Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

April 18, 2006 -- Tuesday, April 18, marks the centennial of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, one of the strongest earthquakes ever to occur in the United States. Scientists from several government and university labs, together with an engineering company, have released computer simulations recreating the earthquake that will help determine priority areas for reinforcing buildings.

Another study used the simulations to estimate that an earthquake of that magnitude in the current San Francisco area would cause several thousands of deaths and more than $100 billion in damages, as well as leave several hundred thousand homeless. The new simulations are based on a three-dimensional model of the area's soil and rock, to track how ground conditions would change the effects of seismic waves.

A number of National Research Council reports explore earthquake science. Improved Seismic Monitoring - Improved Decision-Making: Assessing the Value of Reduced Uncertainty states that the potential economic benefits of implementing a stronger national system to monitor seismic activity far exceed the costs. Preventing Earthquake Disasters: The Grand Challenge in Earthquake Engineering outlines six critical research problems and a research plan for the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation. Living on an Active Earth: Perspectives on Earthquake Science examines the history of earthquake science and identifies future research goals.

• Improved Seismic Monitoring - Improved Decision-Making: Assessing the Value of Reduced Uncertainty (2006)
• Preventing Earthquake Disasters: The Grand Challenge in Earthquake Engineering: A Research Agenda for the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) (2004)
• Living on an Active Earth: Perspectives on Earthquake Science (2003)

• USGS Earthquakes Hazard Program 1906 Earthquake Centennial
• 1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance
• Simulations