321 Recent Advances in Environmental Geoscience (Posters)

Wednesday, 28 September 2016
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall E/F

THE CASCADIA SUBDUCTION ZONE: TSUNAMI MITIGATION IN GRAYS HARBOR, WASHINGTON

Paper number: 321-8
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Research and historical records indicate that the Pacific Northwest was struck by a magnitude 9.0+ earthquake, January 26, 1700. This earthquake has been attributed to the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Evidence for the 1700 event has come from around the Pacific Basin including Japan, China, and Australia. This, coupled with the recent super tsunamis in Indonesia and Japan, has aroused concern in the Pacific Northwest over the possibility of a recurrence of the 1700 event. Research also indicates that the Cascadia Subduction Zone is within the recurrence interval for this type of event. Along with increased awareness in the scientific community, the wider public arena has begun to pay attention to this hazard. Most recently a New Yorker magazine article documented this possibility. The focus of this work surrounds the coastal area of Grays Harbor, Washington and using data from the similar historic events to establish and implement mitigation protocols. These include public education and preparation for future Cascadia Subduction Zone super tsunamis.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 7

doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-283749

© Copyright 2016 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.