Episode 7 The Beast Quake

DesignSafe Radio host Dan Zehner catches up with Dr. John Vidale, renowned geophysicist and seismologist. Until recently, Vidale directed the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. Now he directs the Southern California Earthquake Center at USCCS. He discusses highlights of his research career. As a college physics student, he became enamored with geology – taking 11 geology courses in his senior year — and went on to study geophysics. He discusses the PNSN study called IMUSH, Imaging Magma Under St. Helens. His team uses various excitation sources to image and map the three-dimensional structure of underground features, including the large magma chamber, under Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Rainer. It is the most comprehensive study of the geology under a chain of volcanos, involving numerous institutions and agencies. Also at the University of Washington, Vidale worked on the M9 Project (https://hazards.uw.edu/geology/m9/), a large, NSF-funded study exploring the potential impact of a large earthquake in the Pacific Northwest. (M9 stands for a “magnitude 9” earthquake.) Part of that PNSN study included measuring the vibrations made by Seattle Seahawks fans at CenturyLink Field (https://www.livescience.com/57441-seattle-seahawks-stadium-seismology.html)– which were especially strong after a play by Marshawn Lynch, the infamous Beast Quake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfdJqpbUPIE&t=8s). Vidale discusses streaming data real time and educating the public about earthquake warning systems. In his new job as director of the Southern California Earthquake Center, one project he’ll undertake is developing a physical model, a hazard map, of the Southern California fault system. A large, multi-institutional undertaking, the idea is to understand the geophysical properties of the region in order to predict behaviors of the earth. Vidale says supercomputing simulations play a major role in this work. For young scientists, Vidale recommends studying chemistry and physics and learning computer tools, which are crucial for modern science experiments. In general, he warns against fake science and extreme claims. He recommends vetting information about earthquakes with reputable agencies such as the United States Geological Service and local emergency managers.