The Great Utah ShakeOut...

occurred today, a test of state and local response to a scenario involving a large earthquake along the Wasatch fault.  Here's the website that details the drill.

Indeed, there was a robo-delivered message on my answering machine when I returned from the day's outing, providing information about the drill and where to go for assistance had it been a real natural disaster.  I'm impressed.

Today's strong earthquake in Mexico...

was caught by the seismometer at EWU (click to enlarge):

The USGS fixes the location of the 7.4 magnitude event near Oaxaca.  Here's an early news account.

Since they sound like thunderstorms...

perhaps earthquakes should be called "tectonic storms":  Audio Created From Japanese Seismic Wave Records.

Remember, if this term catches on, it was coined here first.

Gulp...

New research on Japanese quake ominous for Pacific Northwest.  The not-so-good news:

"Detailed analyses of the way the Earth warped along the Japanese coast suggest that shaking from a Cascadia megaquake could be stronger than expected along the coasts of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, researchers reported Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"The Cascadia subduction zone can be seen as a mirror image of the Tohoku area," said John Anderson, of the University of Nevada.  Anderson compiled ground-motion data from the Japan quake and overlaid it on a map of the Pacific Northwest, which has a similar fault - called a subduction zone - lying offshore.

In Japan, the biggest jolts occurred underwater. The seafloor was displaced by 150 feet or more in some places, triggering the massive tsunami. But in the Northwest, it's the land that will be rocked hardest - because the Pacific coast here lies so close to the subduction zone.

"The ground motions that we have from Tohoku may actually be an indication that there could be much stronger shaking in the coastal areas of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon," Anderson said."

Read the whole thing at the linked article.  Then get prepared.

Shape-memory alloys tested...

for use in earthquake-resistant structures.  Remember, earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do.

California seismologist testifies...

against scientists in Italy quake manslaughter trial.

The 6.3 M Peruvian quake...

that occurred today barely registers on the seismometer at EWU, seen near the center of this image (click to enlarge):

I post this only because our instrument has been down for repairs the last few months, and this is the first event of any significance since it went on-line last week.  The two blips at the very bottom of the screen are the doors opening in the lobby of the building as the day gets underway at the university. 

The snowcapped Lost River Range...

in central Idaho provided a photogenic backdrop during my long drive today.  The closure of I-15 at the Montana border due to icy conditions and gusty winds diverted me to a slower, but highly scenic, alternative route north (click to enlarge):

Borah Peak, the highest summit in Idaho at 12,668 ft, lies ensconced in this range in the distance.  It is also the location of a large earthquake in 1983.  While I've not yet climbed this lofty peak, it is on my "to do" list.  Perhaps next summer.

Bicentennial anniversary of enormous quakes...

that rattled the Midwest occurs today, and over the next two months:  The New Madrid earthquake events.

Image courtesy Wikipedia.

An excellent visual comparison...

of the energy released by recent earthquakes (best viewed full screen):

Here's one scenario...

for a great quake and tsunami in the Cascadia subduction zone:  Totally Psyched for the Full-Rip Nine.

Seismic art...

Tōhoku Japanese Earthquake Sculpture by Luke Jerram

Whole lotta shakin’...

at El Hierro suggests new eruption might be imminent.

UPDATE: Quite the Jacuzzi.  Perhaps it will go Surtseyan if this eruption episode continues?

Aftershocks continue to rattle...

eastern Turkey today, as this screen grab shows a series of 4+ magnitude events centered around the area of the main shock (click to enlarge):

This is the Android Earthquake! app, running on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.  It's also optimized for phones.  It's free, and it works well.

This minor blip...

on the seismometer at EWU doesn't begin to reflect the unfolding tragedy in eastern Turkey where a 7.2 magnitude quake struck early today (click to enlarge):

Here are the technical details regarding the temblor from the USGS, and an article describing the search and rescue efforts that are now underway. 

Earthquake science...

still a shaky business.  The linked article includes a discussion of the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquake swarm, for which the 200th anniversary is only a couple of months away.

Upcoming geology lecture in Spokane...

is one not to miss:

"The Orphan Tsunami of 1700" will be presented by Dr. Brian Atwater, USGS, University of Washington - Department of Earth and Space Sciences.  Brian will summarize his research in the likelihood of large earthquakes in the Cascadia subduction zone, especially relevant given the recent disaster in Japan.

The talk is sponsored by the Society of Inland Northwest Environmental Scientists at 7 pm at Luigi's Italian Restaurant in Spokane.  Social hour begins at 6 pm.

Trial over L’Aquila earthquake...

focuses on risks and panic.  Pull quote:

“If you want to sell earthquake preparation in a way that it affects human behavior,” he said, “you have to sell it like Coca-Cola.”

Related previous post.

Demanding the impossible...

of seismologists in Italy:  Scientists on trial: At fault? 

RELATED: Relatives of L’Aquila earthquake victims sue scientists for £43 million.

Earthquakes don't kill people...

but buildings do: Natural disasters: The politics of earthquakes.

"Too many countries are playing Russian roulette when it comes to seismic risk."