The Big One

[Frederick Kircher Haskell <haskell@azstarnet.com>]

Robert Beck wrote:
> 
> At 09:32 AM 2/27/98 -0500, Rick Stevens wrote:
> 
> >        Although most of my games have been inland and don't involve coastal
> >areas, Gary's question raised one of my own. What effect do earthquakes have
> >on the islands off California? Are St Nicholas Island, Santa Catalina, San
> >Clemente Island, etc. subject to a lot of damage from these quakes? Are
> >there any islands that have actually sunk during one? The Project might
> >avoid using them if this is the case, but I don't have a clue about them. I
> >understand that some of the islands there are used as naval gunnery ranges,
> >so they would be out.
> 
> To make and educated guess, I'd say the islands were probably mostly rock,
> in which case, earthquakes will affect them very little. Only houses built
> right on the beach or unconsolidated sediments will have something to worry
> about. As for them sinking, California doesn't have that kind of fault
> system. They will continue their slow northerly advance and, maybe someday,
> slam into where San Francisco used to be, or Alaska, but that's a lot
> longer than the scope of any MP game. :)
> 
> Rob.

Yes speaking on that topic what about earthquakes. I don't mean the war
set off the big one. That's too Hollywood. I mean though that in 150
some fault advancement will have occured and a BIG ONE of some kind
would happen in that time frame. Would the coast line be different? How
far would the total movement be from erathquakes and slippage over 150
years? Does anyone have a clue?

Fred