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Google Funding the Next Big One?
wdavies writes "According to this New York Times article, Google is funding a controversial deep drill geothermal project north of San Francisco. Apparently the company, AltaRock, omitted to disclose that the same deep drilling caused a major quake in Basel, Switzerland when it was last used. Given the notorious geological instability of the Northern Californian coast, this strikes me as kind of dumb — and given the known likelihood of this technique producing earthquakes, somewhat EVIL."
Probability of a major earthquake if google does not drill: 1
If there is a quake, at least it will release some tension now rather than a year from now when it will be greater.
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Apparently (it's hard to say for sure, since all the stories I found were kinda sensationalist) the project in Basel caused a magnitude 3.4 quake.
That's an extremely small earthquake.
Big trucks going a construction site also rumble and shake the ground when the go past. People bitch, but it's not considered a reason to stop construction projects (except perhaps in very exceptional circumstances).
Frankly the furor seems to be more the "OMG they're doing something we don't understand which doesn't involve overeating and reality television! Stop them!" sort than it does a well-grounded and considered opposition.
We live, as we dream -- alone....
Well , if a quake is produced Sooner than it would have occurred naturally, then the intensity won't as strong since stresses would be released before they could build up to be stronger.
We are Dead Stars looking back Up at the Sky
I would rather have a number of small quakes rather than one large one. If this results in pressure being gradually released from a fault zone, I would consider it an asset, not a liability.
"To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
You asked...
What if we could tell the Big One was coming in the next decade but had the technology to loose its destruction at a time of our choosing?
Then folks would be ready for it, just like OP said.
How would such a thing be done?
RTFA.
Where would everyone go?
Vacation.
What about those refuse to leave?
Give them video cameras, clean water, some canned goods, and a P38.
Are there temporary measures that could improve structural stability for 24 hours?
Yes. Tape the windows, close the doors. Remove things from shelves. And avoid doing this in dry season or rainy season, whichever is worse for the upper layers of the crust.
What about people who couldn't afford them?
Help them.
How would insurers decide to react?
They'd act like cowardly children with solid cherry desks, country club memberships, a trophy wife, and a new German car, just like they do any other time something expensive happens.
How would the specifics of the release be affected by politics?
Poorly. Just as every other case where a politician gets involved.
If there were a way to control where the greatest damage would occur, how would it be chosen?
Whatever's cheapest.
Who would choose?
Maps. And clinical, heartless engineers.
Would the people in the way have a say?
They had a say when they elected the government.
What kind of legal liability would those involved at different levels have?
Who cares? If we can print enough money to bail out the economy, we can print enough to cover everyone's ass in a man-made Teh Big One.
Kid-proof tablet..
OMG NUCLEAR! You want to build a BOMB in my state! How dare you. Not in my county, we'll fight this to the supreme court!
California is not sustainable, because they look only to the short term, and have short memories.
Great Intellect...