Earthquake Patterns Earthquake Patterns and Hazards in and Hazards in

NevadaNevada

Mike FreemanMike Freeman

►Why earthquakes are hazardsWhy earthquakes are hazards►Probability & PredictionsProbability & Predictions►Where earthquakes occur in Nevada Where earthquakes occur in Nevada ►Pattern of earthquake hazardsPattern of earthquake hazards►Geology of urban landscape: RenoGeology of urban landscape: Reno

Increasing the probability of a hazardIncreasing the probability of a hazard►Potential destruction in NevadaPotential destruction in Nevada►ConclusionConclusion

HazardsHazards

►What makes a Hazard?What makes a Hazard? UnavoidableUnavoidable DestructiveDestructive ForeseeableForeseeable UnpredictableUnpredictable With close proximity to peopleWith close proximity to people

Probabilities & PredictionsProbabilities & Predictions

►Almost impossible to predictAlmost impossible to predict

►Based on fault lines and geologyBased on fault lines and geology

►Can’t predict when, but can predict Can’t predict when, but can predict size and location approximations size and location approximations accuratelyaccurately

County County Seat/Other Town% Probability of Magnitude Greater Than

5 6 6.5 7

Carson City Carson City >90 70 50-55 12-15

Churchill Fallon 80-90 30-40 20-25 6-8

Clark Las Vegas 40-50 10-20 <5 <1

Douglas Minden >90 60-70 50-60 10-12

Elko Elko 30-40 10-15 6-8 0.5-1

Esmeralda Goldfield 80-90 20-30 5-10 <1

Eureka Eureka 40-50 10-15 4-6 <0.5

Humboldt Winnemucca 50-60 15-20 5-10 1-1.5

Lander Battle Mountain 60-70 15-20 10 1.5

  Austin 60-70 20 10-15 2-3

Lincoln Pioche 30-40 6-10 2-3 <0.5

Lyon Yerington >90 60 40-45 12

Mineral Hawthorne >90 60 30-40 10-12

Nye Tonopah 70-80 20-30 5-10 <1

  Beatty 70-80 30-40 20-30 12

  Gabbs >90 40-50 20-25 6-8

Pershing Lovelock 50-60 10-20 10 1-2

Storey Virginia City >90 65-70 50 12-15

Washoe Reno >90 65-70 50 12-15

  Gerlach 40 10-15 6-10 2-3

White Pine Ely 20-30 4-6 1.5-2 <0.5

Patterns: WherePatterns: Where

Patterns: Why they’re Patterns: Why they’re HazardsHazards

Nevada Population in 2005

Geology: Making areas more Geology: Making areas more hazardoushazardous

► Types of soils make Types of soils make earthquakes earthquakes stronger or weakerstronger or weaker

► Map of RenoMap of Reno

Hazardous PatternsHazardous Patterns

►Only a Hazard because of the Only a Hazard because of the proximity of human populations as proximity of human populations as outlined by early earthquakes which outlined by early earthquakes which caused little damagecaused little damage

►Pattern across Physical Nevada with Pattern across Physical Nevada with fault lines and geomorphologyfault lines and geomorphology

ReferencesReferences► The Nevada Seismology LabThe Nevada Seismology Lab

Http://www.seismo.unr.edu/htdocs/maps.htmlHttp://www.seismo.unr.edu/htdocs/maps.html► Earthquake hazards through USGSEarthquake hazards through USGS

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/hazmaps/haz101/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/hazmaps/haz101/haz101.phphaz101.php

► Earthquake probabilities through Nevada Bureau of Mines and Earthquake probabilities through Nevada Bureau of Mines and GeologyGeology http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/eqprob/eqprob.htmhttp://www.nbmg.unr.edu/eqprob/eqprob.htm

► Map collections of De la Mare LibraryMap collections of De la Mare Library http://www.delamare.unr.edu/Maps/http://www.delamare.unr.edu/Maps/

collections.html#organizationscollections.html#organizations► Dictionary.com referenceDictionary.com reference

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hazardhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hazard► Population map derived from data provided by:Population map derived from data provided by:

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/32510.htmlhttp://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/32510.html