Introduction
The next full-margin rupture of the Cascadia subduction zone will spell the worst natural disaster in the history of the continent. The Cascadia subduction zone is located just above the San Andreas Fault, which runs nearly the length of California. The Cascadia subduction zone, in comparison to the San Andreas, runs for seven hundred miles off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, beginning near Cape Mendocino, Canada, continuing along Oregon and Washington, and terminating around Vancouver Island, Canada. The North American Plate is currently side-to-side by the Juan de Fuca Plate, which are moving slowly and forming the Cascadia subduction zone.
Normally, in this case, the Juan de Fuca Plate should slowly slip and sink beneath the North American Plate, which the entire North American continent is on. But this isn't what the North American Plate is doing; instead, it is stuck, wedged tight against the Juan de Fuca Plate. Therefore, once the North American Plate finally rebounds like a spring as it gets "unstuck", either two things will happen. The first possibility is if only the southern part of the Cascadia subduction zone gives away, causing an earthquake between a magnitude 8.0 to 8.6 - also called the "big one." But this is nothing compared to what will happen if the entire zone gives away at once; then a full-margin rupture will occur, with an earthquake a magnitude between 8.7 and 9.2 - called the "very big one." This earthquake will most likely wipe out almost half of Washington and up and down vertically from Canada to California.
However, this isn't the first time this would've happened in this area. Evidence shows that major earthquakes have constantly happened in the Pacific Northwest multiple times before: actually, 41 earthquakes in the past ten thousand years. This means that earthquakes occurred at an average of every 243 years. The last earthquake in the Pacific Northwest was in 1700: so at 2015, we're 315 years into a 243-year long cycle - 72 years overdue.
No one knows when the North American Plate will finally lose tension and give in: it could happen merely in just 10 minutes from now all the way to 150 years. But it is best to be prepared and ready in case of an earthquake. That's why we were introduced to this challenge.
Normally, in this case, the Juan de Fuca Plate should slowly slip and sink beneath the North American Plate, which the entire North American continent is on. But this isn't what the North American Plate is doing; instead, it is stuck, wedged tight against the Juan de Fuca Plate. Therefore, once the North American Plate finally rebounds like a spring as it gets "unstuck", either two things will happen. The first possibility is if only the southern part of the Cascadia subduction zone gives away, causing an earthquake between a magnitude 8.0 to 8.6 - also called the "big one." But this is nothing compared to what will happen if the entire zone gives away at once; then a full-margin rupture will occur, with an earthquake a magnitude between 8.7 and 9.2 - called the "very big one." This earthquake will most likely wipe out almost half of Washington and up and down vertically from Canada to California.
However, this isn't the first time this would've happened in this area. Evidence shows that major earthquakes have constantly happened in the Pacific Northwest multiple times before: actually, 41 earthquakes in the past ten thousand years. This means that earthquakes occurred at an average of every 243 years. The last earthquake in the Pacific Northwest was in 1700: so at 2015, we're 315 years into a 243-year long cycle - 72 years overdue.
No one knows when the North American Plate will finally lose tension and give in: it could happen merely in just 10 minutes from now all the way to 150 years. But it is best to be prepared and ready in case of an earthquake. That's why we were introduced to this challenge.
The Challenge
The Issaquah City Council is looking for ideas from their residents to propose ideas to reduce earthquake risk in all ways possible in case one happens. Therefore, as our science tech project, we were assigned a challenge to come up with 3 proposals to decrease earthquake risks, and come up with one final proposal to propose to the Issaquah City Council. Earthquakes aren't what harms people, it's the aftereffects of the earthquakes such as fires, buildings, and dehydration that kills people.
Some of the damage caused by earthquakes:
Making some extra precautions to prevent at least some of this damage will help save a lot more lives. Read each of my proposals and see if they could be applied to our community.
Some of the damage caused by earthquakes:
- Fires
- Buckling roads
- Collapsing bridges and dams
- Snapping electric and gas lines
- Movement in large bodies of water
Making some extra precautions to prevent at least some of this damage will help save a lot more lives. Read each of my proposals and see if they could be applied to our community.
How Does the Solution Meet the Design Criteria?
When analyzing each solution/proposal, we were required to analyze them using the acronym: "SAFE."
Here are what they stand for:
Safe: Is it safe for humans and the environment?
Aesthetic: Does it meet the criteria of the challenge and is it visually pleasing as well?
Functional: Is it easy to implement and use?
Economical: Is it affordable for the city or individuals?
I will analyze each proposal/solution using this acronym to see if it fits the design criteria and if it fits the guidelines of the challenge.
Here are what they stand for:
Safe: Is it safe for humans and the environment?
Aesthetic: Does it meet the criteria of the challenge and is it visually pleasing as well?
Functional: Is it easy to implement and use?
Economical: Is it affordable for the city or individuals?
I will analyze each proposal/solution using this acronym to see if it fits the design criteria and if it fits the guidelines of the challenge.