lessons learned and risk reduction measures. More information about the alliance, the participants, and planned activities is available at this site.

Amateur Seismic Centre (ASC) www.asc-india.org/

The Amateur Seismic Centre (ASC) is an independent Web site that was created to provide users in India and overseas with information about earthquakes on the subcontinent.

World Seismic Safety Initiative (WSSI) www.wssi.org/

The World Seismic Safety Initiative (WSSI) is an undertaking of the International Association for Earthquake Engineering. WSSI is a non-profit, non-governmental venture designed to promote the spirit and goals of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction and to act as a catalyst in helping nations improve their earthquake risk management strategies.

National Science Foundation www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/nees/

This special report from the National Science Foundation introduces the George E. Brown, Jr Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation NEES), which was created to give researchers tools to learn how earthquakes and tsunami impact the buildings, bridges, utility systems, and other critical components of today’s society.

Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREE) www.curee.org/CV/

The Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREE) has posted its membership database on its web site. CUREE has 320 professor members in addition to its 28 member universities. The database can be searched based on specialty area and provides curriculum vitae and other information.

US Geological survey http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/step/

The US Geological Survey has launched this public Web page that shows the probability of earthquake shaking in the next 24 hours in California. These maps graphically illustrate the change in earthquake probability during aftershock and possible foreshock sequences. They are not intended to be used to predict an upcoming earthquake; however, based on previous earthquake sequences, an increase in probability will be seen before about half of California’s larger earthquakes. The maps are updated at least once an hour.

Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado at Boulder www.colorado.edu/hazards/

482 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0482, USA. Contact: hazctr@colorado.edu (303) 492-6818

(Abstracted from the Natural Hazards Observer, Volume XXXI Number 3, January 2007).