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California
Related: About this forumThe 'Holy Grail' for earthquake scientists has been accidentally destroyed
For nearly half a century, thousands trekked to Rose and Prospect streets to behold a slice of sidewalk that, by conventional standards, had no curb appeal.
Pulled apart so that it no longer aligned, the humble curb wasnt much to look at. But for earthquake scientists, it was a kind of Holy Grail, perfectly illustrating the seismic forces at work underneath this Bay Area neighborhood.
Since at least the 1970s, scientists have painstakingly photographed the curb as the Hayward fault pushed it farther and farther out of alignment. It was a sharp reminder that someday, a magnitude 7 earthquake would strike directly beneath one of the most heavily populated areas in Northern California.
Then, one early June day, a city crew decided to fix the faulty curb pun intended. By doing what cities are supposed to do fixing streets the citys action stunned scientists, who said a wonderful curbside laboratory for studying earthquakes was destroyed.
--- Snip ---
Pulled apart so that it no longer aligned, the humble curb wasnt much to look at. But for earthquake scientists, it was a kind of Holy Grail, perfectly illustrating the seismic forces at work underneath this Bay Area neighborhood.
Since at least the 1970s, scientists have painstakingly photographed the curb as the Hayward fault pushed it farther and farther out of alignment. It was a sharp reminder that someday, a magnitude 7 earthquake would strike directly beneath one of the most heavily populated areas in Northern California.
Then, one early June day, a city crew decided to fix the faulty curb pun intended. By doing what cities are supposed to do fixing streets the citys action stunned scientists, who said a wonderful curbside laboratory for studying earthquakes was destroyed.
--- Snip ---
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-earthquake-curb-destroyed-20160705-snap-htmlstory.html
"Holy Grail" might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it's a funny/sad loss nonetheless. Still, as the article points out, the fault will have the last word...
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The 'Holy Grail' for earthquake scientists has been accidentally destroyed (Original Post)
petronius
Jul 2016
OP
UC Berkeley lost their on campus creep laboratory when they seismically upgraded their.....
Brother Buzz
Jul 2016
#7
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,625 posts)1. A bit of time, and it will be back! n/t
longship
(40,416 posts)2. No doubt.
I lived in CA for a decade. The quakes happened often. I found them amusing, and occasionally terrifying.
montana_hazeleyes
(3,424 posts)3. Since I live right on top of the San Andreas,
I can say it wasn't my fault.
longship
(40,416 posts)4. That's what I always said.
I know. Low hanging fruit.
lob1
(3,820 posts)5. Being scientific and all, isn't that a rubber in the pic?
petronius
(26,602 posts)8. I think it's a lid from one of those little take-out sauce containers
But I wouldn't be surprised if geologists got a little frisky in the presence of such a majestic landform! (Although a thrust fault would probably drive them even wilder... )
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)6. An earthquake of a different kind. n/t
Brother Buzz
(36,439 posts)7. UC Berkeley lost their on campus creep laboratory when they seismically upgraded their.....
football stadium. Used to be, every football enthusiast made at least one pilgrimage to the end zone of of the stadium to have a look see. The running joke was, "Hayward Fault? No, Contractor's fault".
The Hayward fault has been creeping forever, and will continue to creep until, well, it decides to jump.