The 6 May 1947 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Earthquake

Author(s):  
Susan E. Hough

Abstract The State of Wisconsin is not known for earthquake activity. The authoritative public-facing U.S. Geological Survey Comprehensive Catalog of earthquakes includes only three small (magnitude < 2) earthquakes in the state, all instrumentally recorded. Although other catalogs include more events in Wisconsin, experience has shown that many types of events, such as explosions and cryoseisms, have made their way into earthquake catalogs in this region. In this short report, I summarize available information about an earthquake that was felt in eastern Wisconsin at 15:27 local time on 6 May 1947. As what appears to be the largest historical earthquake in the State of Wisconsin, it is of public interest, its modest size notwithstanding. It appears that no useful instrumental records exist, due in part to a teleseismic event that occurred approximately 3 min later, generating surface waves that were recorded on early long-period instruments in the region. Instrumental data may exist for this event but have not been found. Comparing the felt area with information from recent earthquakes in the region, I estimate an intensity magnitude of 3.8 for the event, with a subjectively estimated uncertainty range 3.5–4.1. Relatively strong effects, including reports of broken dishes in Milwaukee, and shaking described as short but especially sharp, suggest that the event may have been among the sprinkling of shallow earthquakes now known to occur in the upper Great Lakes region.

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-48
Author(s):  
Eduardo Antonio Rossello ◽  
Benjamín Heit ◽  
Marcelo Bianchi

In the light of the November 30th, 2018 (N30) earthquake activity, some neighborhoods of the city of Buenos Aires were shaken by a 3.8 mb earthquake (4.53 km estimated depth). We examined the historical and recent seismic records in order to analyze possible mechanisms related to the distribution of tectonic stresses as responsible for such unusual earthquakes in a region where only very little seismic activity is reported. According to this, at list one historical event occurred on June 5th, 1888 and other small magnitude earthquakes are mentioned since 1848 interpreted as being associated with the Rio de la Plata faulting. But there is, still no consensus about the role of this structure compared to other structures with orientation SW-NE. The lack of evidence to support one over the other structures makes it difficult to analyze these earthquakes. The presence of the Quilmes Trough connecting the Santa Lucía Basin in Uruguay and the Salado Basin in Argentina was recently proposed to play a tectonic role by a system of ENE-WSW trending controlled by extensional faulting related to the beginning of the Gondwana breakup. This depocenter with a thickness of almost 2,000 m of Mesozoic and Tertiary sequences could be acting as a zone of weakness in the crust and therefore responsible for the mentioned earthquake activity. The orientation of this structure correlates well with the present convergence vector between the Nazca and the South American plates and could therefore be propitious for strain release triggering shallow intraplate seismicity. We propose that most of the epicenters from historical and recent earthquakes might be aligned sub-parallel to the principal axis of the Quilmes Trough. Nevertheless, more data is needed to produce a reliable earthquake monitoring system in order to elucidate the tectonic stress regime and the existence of such structures at depth


Author(s):  
Josh Haefner ◽  
Steven Sarich

On behalf of the City of Lockhart (the City), TRC Environmental Corporation (TRC) recently conducted an intensive archeological survey for the City’s sidewalk improvements project located in Lockhart, Caldwell County, Texas. According to design plans, the project will entail the construction of a 10-foot (ft) wide by 2,220 ft long concrete sidewalk that will enhance connectivity and accessibility through Lockhart City Park (Figures 1-1 and 1-2). The Area of Potential Effects (APE) is 0.98 acres in size (Appendix A: Design Plans). Concrete path construction will cause disturbance of up to one foot below the existing grade along the alignment of the path. As the project will be located on lands under purview of an entity of the State of Texas, the project is subject to compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT). During coordination with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) it was determined that the APE located east of State Highway (Hwy) 183 would require survey prior to construction (Appendix B: Regulatory Correspondence). Archeological survey was conducted on October 8, 2019 by Benjamin Johnson and Steven Sarich and on October 17, 2019 by Pollyanna Clark, Josh Haefner, Benjamin Johnson and Steven Sarich. During the survey, five shovel tests were excavated and four no dig locations were recorded. Due to the proximity of the APE to marked graves, the presence of the broken grave marker deposited downslope, and the inaccuracy of the currently mapped cemetery boundary on the THC Atlas, TRC recommended that the portion of the APE that coincides with the Lockhart Cemetery be subject to machine scraping. On November 5, 2019 the survey area was revisited to conduct mechanical scraping where the APE was noted to be in proximity to marked burials. No evidence of any cultural materials or grave shafts were encountered during monitoring of scraping.


