Post by Poor Richard on Feb 9, 2023 18:25:26 GMT -7
Montana earthquake expert emphasizes awareness following devastation in Turkey and Syria
KBZK reports "Montana is among the top 10 states with the greatest amount of seismic activity throughout the United States. The Intermountain Seismic Belt runs from the northwestern Montana through Yellowstone National Park. The devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria is a reminder to anyone living in close proximity to a fault line, including many Montanans, to be prepared for a tremor.
As of Wednesday evening, more than 12,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands are injured or missing.
According to Mike Stickney, the Director of Earthquake Studies at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, the main shock occurred on the East Anatolion Plate near a triple junction, where three plates meet. The nearest example of a triple junction is the San Andreas Fault in California.
Despite not having a triple junction, Montana is no stranger to powerful earthquakes. The 7.2 magnitude Hebgen Lake earthquake and the 1935 Helena earthquake come to mind for many Montana historians and longer-term residents.
While there are many older, high-rise buildings in Turkey and Syria, Stickney says Montana's infrastructure is also susceptible to larger earthquakes.
"Most of the bigger Montana cities have some solid brick buildings that are multi-story. If they were built more than 50 years ago, before modern building codes allowed for that type of seismic shaking that can accompany a larger earthquake, I would say those buildings are definitely vulnerable to earthquake damage," Stickney explains.
The impact on the ground for a higher magnitude earthquake does not have a linear rise. "Every one magnitude you go up on the Richter scale, the ground shaking increases by a factor of 10. So, a magnitude of 5 shakes 10 times harder than a 4 and 100 times greater than a 3," said Stickney. Thus, there is even a large difference between the impact of the 7.3 magnitude Hebgen Lake earthquake and Monday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey.
Seismologists say that while there is still no way to accurately predict an earthquake, the quieter period seen in the western United States the last several decades won't last forever. Stickney noted, "Every one of these tremors is a reminder that we do live in earthquake country and it's best to be prepared for that.""
As of Wednesday evening, more than 12,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands are injured or missing.
According to Mike Stickney, the Director of Earthquake Studies at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, the main shock occurred on the East Anatolion Plate near a triple junction, where three plates meet. The nearest example of a triple junction is the San Andreas Fault in California.
Despite not having a triple junction, Montana is no stranger to powerful earthquakes. The 7.2 magnitude Hebgen Lake earthquake and the 1935 Helena earthquake come to mind for many Montana historians and longer-term residents.
While there are many older, high-rise buildings in Turkey and Syria, Stickney says Montana's infrastructure is also susceptible to larger earthquakes.
"Most of the bigger Montana cities have some solid brick buildings that are multi-story. If they were built more than 50 years ago, before modern building codes allowed for that type of seismic shaking that can accompany a larger earthquake, I would say those buildings are definitely vulnerable to earthquake damage," Stickney explains.
The impact on the ground for a higher magnitude earthquake does not have a linear rise. "Every one magnitude you go up on the Richter scale, the ground shaking increases by a factor of 10. So, a magnitude of 5 shakes 10 times harder than a 4 and 100 times greater than a 3," said Stickney. Thus, there is even a large difference between the impact of the 7.3 magnitude Hebgen Lake earthquake and Monday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey.
Seismologists say that while there is still no way to accurately predict an earthquake, the quieter period seen in the western United States the last several decades won't last forever. Stickney noted, "Every one of these tremors is a reminder that we do live in earthquake country and it's best to be prepared for that.""