Mysterious Tremors Detected On San Andreas Fault

[Kadie]

Jul 9, 2009 11:05 am US/Pacific
Mysterious Tremors Detected On San Andreas Fault

LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
Scientists have detected a spike in underground rumblings on a section of California's San Andreas Fault that produced a magnitude-7.8 earthquake in 1857.

What these mysterious vibrations say about future earthquakes is far from certain. But some think the deep tremors suggest underground stress may be building up faster than expected and may indicate an increased risk of a major temblor.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, monitored seismic activity on the fault's central section between July 2001 and February 2009 and recorded more than 2,000 tremors. The tremors lasted mere minutes to nearly half an hour.

Unlike earthquakes, tremors occur deeper below the surface and the shaking lasts longer.

During the study period, two strong earthquakes hit -- a magnitude-6.5 in 2003 and a magnitude-6.0 a year later. Scientists noticed the frequency of the tremors doubled after the 2003 quake and jumped six-fold after 2004.

more...
http://cbs13.com/breakingnews/san.andreas.tremors.2.1078926.html

[jobycom]

1. It's "Glad I don't live in California!" time!

Overall I'd love to live there, but now and then...

[Arctic Dave]

2. Could it be.....GODZILLA!

[TahitiNut]

3. Giant worms. (Where's Kevin Bacon when he's needed?)

:dunce:

[Mari333]

4. oh , its just the throngs of MJ fans leaving the area nt

[MercutioATC]

5. I'm no seismologist, but don't small tremors sometimes alleviate built-up stress?

Small tremors are evidence of pressure, but we already know there's pressure on the San Andreas fault.

If the fault stopped making noise altogether, I'd think that'd be a much more ominous sign...

[scheming daemons]

6. Yeah... kind of like if someone holds in a fart for a really long time...

...then you KNOW that it is going to be a doozy when it comes.


Better to have a bunch of little baby farts than one giant one that empties a room.




(not that I have any PERSONAL experience with this phenomenon, mind you)


;-)

[Parker CA]

8. Funniest post I've read in ages!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAA Thanks for the laugh, Scheming!!!

[AntiFascist]

10. I'd like to see you give that explanation at a news conference...

while keeping a straight face.

[CreekDog]

12. I believe Jim Berkland offered that explanation

:hide:

[scheming daemons]

14. I couldn't even TYPE it with a straight face

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. Actually, not neccessarily --

That used to be the prevailing thought but now it is believed all those tremors are the movement of the plates bulding up to the "snap" point. I remember the few year before the '89 Bay Area quake we were having many tremors in the 4-5 range but after the Almost Big One hit, it was incredibly quiet - and has been for all those years since.

[MercutioATC]

13. ...and THAT'S why I'm not a seismologist.

Thanks for the info :)

[LWolf]

7. Why frequent tremors on the San Andreas, or on ANY fault line,

is a "mystery" is beyond me. :wtf:

I lived on and near the San Andreas fault for 38 years. I'm aware of what it's capable of.

And everyone I knew in those 38 years knew that big action was not only possible, but probable, in our lifetimes.

[timeforpeace]

9. Tremors? On the San Andreas fault? Now that IS mysterious.

[Ardent15]

15. I don't need to be reminded of the dangers of living near the San Andreas Fault

I'm fully aware of the danger.

[LSdemocrat]

16. I told you not to let Zorin get away with it.

[Politicalboi]

17. Here in Ca we have are own quake expert

Miss Kate Hutton. Who if needed would refer to farts building up if need be. LOL!
I believe she is of my "species" (lesbian)



http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~kate/