Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region

Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region
Author: Doris Sloan
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2006-06-27
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0520241266

"You can't really know the place where you live until you know the shapes and origins of the land around you. To feel truly at home in the Bay Area, read Doris Sloan's intriguing stories of this region's spectacular, quirky landscapes."—Hal Gilliam, author of Weather of the San Francisco Bay Region "This is a fascinating look at some of the world's most complex and engaging geology. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an understanding of the beautiful landscape and dynamic geology of the Bay Area."—Mel Erskine, geological consultant "This accessible summary of San Francisco Bay Area geology is particularly timely. We are living in an age where we must deal with our impact on our environment and the impact of the environment on us. Earthquake hazards, and to a lesser extent landslide hazards, are well known, but the public also needs to be aware of other important engineering and environmental impacts and geologic resources. This book will allow Bay Area residents to make more intelligent decisions about the geological issues affecting their lives."—John Wakabayashi, geological consultant

Living on an Active Earth

Living on an Active Earth
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 431
Release: 2003-09-22
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309065623

The destructive force of earthquakes has stimulated human inquiry since ancient times, yet the scientific study of earthquakes is a surprisingly recent endeavor. Instrumental recordings of earthquakes were not made until the second half of the 19th century, and the primary mechanism for generating seismic waves was not identified until the beginning of the 20th century. From this recent start, a range of laboratory, field, and theoretical investigations have developed into a vigorous new discipline: the science of earthquakes. As a basic science, it provides a comprehensive understanding of earthquake behavior and related phenomena in the Earth and other terrestrial planets. As an applied science, it provides a knowledge base of great practical value for a global society whose infrastructure is built on the Earth's active crust. This book describes the growth and origins of earthquake science and identifies research and data collection efforts that will strengthen the scientific and social contributions of this exciting new discipline.

Consensus Preferred Recurrence-interval and Vertical Slip-rate Estimates

Consensus Preferred Recurrence-interval and Vertical Slip-rate Estimates
Author: William R. Lund
Publisher: Utah Geological Survey
Total Pages: 114
Release: 2005-06-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1557917272

This report presents the results of the Utah Quaternary Fault Parameters Working Group (hereafter referred to as the Working Group) review and evaluation of Utah’s Quaternary fault paleoseismic-trenching data. The purpose of the review was to (1) critically evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the paleoseismictrenching data, particularly regarding earthquake timing and displacement, (2) where the data permit, assign consensus, preferred recurrence-interval (RI) and vertical slip-rate (VSR) estimates with appropriate confidence limits to the faults/fault sections under review, and (3) identify critical gaps in the paleoseismic data and recommend where and what kinds of additional paleoseismic studies should be performed to ensure that Utah’s earthquake hazard is adequately documented and understood. It is important to note that, with the exception of the Great Salt Lake fault zone, the Working Group’s review was limited to faults/fault sections having paleoseismic-trenching data. Most Quaternary faults/fault sections in Utah have not been trenched, but many have RI and VSR estimates based on tectonic geomorphology or other non-trench-derived studies. Black and others compiled the RI and VSR data for Utah’s Quaternary faults, both those with and without trenches.