▫▫ Earthquake Reports ▫▫ - Page 40

Adrian Bye · #**391** 10-20-2003, 04:33 PM

I got in touch today with the researchers mentioned in the news for doing earthquake study here in the DR. They sent me this additional info:

http://www.eas.purdue.edu/~calais/pr...caribbean.html
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/pr...ps/car_gps.htm
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/pr...ep/dom.rep.htm
http://tasdevil.com/study.pdf

The last one is most useful.

Basic summary: the pent up tectonic pressure has not been relieved, and we are due for an earthquake maginitude 7.6 - 7.8. It can happen anytime between right now and 300 years, but we're well within the timeframe for it to be due.

MrMike · #**392** 10-20-2003, 05:07 PM

I wonder statistically, what percentage of the earth is due for an earthquake over the next 300 years? I wouldn't be surprised if most of it is due for an earthquake by then.

I'm looking for a house, all of this has been very stressful, living on a fourth floor and all - but I'm not in a big hurry or anything, I'm sure I'll get around to it before 300 years is up.

quaqualita · #**393** 10-20-2003, 11:24 PM

adrianb, very interestant info, specially the last link. However, this study is from last year.
It would be good to know, if and how the Sept 22 quake and its aftershocks changed this study. Is there now some relief of the tension to the Northplate? Is there any info available online about the results the seismologist did messure lately? This would be interestant to know.

XanaduRanch · #**394** 10-20-2003, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by quaqualita
It would be good to know, if and how the Sept 22 quake and its aftershocks changed this study. Is there now some relief of the tension to the Northplate?

Here's a bit from a very brief synopsis I wrote for DR1 news on the subject to explain exactly that:

The northern half of the Dominican Republic is affected by at least two major fault systems. One, the North Hispainola Trench located just offshore along and parallel to the north coast of the Dominican Republic is a location where the main Atlantic and North American plate is diving under the Caribbean plates on which the Dominican Republic and Haiti sit. The other major fault system is known as the Septentrional Fault Zone (SFZ). This fault is the boundary between a small piece of the Caribbean plate which extends from the North Hispainola Trench to the Cibao Valley. The Cibao Valley and Santiago are moving eastward relative to the North Coast and Puerta Plata at a rate of 13-23mm per year. As these two plates stick together, and then slip earthquakes are felt. It is this Septentrional Fault Zone which is responsible for most of the historically noted earthquakes in Dominican Republic history. However, initial reports from the USGS indicate that it was the interaction of the North Atlantic plate in the North Hispainola Trench that caused the latest 6.5 earthquake that occured Monday morning. If this proves to be true, another major earthquake is still long overdue along the SFZ, as the 6.5 earthquake near Puerto Plata did not release the strain on the SFZ. The last major movement of the SFZ in some areas east of Santiago occurred around 1230 A.D. and geologists studying the area indicate that considerable stress has built up along the fault in those 800 years.

Tom (aka XR)

quaqualita · #**395** 10-20-2003, 11:53 PM

yes XR, I read you previous post and I appreciate the info.

I was just hoping, that the latest seismologist reports can say something more positive.

quaqualita

XanaduRanch · #**396** 10-20-2003, 11:58 PM

Your post asked how the 9/22 quake changed things since the studies were made. It hasn't. Latest measurements indicate that the 800 years of tension on the fault to the south are still there. So those reports are still valid. What we felt, was not the 'Big One' the studies have been waiting for.

Sorry!

Conchman · #**397** 10-21-2003, 01:21 PM

A friend reports a small aftershock just before noon Tuesday, anybody else confirm this? I didn't feel it sitting in quiet office on computer.

PR charts show something, looks like about 3-4 on RS.

MrMike · #**398** 10-21-2003, 01:36 PM

Everybody but me felt it in my office. They all ran for the street, and the folks on the floor below in Airlines went running out into the parking lot as well.

Don't know why I didn't feel it, I guess cause I was in the process of sitting my fat ass down, so I interpreted the motion as my own. Must have been a short one.

XanaduRanch · #**399** 10-21-2003, 01:41 PM

I didn't feel it. Power is out here so the pool filter isn't on. Jose said he saw waves in the pool is all.

Tom (aka XR)

Conchman · #**400** 10-21-2003, 03:39 PM

2:20 pm another small aftershock. This one I felt clearly, even though it was smaller than the one at noon (according to the charts). The earth seems to be acting up again, after two days of rest.