2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-324
Author(s):  
Sergei J. Maslikov

Experts studying antique astronomic instruments are well aware of a small class of so-called portable sundials from the Roman Empire. Over the past few decades, they have been considered in several important publications, including a recent book by Richard J. A. Talbert, in which he systematized the available information. Talbert and earlier J. V. Field described eight portable sundials of a “geographical” type, dating from about 2nd–4th centuries. Five are inscribed in Greek, the other three in Latin. The list of Greek dials also contains a dial from Memphis, information about which has been very scarce so far. Some authors even considered it lost. Fortunately, this instrument is stored in the collection of the State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg) and now we have an opportunity to study it more closely.


1972 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 851-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Bollinger

Abstract The seismic history of South Carolina is dominated by the great Charleston earthquake of August 31, 1886. In addition to having several unusual aspects (region essentially free from shocks for preceding 200 years, large felt area, dual epicenter points, “low intensity zone” in West Virginia), that intensity X event seriously perturbed the seismic regime of the area for at least the following 30 years. Of 438 earthquakes reported to have occurred in the state between 1754 and 1971, 402 have been in the Charleston-Summerville area. The remaining 36 shocks form a southeasterly-trending zone of activity that is transverse to the structural grain of the Appalachians. For the 60 shocks assigned an intensity value (1886-1971), a recurrence relationship between the number of earthquakes “N” of maximum intensity “I0” was found to be log N = 0.52-0.31 I0 for IV ≦ I0 ≦ VIII. This corresponds to a “b” value of 0.5 ± 0.1 in log N versus M relationship assuming M = 1 + (2/3)I0. These data suggest a frequency of seismic activity comparable to that reported for the New Madrid seismic zone. Three months of microearthquake monitoring in the Charleston area during the summer of 1971 yielded 505 hr of low-noise data. Sixty-one earthquakes, primarily in swarm occurrence, were recorded. An h value of 1.8 ± 0.5 was determined for these microshock events. This value is similar to that previously observed for a swarm sequence in New Jersey. Four shocks occurred in the state during 1971. Three of these events (May 19, July 31, August 11) were in the central part of the state near Orangeburg, while the third event (July 13) was near Seneca in northwestern South Carolina. All three events had 3.0 < ML < 4.0. Similar episodes of three or four shocks in 1 year happened in 1956 and again in 1965. The Orangeburg area had, according to historical data, been previously free of earthquake epicenters.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (22) ◽  
pp. 13973-13987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Tsan Wang ◽  
Christine Wiedinmyer ◽  
Kirsti Ashworth ◽  
Peter C. Harley ◽  
John Ortega ◽  
...  

Abstract. The legal commercialization of cannabis for recreational and medical use has effectively created a new and almost unregulated cultivation industry. In 2018, within the Denver County limits, there were more than 600 registered cannabis cultivation facilities (CCFs) for recreational and medical use, mostly housed in commercial warehouses. Measurements have found concentrations of highly reactive terpenes from the headspace above cannabis plants that, when released in the atmosphere, could impact air quality. Here we developed the first emission inventory for cannabis emissions of terpenes. The range of possible emissions from these facilities was 66–657 t yr−1 of terpenes across the state of Colorado; half of the emissions are from Denver County. Our estimates are based on the best available information and highlight the critical data gaps needed to reduce uncertainties. These realizations of inventories were then used with a regulatory air quality model, developed by the state of Colorado to predict regional ozone impacts. It was found that most of the predicted changes occur in the vicinity of CCFs concentrated in Denver. An increase of 362 t yr−1 in terpene emissions in Denver County resulted in increases of up to 0.34 ppb in hourly ozone concentrations during the morning and 0.67 ppb at night. Model predictions indicate that in Denver County every 1000 t yr−1 increase in terpenes results in 1 ppb increase in daytime hourly ozone concentrations and a maximum daily 8 h average (MDA8) increase of 0.3 ppb. The emission inventories developed here are highly uncertain, but highlight the need for more detailed cannabis and CCF data to fully understand the possible impacts of this new industry on regional air quality.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Tsan Wang ◽  
Christine Wiedinmyer ◽  
Kirsti Ashworth ◽  
Peter C. Harley ◽  
John Ortega ◽  
...  

