Trembling Beneath Our Feet: Joe Byrnes

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        As all of you know, this month for the blog is the topic of current events. Now, on any normal day, this would be easy because we have the news and the internet at our fingertips. All we would have to do is just tune in to the local news channel or pull up an article online. However, right now, it's not that easy. Every single article and news channel is about the Corona Virus. It is like nothing else in the world is happening. After some time, I was able to find an article about an event the was literally groundbreaking.
        Just yesterday, March 18, in Utah, there was a 5.7 magnitude earthquake. The quake struck about 15 miles outside of Salt Lake City. It lasted for almost 20 seconds and then there was, directly after the earthquake, 20 seconds of aftershocks. There were reports by Utah's Department of Natural Resources saying there were as many as 59 total aftershocks. The earthquake caused 73,000 people to be left without power. Also, it caused a water main break at the Salt Lake International Airport.
        Fortunately, there were no reported injuries due to the earthquake. While there was no physical damage done to any people, it was not the same for the city itself. The city was only "moderately damaged," but there was some harm done.

Here are some pictures of the damage:






        One may think that earthquakes are not normal for the state of Utah, but they actually are not out of the ordinary. The Division of Emergency Management claimed that Utah experiences about 700 to 800 earthquakes per year. This earthquake is 1 out of 16 that have been measured to have a 5.5 or larger magnitude. Also, this earthquake was startling for some people because it is the first earthquake of such a large magnitude since 1992, where a 5.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded in St. George.
        If you are familiar with the science behind earthquakes, you then know that earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. Most of the world's earthquakes occur on a boundary between tectonic plates. Utah, however, is not on a boundary. It is in the tectonic plate extension of the western part of the North America Plate. So, earthquakes in Utah are caused by interactions with the Pacific Plate, which is alongside the west coast of the US.
        Right now, as you all know, we are among a serious pandemic. People are in quarantine and practicing social distancing. What will Utah do now when hospitals are damaged and people are out of their homes? How are the people, who were forced out of their homes due to the earthquake, going to protect themselves from the virus if they cannot self-quarantine in their homes anymore?

https://geology.utah.gov/hazards/earthquakes/
https://www.kuer.org/post/57-magnitude-quake-shakes-utah-largest-1992#stream/0
https://abcnews.go.com/US/57-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-salt-lake-city/story?id=69662609
https://www.usgs.gov/news/m57-earthquake-felt-near-salt-lake-city-ut

Comments

  1. DanielleMarch 24, 2020 at 8:30 AM

    You're right, we are consumed with the pandemic. It's hard to get away from.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 29, 2020 at 8:46 AM

    The coronavirus is taking the spotlight and is overpowering news like this.

    ReplyDelete

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