I am a earthquake seismologist. AMA. 5th anniversary of Louisa Quake

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How close is LA to having the big one?

I don't know. I can not predict earthquakes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where would be the worst area to live in LA for the quake? The valley? Also where would a tsunami be worse Vancouver or Seattle?

The worst areas to live would be on sediments. It is much safer to live on hard rock. However, hard rock is in the hills which is much more expensive.

Both Vancouver and Seattle are on the Puget sound. The entry into the Puget Sound is the Juan De Fuca Straight, which will limit the volume of water entering the Puget Sound. As such, Seattle and Vancouver are not really at risk. Now, the coastal areas, on the Pacific, is another story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your office talking non stop about the earthquake in Italy today??

I am not going to the office, as I have a medical test today. My guess, though is no. We will focus on what pays our bills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the first I knew that the earthquake had the name "Louisa." Who gave it that name and are all earthquakes given names? Are they all female, or do they now alternate between male in female names like hurricanes.

Earthquakes are named for the source location. Tohuku was the 2011 Japan earthquake. Sumatra-andaman Islands was the 2004 Boxing day earthquake.

Louisa is the county where the 2011 VA earthquake was centered. The naming is informal, and can change depending on the context. For example, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake is called that because of where it happened. But when talking to the public, most people now refer to it as the World Series Earthquake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in what is now Serbia, but we had lots of Earthquakes all over former eastern parts of Yugoslavia. Why were there so many earthquakes there in the 1970s and even 80s and now there are hardly any? I didn't think it was near tectonic plates. We would have like "sliding" effect if you were sitting on a couch and earthquake happened.

Are there mountains in Serbia (I believe the answer is yes). Mountains that are growing means something is pushing the crust. That deformation, which forms the mountains, also is the driving force for earthquakes.

[Anonymous]

Have you ever experienced an earthquake yourself?

I was in Tbilisi, Georgia a few years ago and wow! It was really something!! It began between once step and the next. Instead of walking out in to the hallway (where the ceiling fell in big chunks), I'd gone to check my hair in the bathroom mirror before answering the door. So, when it began, I was in a doorway. I was just stepping through the threshold when the floor started undulating and this big growl began. Like being in a bear's belly!

I was living in a 16th century building and fled to the newly-built Marriot Hotel for the night with the guy who'd rung the doorbell the moment before the earthquake hit.

God, I miss Tbilisi!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Have you ever experienced an earthquake yourself?

I was in Tbilisi, Georgia a few years ago and wow! It was really something!! It began between once step and the next. Instead of walking out in to the hallway (where the ceiling fell in big chunks), I'd gone to check my hair in the bathroom mirror before answering the door. So, when it began, I was in a doorway. I was just stepping through the threshold when the floor started undulating and this big growl began. Like being in a bear's belly!

I was living in a 16th century building and fled to the newly-built Marriot Hotel for the night with the guy who'd rung the doorbell the moment before the earthquake hit.

God, I miss Tbilisi!!

A few. Two overseas, and the Lousia earthquake

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in what is now Serbia, but we had lots of Earthquakes all over former eastern parts of Yugoslavia. Why were there so many earthquakes there in the 1970s and even 80s and now there are hardly any? I didn't think it was near tectonic plates. We would have like "sliding" effect if you were sitting on a couch and earthquake happened.

Are there mountains in Serbia (I believe the answer is yes). Mountains that are growing means something is pushing the crust. That deformation, which forms the mountains, also is the driving force for earthquakes.

Tell us something we can't look up on wiki. All of the info you've posted so far seems very basic and common knowledge.

What is your actual job that you do and what do you know that we can't get off a recent wtop or slate article?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How far can you pvnt a f00t ball?

When I was younger, I could punt the ball 34 to 40 yards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in what is now Serbia, but we had lots of Earthquakes all over former eastern parts of Yugoslavia. Why were there so many earthquakes there in the 1970s and even 80s and now there are hardly any? I didn't think it was near tectonic plates. We would have like "sliding" effect if you were sitting on a couch and earthquake happened.

Are there mountains in Serbia (I believe the answer is yes). Mountains that are growing means something is pushing the crust. That deformation, which forms the mountains, also is the driving force for earthquakes.

Tell us something we can't look up on wiki. All of the info you've posted so far seems very basic and common knowledge.

What is your actual job that you do and what do you know that we can't get off a recent wtop or slate article?

I am just answering the questions. I do not know everything about every region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the first I knew that the earthquake had the name "Louisa." Who gave it that name and are all earthquakes given names? Are they all female, or do they now alternate between male in female names like hurricanes.

Earthquakes are named for the source location. Tohuku was the 2011 Japan earthquake. Sumatra-andaman Islands was the 2004 Boxing day earthquake.

Louisa is the county where the 2011 VA earthquake was centered. The naming is informal, and can change depending on the context. For example, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake is called that because of where it happened. But when talking to the public, most people now refer to it as the World Series Earthquake.

I'm from the bay area and I've never heard anyone call it the World Series Earthquake. I've heard people call it the Loma Prieta earthquake, the 1989 earthquake, or just the earthquake (people who were there would know to which you refer).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in what is now Serbia, but we had lots of Earthquakes all over former eastern parts of Yugoslavia. Why were there so many earthquakes there in the 1970s and even 80s and now there are hardly any? I didn't think it was near tectonic plates. We would have like "sliding" effect if you were sitting on a couch and earthquake happened.

Are there mountains in Serbia (I believe the answer is yes). Mountains that are growing means something is pushing the crust. That deformation, which forms the mountains, also is the driving force for earthquakes.

Tell us something we can't look up on wiki. All of the info you've posted so far seems very basic and common knowledge.

What is your actual job that you do and what do you know that we can't get off a recent wtop or slate article?

I am just answering the questions. I do not know everything about every region.

I didn't ask anything about a specific region. I asked you to tell us what your actual job is and to tell us something we can't get from an ordinary FB post by IFLS. Please.

[Anonymous]

Any predictions for the next year or so? Where will be the next big one?

[Anonymous]

There have been a quite a few quakes and tremors in the Esmeraldas area of coastal Ecuador this year. From what you know, is there a likelihood of more seismic activity in that area in the near future?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in what is now Serbia, but we had lots of Earthquakes all over former eastern parts of Yugoslavia. Why were there so many earthquakes there in the 1970s and even 80s and now there are hardly any? I didn't think it was near tectonic plates. We would have like "sliding" effect if you were sitting on a couch and earthquake happened.

Are there mountains in Serbia (I believe the answer is yes). Mountains that are growing means something is pushing the crust. That deformation, which forms the mountains, also is the driving force for earthquakes.

Tell us something we can't look up on wiki. All of the info you've posted so far seems very basic and common knowledge.

What is your actual job that you do and what do you know that we can't get off a recent wtop or slate article?

I am just answering the questions. I do not know everything about every region.

I didn't ask anything about a specific region. I asked you to tell us what your actual job is and to tell us something we can't get from an ordinary FB post by IFLS. Please.

I am the pp about Serbia quakes. Thank you for your answer. I am not the critic below your answer.