Earthquake early warning summitApril 4-5, 2011, UC Berkeley

Delivering earthquake warnings to the U.S. west

coast

Why we are here…The U.S. west coast is a tectonic plate boundary

Therefore we must be ready for big earthquakes

North-south divide in the character of

the earthquakes

Why we are here…The U.S. west coast is a tectonic plate boundary

Therefore we must be ready for big earthquakes

To the north: subduction zone

A magnitude 9 earthquake similar to the one that just

occurred in Japan is possible

Why we are here…

To the south: San Andreas Fault

Network of onshore and offshore faults, including the Hayward Fault

Expect an earthquake similar to 1995 Kobe earthquake: 6000 fatalities, $100 billion losses

March 11, 2011: The warning

For a user in TokyoYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYctjv7ouBc

Download mp4: http://seismo.berkeley.edu/~rallen/research/WarningsInJapan/HomeComputerWarningThenShaking_wExplanation.mp4

YesterdayUniversity and government scientists from:• Caltech

• Central Washington University

• Stanford

• Southern California Earthquake Center

• UC Berkeley

• UC San Diego

• University of Washington

• U.S. Geological Survey

Summit resolutionYesterdayUniversity and government scientists from:• Caltech

• Central Washington University

• Stanford

• Southern California Earthquake Center

• UC Berkeley

• UC San Diego

• University of Washington

• U.S. Geological Survey

Warnings can be provided before earthquake shaking

Warnings complement good buildings and planning

In the recent M9 earthquake in Japan a warning was successfully issued in the region of strongest shaking

Areas for improvement of the Japanese system have been identified

Testing of a warning system in the US has been ongoing. Now it the time for broader engagement of users.

Sustained and enhanced funding is needed to make warnings a reality

Introductions

Today

The March 11, M9 Tohoku earthquake: What happened

Hiroo Kanamori (Caltech)

The current status of early warning in the U.S.Tom Heaton (Caltech)

Applications of early warning in the U.S. and what is needed to deliver them

Richard Allen (UC Berkeley)

Open discussion

End of webcasting