The Big One? New study says major quake could shake Olympic Peninsula (Vancouver!!)

Source: ca.news.yahoo.com...

VANCOUVER - When the "Big One" hit Japan earlier this year, the ground shook, tsunamis struck and tens of thousands of people died.

Scientists know British Columbia will eventually experience its own Big One. The problem is, they just don't know when or where it will strike and how long the shaking will last.

Andrew Calvert, an earth sciences professor at Simon Fraser University, says he may be able to help solve a little piece of that puzzle, following the publication of a recent article in the journal Nature Geoscience.

The article goes on to say:

"Essentially, what we saw in Japan is what will happen in the Pacific Northwest sooner or later," said Calvert, noting a major earthquake hits B.C. every 500 years. The last quake was in 1700.

So while this is not a prediction, it is certainly a scientific fact that a Major earthquake will, at some point, hiot lower B.C. and Washington. Thought it was an interesting article, worth reading if your all about earthquakes

Yeah, since I've lived in BC they have been saying this. I remember my grade 12 geology teacher telling me that the Big One will cause Vancouver Island to sink. Yeesch... I hope not, 'cause even Burnaby (where I'm at these days... neighboring suburb to Vancouver) won't be safe from that tsunami (we need that island to black the wave!). Oh, but c'ya Richmond... It's like 5' below sea level, once those dykes go, it's all over for them!

The most recent thing I heard was saying The Big One would hit within the next 20 years (don't ask me how they knew or where that was from). This article said ever 500 years or so and last one was in 1700, so lets hope we still have another century or so!

Interesting article I suppose, but it seems he is just repeating what people always say about a quake. It`s due to hit some time. That`s not exactly news, unless it`s a slow day.

The ACTUAL news here is that this geologist is saying they discovered the fault line is deeper than they expected, but is not making any specific claims of `when`` (100 years, tomorrow)

Calvert and a team of researchers concluded a section of a fault line in the Pacific Northwest — the area where two of the earth's tectonic plates meet — is seven kilometres deeper than previously thought.

The study found the section in question is actually 27 to 42 kilometres deep, not 25 to 35 kilometres, and is under Washington state.

Calvert said that's important. While the new information won't help determine when or where the Big One will come — nothing yet can do that — it will help scientists refine their calculations on any ground shaking that will take place during an earthquake..

Also, I recall Vancouver had a pretty major quake some time in the past 100 years.