The Origins of Plate Tectonics

Plate tectonics has been a centerpiece of earth science for decades, but Earth didn't always have tectonic plates. As the planet coalesced from cosmic dust approximately 4.6 billion years ago, it had a single, unbroken lithosphere. So how and when did the plates break apart and begin their seemingly never-ending round of musical chairs?

Hazards Caucus briefing conveys the importance of geologic mapping and monitoring

The Hazards Caucus Alliance, a network that supports the Congressional Hazards Caucus, hosted a briefing on April 6 about how geologic and hazards mapping and monitoring are used to prepare and protect communities from natural hazards.

#Free: Cascadia Megaquake Webinar Part 1 from NAS. #earthquake #hazard

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Board on Earth Sciences and Resources (BESR) is hosting a free webinar on what is known about Cascadia's earthquake hazards. You can register to participate here. Information about the event is included below.

Bill introduced to prepare northwest for next earthquake

The Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act (H.R.654) moved a step closer to becoming law when the bill passed the House on March 27.

New Research Suggests Earthquake Risk Models Should Account for Syrian Refugees

As the Syrian Civil War enters its sixth year, seismic hazard might not immediately come to mind, but there is a reason it should. According to research presented at the AGU Fall Meeting, new estimates of the number of earthquake fatalities that could be expected in Turkey under several potential earthquake scenarios are 3 to 20 percent higher when Syrian refugees are counted in seismic risk models. In the April issue of EARTH Magazine, read how researchers at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville made this discovery, which will provide vital data for disaster mitigation and response efforts.

Water Infrastructure Project Wins a top ASCE Civil Engineering Award #water

Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers

Photo taken from a helicopter of the Olivenhain Dam and reservoir near Escondido, CA. Photo by Phil Konstantin

San Diego county can rest a bit more easily should a major earthquake, or another disaster disrupt supply of water it imports. The 25 year project investing in San Diego's water infrastructure won the American Society of Civil Engineers' Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) Award.

State Responses to Induced Earthquakes

Friday, April 14, 2017

The surge in recent years of earthquake activity associated with some oil and gas operations, most notably in Oklahoma, has spurred a range of actions and responses from state geoscientists and regulators. States have taken measures to monitor these earthquakes and moderate the activities that may be causing them, particularly the deep underground injection of large volumes of wastewater. Many states with extensive oil and gas operations but little or no increased earthquake activity have also adopted practices to prevent and prepare for potential induced earthquakes in their area.

Our speakers are:

Jeremy Boak, Ph.D., Director, Oklahoma Geological Survey, Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy, University of Oklahoma | Slides Video
Michael H. Young, Ph.D., Associate Director for Environment, Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin | Slides Video
Steven Dade, Geologist 2, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil & Gas Resources Management | Slides Video

Webinar Co-Sponsors:
American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Energy Society, American Geophysical Union, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Association of American State Geologists, Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society, Environmental Defense Fund, Seismological Society of America, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, U.S. Geological Survey.

CEU Credits

To earn CEU credits, please complete the associated on-demand GOLI course that was developed from this webinar with a grade of 70% or higher and then submit your application for CEUs. CEUs are awarded from the American Institute of Professional Geologists. To view the full list of on-demand GOLI courses, please browse the GOLI course catalog.

Resources to learn more:

View this webinar's Question & Answer session
Short video showing the increases in wastewater injection volume and earthquake activity in the Fort Worth Basin, Texas, from 2005-2016.
Oklahoma Geological Survey: Oklahoma Earthquakes in 2016, interactive map viewer
Oklahoma Geological Survey: Class II Saltwater Disposal for 2009-2014 at the Annual-, State-, and County- Scales by Geologic Zones of Completion, Oklahoma, Open-File Report (OF5-2015)
EARTH Magazine: Ground-shaking research: How humans trigger earthquakes
Walsh, F. R., and Zoback, M. D. (2015) Oklahoma’s recent earthquakes and saltwater disposal. Science Advances.
Ohio Seismic Network (OhioSeis) website
TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program

Search the Geological Surveys Database for reports and factsheets about induced earthquakes.

State Responses: Patterns of Induced Seismicity in Central and Northwest Oklahoma

Farzad Naeim to be Awarded the 2017 Bruce A. Bolt Medal

Seismological Society of America

Photo of 2017 Bruce Bolt Medal Winner Farzad Naeim

Farzad Naeim (M. EERI, 1983), President of Farzad Naeim, Inc. and Adjunct Professor of Engineering at University of California, Irvine, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Bruce A. Bolt Medal. He is recognized for more than three decades of contributions to earthquake engineering, technology and public policy through projects like his ongoing work with the City of Los Angeles to develop regulations for the design and construction of very tall buildings. He also demonstrates extraordinary leadership transferring knowledge into practice to improve seismic safety.

Seismic hazard app discussed in new EARTH

Temblor is a new app that can show you the seismic hazards in your area. Read their guest feature in the February issue of EARTH Magazine!

An App That Brings Home Your Seismic Hazard

Do you know the earthquake risk in your neighborhood? If not, that information is now available in the palm of your hand. Founded by two former U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) employees, Temblor is a free app that allows people to view interactive seismic hazard maps on their smartphones, tablets or computers. It also teaches U.S. homeowners to factor earthquake and landslide risk into their financial decisions, like where to live and what insurance to buy. The February issue of EARTH Magazine takes a closer a look at Temblor, highlighting the app's recent successes and goals for the future.

American Geosciences Institute

earthquake