Earthquake Hazards and Risks on Canada's West Coast

Date: Wed. 22 Nov, 2017 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Duration: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

A special repeat program with Dr. John J. Clague, Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University. 

Geoscientists working on west coast of North America have demonstrated that giant (magnitude-9) earthquakes occur along the Cascadia subduction zone, where the oceanic Juan de Fuca plate moves  beneath the edge of North America. Geologic evidence of this includes sudden land-level changes, tsunami deposits, sediments generated by liquefaction, and submarine landslide deposits on the ocean floor. Historic records say these giant earthquakes have an average return period of 500 years; the most recent  giant earthquake in this area occurred in 1700.

Satellite global positioning data extending to the 1990s shows a pattern marking the build-up to the next giant earthquake, which would damage cities from Portland to Vancouver. However, the risk of more frequent, magnitude 6 and 7 crustal earthquakes, is greater than that of much larger, but rarer magnitude 9 events. 

Join us for a presentation on the likely effects of both crustal and plate-boundary earthquakes in Metro Vancouver. We’ll also discuss strategies for reducing damage of future earthquakes.

Registration required. Click "REGISTER" above or call 604-984-0286, ext. 8144. 

Location: Lynn Valley
Time: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Audience: All Ages
Registration: Program

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