Earthquake

The allure of pine forests, majestic granite peaks and rushing rivers has always drawn mankind to mountaintops. The same intrigue drives the work of scientists around the world, many of whom will convene at the University of Nevada, Reno for a multi-day conference on social, biological and environmental systems in mountain regions, especially important as climate and land-use changes affect mountain environments and the communities in them.

Like a detective story with twists and turns in the plot, scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno are unfolding a story about the rapid uplift of the famous 400-mile long Sierra Nevada mountain range of California and Nevada.

What’s Shakin’ in Northern Nevada along the Sierra Front? According to Western Nevada College Geology Professor Winnie Kortemeier, plenty. She will present a free slide/lecture presentation on earthquakes tonight, Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m., as part of WNC Earth Week activities.

Dr. Kortemeier will focus her remarks on earthquakes in our area.

“Nevada is one of the most tectonically active states in the U.S.,” she said. She will discuss why this part of the state is so active, “and what you can do to protect yourself in your home if a damaging earthquake should occur.”

RENO, Nev. – The University of Nevada, Reno’s Seismological Laboratory reports an ongoing swarm of earthquakes near Virginia City, Nev. since Tuesday, Jan. 21. To date, over 100 events have been located. Four have been larger than magnitude 3.0, in the past two days.

There have been no reports of damage. The larger events have been felt in Virginia City about 8 miles to the southwest and in Reno about 10 miles west of the swarm.

An earthquake near Virginia City registered a magnitude 3.2 on the Richter scale shortly before 8:30 this morning. The epicenter was recorded to be about nine miles northeast of Virginia City, according to the Nevada Seismological Laboratory website.
Thus far there are no reports of any damage or injuries.

Agencies and schools throughout Carson City will participate in an earthquake drill Thursday morning. Along with millions of people worldwide, Nevadans are encouraged to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17 for the 2013 Great Nevada ShakeOut.

State agencies throughout the Carson City area, as well as the Public Health Preparedness Program of the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources plan to participate in the earthquake drill.

An earthquake centered 7 miles northeast of Reno shook Northern Nevada on Monday night. The 4.23 magnitude earthquake shook the region at 5:51 p.m. It was centered around the Sun Valley area and felt in Carson City, Douglas and Lyon counties as well as the Lake Tahoe area, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and Nevada Seismological Laboratory.

Go here for more information.

From Tahoe’s mountaintops to the lake’s sandy bottom, scientists from the University of Nevada, Reno continue to study and find solutions to the breadth of issues that face the entire Lake Tahoe Basin. Their research is making a tangible contribution to the decisions, policies and practices that guide the basin’s environmental health.

Members of a national earthquake simulation research network are at the University of Nevada, Reno today and tomorrow for Quake Summit 2013, an annual scientific meeting highlighting engineering research that reduces the impact of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.

Titled "Earthquake & Multi-Hazards Resilience: Progress and Challenges," the annual summit of the 14- member George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES), of which the University is a member, is being held in the Joe Crowley Student Union.

The University of Nevada, Reno’s Nevada Seismological Laboratory has produced stunning time-lapse, high-definition video of the Bison Fire since its inception Friday, July 5.

“This imagery represents an evolution for the lab as it incorporates multi-hazards and climate monitoring using its high-speed microwave IP-based network,” Graham Kent, director of the Seismological Lab said. “These videos are the opening salvo of a demonstration project that will encompass the Tahoe basin and nearby areas such as Reno and Carson City.”

The National Weather Service in Reno has implemented a weather text alert system for smart phones. A number of Carson Now readers have said they've gotten text message alerts already, the first being a dust storm from Monday. Here's the skinny:

The Nevada Seismological Laboratory has located 122 earthquakes in a continuing sequence of activity located on the southeastern edge of Carson City, Nevada.

An earthquake with the magnitude of 2.8 hit the Carson City area again Thursday morning. The quake was recorded at 8:06 a.m. and centered 4.7 miles southeast of Carson City. It was followed by a 1.3 magnitude at 8:09 a.m.

The area has been seismically active lately with several 1 and 2 magnitudes recorded this month. Go here for the latest from the Nevada Seismological Lab.

Another series of earthquakes rolled through Carson City Sunday morning, the largest being a magnitude 2.8 recorded at around 4:30 a.m. and centered southeast of town near the Mexican Dam Road area, according to the Nevada Seismological Laboratory.

Carson City residents may have felt the earth shaking this morning. A magnitude 2.9 earthquake, with an epicenter in the Mexican Dam Road area southeast of Carson City was recorded, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory reports.

The Carson City Sheriff's Office reports no damages or injuries. The quake was recorded at 5:59 a.m.

