Design of new details on nationwide borrows earthquake

As far as the study of earthquakes, Professor of geology, Oregon State University Bob Lillie has a simple Theory: the more that is known, better persons can prepare and protect themselves.More knowledge about vulnerabilities in certain parts of the nation could lead to stricter building regulations in these places, so probably less overthrow structures, "he says."If we know about the risks, then we can bet on less risk, "Lillie says.Lillie is part of a group of scientists dealing with USArray, nationwide research project, which allows researchers to study earthquakes in unprecedented ways.The project, which includes a travelling with 400 sejsmografy high-quality, portable placed in temporary facilities, to reach the mark in the middle of this summer in its objective to measure the upheavals of the Earth's surface below from California to Maine, "says Project Director Bob Woodward. In the summer, the device will be installed in several countries, including South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas, he said. Number density and systematic position of equipment give researchers a much more detailed picture of seismic activity in the UNITED STATES, "he says. Scientists are intrigued by tremors detected in North-Western Pacific and installed additional equipment in order to learn more about them, "he says.The project, which is formed on the West Coast in 2004, is in the East so scientists can have a systematic way of studying the whole nation, Woodward says. Instruments, at a distance of approximately 40 miles from each other, stay on the site for two years, before they moved, Woodward says. USArray project is scheduled to reach the East coast by 2013, says.USArray's of the annual budget is around 13 million dollars annually from the National Science Foundation, "he says. As part of a wider project known as the EarthScope, also funded by the Foundation. EarthScope's objective is to examine the structure and evolution of North America and learn more about what causes earthquakes and volcanoes.Before the instruments have been installed, "he was kind of like taking pictures from a camera with only a few pixels," says Woodward. "400 Stations where recalls much higher camera resolution. Now you can directly see the seismic Waves rolling across the country. "The project was included in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, he says. Emily Brodsky, seismologist, which researches earthquake at the University of California-Santa Cruz, he says, "By the whole view, you can start to see these in a way never seen before."2011, sejsmografy will be in place near the site of some of the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history — an area known as the new Madrid fault between St. Louis and Memphis, Woodward says.Almost 200 years ago, in 1811 and 1812, a series of earthquakes centered in the nearby small town of New Madrid, Missouri was so strong that witnesses said the nearby Mississippi River began to flow back, "says Chuck Langston, Director of the Center for the study of earthquake and information at the University of Memphis."The earthquake was felt in Boston, "Langston says. "There is a transfer, which the River dammed up, and its part toward the back. Spectacular, must have been it. Big waves and water moving every which way. "Although California is commonly associated with earthquakes, says Woodward, vulnerabilities exist throughout the nation, stretching on the East coast of the UNITED STATES.More than 500 billion dollars of losses could result from strong earthquake in the area of Los Angeles, according to Jan 14 Congressional Research service report for Congress. "Estimation of even higher — around $ 900 billion — includes injury to heavily populated areas of the central corridor, New Jersey-Philadelphia if earthquake 6.5-magnitude occurred along the fault lying between New York and Philadelphia, "States the report.Can be changed to the earthquake occurred in the region, "says Michel Bruneau, engineering professor at the University of Buffalo, which has Done an earthquake in extensive research. Bruneau is a study in 2008, which finds the size-5 earthquake damaged buildings in New York in 1737; and quake magnitude-5.5 hit the region in 1884, according to research reported in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. Researchers wrote that there are stronger earthquakes in the area.Martin reports in Argus leader, Sioux Falls, S.D. guidance: sharing in the community of USA TODAY such please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally and keep your language decent. Use the "report abuse" button to make the difference. Learn more.