Abstract. The legal commercialization of cannabis for recreational and medical use has effectively created a new and almost unregulated cultivation industry. In 2018, within the Denver County limits, there were more than 600 registered cannabis cultivation facilities (CCFs) for recreational and medical use, mostly housed in commercial warehouses. Measurements have found concentrations of highly reactive terpenes from the headspace above cannabis plants that, when released in the atmosphere, could impact air quality. Here we developed the first emission inventory for cannabis emissions of terpenes. The range of possible emissions from these facilities was 66–657 metric tons/year of terpenes across the state of Colorado; half of the emissions are from Denver County. Our estimates are based on the best available information and highlight the critical data gaps needed to reduce uncertainties. These realizations of inventories were then used with a regulatory air quality model, developed by the State of Colorado to predict regional ozone impacts. It was found that most of the predicted changes occur in the vicinity of CCFs concentrated in Denver. An increase of 362 metric tons/year of terpene emissions in Denver County resulted in increases of up to 0.34 ppb in hourly ozone concentrations during the morning and 0.67 ppb at night. Model predictions indicate that in Denver County every 1,000 metric tons/year increase of terpenes results in 1 ppb increase in daytime hourly ozone concentrations and a maximum daily 8-hour average (MDA8) increase of 0.3 ppb. The emission inventories developed here are highly uncertain, but highlight the need for more detailed cannabis and CCFs data to fully understand the possible impacts of this new industry on regional air quality.


1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Ellinas ◽  
S. Valsgard

Over the recent years, following the very rapid increase in the construction and installation of offshore structures, there has been a considerable growth of interest in the assessment of the probabilities and consequences of collision and damage of such structures. This is reflected by the very large number of papers published over the last 15 yr and the multitude of conferences and meetings held on the subject. Many research programs have been completed or are in progress at many centers and institutions over the world. Accidental loading and damage are now accepted design parameters recommended for consideration in a number of Codes for the design in offshore structures. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art with respect to the probabilities and consequences of collisions and accidental loading in general, and methods for the assessment of the design of steel offshore structures against damage. Most of the available information in the field of offshore collisions and accidental loading emanates from research and experience related to ship safety. However, in this paper emphasis is placed on research activity and available information concerned with offshore structures, such as platforms, semisubmersibles, etc. There is a considerable amount of information available on methods for evaluating the extent and effects on damage of these structures and in estimating their residual strength in the damaged condition. As this is an area currently of major interest in the offshore industry, the paper presents comprehensive information and some new results relating to all major structural components. The state-of-the-art with regards to methods and principles for design against damage is also reviewed and commented upon. The paper concludes with general recommendations and indications of areas where future research could be most usefully directed.


1981 ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Vitelmo Bertero

This is a paper that summarizes the state of the practice and state of the art in the prediction of seismic behavior of cylindrical liquid storage tanks. It can be divided into five parts. In the first part the seismic performance of these types of tanks during recent   earthquakes is brielfly reviewed. From this review it becomes evident that a large percentage of these tanks have failed or suffered severe damages. The different types of failure are classified into several categories. The second part of the paper discusses the desing of some of the thank that suffered damages andthe state of the practice is summarized by reviewing present seismic code desing provisions. Thirdly, the soundness of these code provisions is analyzed in view of the state of thank.  Results obtained in recent theoretical and experimental investigations of such behavior are summarized and implications regarding needed improvement in seismic desing are assessed. Results from analyses of an existing  thank using different methods are presented and compared. An improved procedure for the practical seismic resistant desing of these thanks is outlined in the fourth part of the paper. A series of practical desing rules which provide extra margins of safety are offered and the extra cost required is discussed. Finally, recommendations for future research to improve the desing and construction of this type of liquid storage thanks are formuated.


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