Hundreds in Northern Nevada felt the earth shake after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake centered in California.

According to University of Nevada, Reno's Seismology Lab the 5.6 magnitude earthquake took place at exactly 8:47 p.m. 31 km North Northwest of Quincy, California. It was centered at a depth of 7.69 km below the surface.

I publicly wept when they looked at me. More than 6,500 young men and women fed into the meat grinder since 9/11.

Come prepared to cry when you stare into the faces of the snuffed. "Always Lost: A meditation on war" plays at the Nevada Legislature through May 3.

The name comes from Gertrude Stein who once opined that "war is never fatal but always lost." I could not disagree more with the former.

Earth and science will be in the spotlight at Western Nevada College next week with two free lectures in Carson City that will feature discussions on global warming and the geologic history of Lake Tahoe. The events highlight a series of activities during Earth Week, April 22-27.

Two free lectures by science experts - one about the violent geologic history of Lake Tahoe, another concerning global warming, will highlight the many free activities at Western Nevada College during Earth Week, April 22-27.
Renewable energy exhibits, an organic gardening lecture, alternative fuel vehicles and a tree planting ceremony will also be featured.

“Many diverse and interesting activities will be offered,” said Valerie Andersen, WNC public service librarian and college Earth Week event coordinator. Students, faculty and the public are invited to attend.

RENO, Nev. – Climate data from 13 geospatial monitoring stations across the Great Basin are being made available to researchers, educators and the public by a group of researchers from the Nevada System of Higher Education. They have developed the long-term climate monitoring network specifically designed to measure variations in climate change and are now working to broaden the network’s reach to include the all types of hazard monitoring in the region.

CARSON CITY — As the holiday season is in full swing, most families are not thinking about insurance. But as the year comes to an end, it’s a good idea to conduct a home inventory and year end insurance policy review. This is the best way to make sure that your home and possessions have the insurance protection they need.

The Department of Public Safety Capitol Police Division will conduct a full scale emergency preparedness exercise Wednesday at the State Capitol in Carson City from 8 to 11 a.m.
The exercise will involve all employees assigned to the State Capitol. The Capitol building will be closed to the general public while this exercise is held, said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Barbara Stapleton.
In September, the staff of the Capitol performed an emergency evacuation drill, in October, an earthquake drill was held and this exercise completes the three part employee safety training.

The largest Great Nevada Shakeout in its three-year history, and part of the world’s largest public earthquake drill with 18 million participants globally, is Thursday, Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m. More than a half a million Nevadans are registered to participate in the annual statewide public earthquake drill, and with just a few days to go the Nevada Seismological Laboratory would like 100,000 more people registered.

Despite an imminent fiscal 'Pearl Harbor,' Carson's supervisors recently voted a net increase in already-generous fire department compensation by $587,000 over the next five years. Almost in the next breath, the supervisors commented that unless the economy improves, there would need to be employee layoffs and service cuts.

As we reported via Twitter at the time, there was a 4.2 earthquake that shook the area at 8:51 last night, centered six miles north-northwest of Incline Village. You can find all the details here via USGS.

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s insurance carriers have reported to the Nevada Division of Insurance (Division) that they have received around 1,100 claims as a result of the Caughlin Ranch and Washoe Drive fires. The dollar amount of these claims, mostly due to fire, wind or smoke damage is approaching $35 million.

These insurance claim estimates show the dangers of wildfire. Nevadans should take action during Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week (NWAW) to prepare their homes and evaluate their insurance to prepare for wildfire season.

RENO, Nev. — GPS technology developed and implemented at the University of Nevada, Reno will be the centerpiece of a major test this year by NASA to pinpoint the location and magnitude of strong earthquakes along the West Coast of the United States. The project was announced by NASA today.

The year of 2011 was anything but quiet for the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).
Pesky bears, a roaming gray wolf, significant poaching arrests, tsunami relief work and dramatic wildlife rescues were among the stories that captured the public’s attention.
DFG also welcomed new Director Charlton H. Bonham, who was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in August.

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck Whitehawk, Calif., last night 65 miles west of Carson City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.The quake, which hit at 11:37 p.m. at a depth of 8.5 miles, was...

Yes, the earth was moving last night. Looks like a 4.7 earthquake struck at 11:37 p.m., 23 miles north of Truckee, but we felt it down here, too. The quake originally measured 5.2 by U.S. Geological Service, but was downgraded to 4.8 shortly afterward, and they now say it was 4.7.

There were a few aftershocks, including a 2.5 and 2.4 soon after the main quake, and this morning there was a 1.4 aftershock.