Science Features » Earthquake http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features Highlighted USGS science Fri, 24 May 2013 22:24:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 USGS Works Toward Seismic Safety in Burma http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/usgs-works-toward-seismic-safety-in-burma/ http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/usgs-works-toward-seismic-safety-in-burma/#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:59:11 +0000 Scott Horvath http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/?post_type=usgs_top_story&p=175329 Read more]]> The country of Burma straddles a complex and highly active earthquake zone — the junction between the Himalayan front to the northwest of the country and, to the south/southeast, the subduction zone responsible for the enormous magnitude-9.3 Sumatra earthquake and ensuing tsunami of 2004. A record of damage to ancient and beautiful pagodas throughout Burma’s cities and countryside attests to the past occurrence of major earthquakes. Few of these damaging earthquakes, however, have occurred during the 20th century.  There is an urgent need for steps to mitigate earthquake risk in Burma, as it is not a question of “if” future large earthquakes will occur, but rather “when.” With our knowledge of earthquakes, it is certain that significant earthquake disasters will occur in the country’s future, and earthquake hazards remain poorly characterized. Exacerbating the concern, southern Burma, including the country’s most populous city, Rangoon, sits on the Irrawaddy Delta, underlain by a thick blanket of soft sediments that would significantly amplify earthquake shaking.

The Schwedagon pagoda, Burma's most revered shrine, has been damaged multiple times by earthquakes throughout its long history.

The Schwedagon pagoda, Burma’s most revered shrine, has been damaged multiple times by earthquakes throughout its long history.

As Burma’s government moves forward with political and economic reform, it has also shown greater openness to working with U.S. government agencies on a variety of issues. The U.S. Geological Survey is using this opportunity to work with seismology and disaster management experts to help design a long-term disaster risk reduction program for Burma that will assess seismic hazard and take steps to reduce risk. As a first step to launching this project, USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) sponsored an initial visit May 21-25, 2012, by USGS research geophysicists Susan Hough and Mark Petersen and USAID/OFDA regional adviser Brian Heidel.

The U.S. government team met with counterparts from the Burmese government, including the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement, as well as United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations such as the Myanmar Earthquake Commission and the Myanmar Engineering Society.  The visit culminated with a lively half-day Earthquake Preparedness Planning workshop that was well-attended by key staff from all of the above-mentioned groups.

The May 2012 visit focused on an assessment of needs and gaps in current earthquake risk-assessment programs. Through meetings and site visits, the U.S. team identified high-priority future program activities that will be addressed by future USAID/OFDA-supported USGS missions. Most importantly, the visit laid a foundation for future collaboration between the United States and Government of Burma aimed at mitigating earthquake risk. As Burma enters a new period of economic expansion and potentially rapid construction growth, these steps will be of vital importance to help ensure that the earthquake resilience of Burma’s future development will match the enormous resilience of its people.

]]> http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/usgs-works-toward-seismic-safety-in-burma/feed/ 0 traditional_construction Schwedagon Pagoda in Burma Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake in Canada http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/magnitude-7-7-earthquake-in-canada/ http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/magnitude-7-7-earthquake-in-canada/#comments Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:16:56 +0000 Scott Horvath http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/?post_type=usgs_top_story&p=175302 Read more]]> ShakeMap of Queen Charlotte's Island Region

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the west coast of Canada on October 28, 2012 at 03:04:10 UTC.

Visit the USGS event page on this earthquake.

For an estimate of the earthquake’s impact, visit the USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) website.

For information about tsunami watches, warning or advisories, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tsunami website.

Read additional earthquake information for Canada.

If you felt this earthquake, report your experience on the “USGS Did You Feel It?” website for this event.

Learn more about the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

]]> http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/magnitude-7-7-earthquake-in-canada/feed/ 0 ShakeMap of Queen Charlotte's Island Region 5.8 Earthquake in Virginia http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/5-8-earthquake-in-virginia/ http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/5-8-earthquake-in-virginia/#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:26:16 +0000 ocweb http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/?p=143144 August 23, 2011 USGS Community Internet Intensity Map

August 23, 2011 USGS Community Internet Intensity Map

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 01:51 PM a 5.8 Earthquake occurred 38 miles outside of Richmond, VA.
Learn More

Let us know, Did You Feel It?

Portable Seismometers:

Over the next few days, the USGS will be deploying portable seismometers around northern Virginia in order to better characterize and monitor all aftershock activity and to better define the fault zone from which Tuesday’s earthquake originated.

 

]]> http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/5-8-earthquake-in-virginia/feed/ 0 va_eq_1 August 23, 2011 USGS Community Internet Intensity Map Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake in New Zealand http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/magnitude-6-0-earthquake-in-new-zealand/ http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/magnitude-6-0-earthquake-in-new-zealand/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:03:50 +0000 ocweb http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/?p=124144  

Earthquake Map of New Zealand

Earthquake Map of New Zealand

Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake in New Zealand

 

New Zealand has experienced another damaging earthquake close to the city of Christchurch, which is still recovering from the magnitude-6.1 earthquake that struck in February. This latest quake has resulted in additional damage to buildings and infrastructure.

 

 

Related Information:

]]> http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/magnitude-6-0-earthquake-in-new-zealand/feed/ 0 nz_eq Earthquake Map of New Zealand Helping With Disaster Recovery From Space http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/preliminary-magnitude-8-9-near-the-east-coast-of-japan/ http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/preliminary-magnitude-8-9-near-the-east-coast-of-japan/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:05:00 +0000 ocweb http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/?p=75644  

Last update: 03/14/2011 at 5:35 p.m.

The magnitude 8.9 Japan earthquake has been upgraded to 9.0

Original Post: March 11, 2011

Landsat data, acquired by the U. S. Geological Survey on March 20, 2011 show the Sendai, Japan region.

Landsat data, acquired by the U. S. Geological Survey on March 20, 2011 show the Sendai, Japan region.

The effects of the March 11 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami on Japan are being monitored using Landsat satellite data from the USGS.

Related Information:

]]> http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/preliminary-magnitude-8-9-near-the-east-coast-of-japan/feed/ 0 landsat_japan Landsat data, acquired by the U. S. Geological Survey on March 20, 2011 show the Sendai, Japan region.