PubTalk 3/2006 — The Great 1906 Earthquake

Lessons learned, lessons forgotten, and future directions in earthquake science

By Mary Lou Zoback, Seismologist (and Chair of the Steering Committee, 1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance)

• The 1906 California disaster taught us that--
  • the San Andreas Fault is a continuous feature extending nearly the length of the State
  • earthquakes are a recurring process, not random events
  • shaking is most intense on "made land"
  • much of the damage to buildings is related to construction style and quality
• The elastic-rebound theory came from studies of the 1906 event--how is this theory used today in forecasting earthquakes?
• Why, so long after 1906, do we still have--
  • so many unreinforced masonry buildings?
  • development sited on "made land" and soft ground?
• New understanding and new technology promise a bright future for earthquake science-- breakthroughs are inevitable