Tsunami from Chile 8.8 magnitude earthquake working into Japanese waters

Posted by cricketdiane on February 28, 2010

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津波警報・注意報

説明へ

地震の発生日時： 02月27日15時34分頃
震源地：南米西部マグニチュード： 8.6 深さ：不明

津波警報・注意報本文へ

津波予報区名	津波警報・注意報グレード
青森県太平洋沿岸	大津波の津波警報
岩手県	大津波の津波警報
宮城県	大津波の津波警報
北海道太平洋沿岸東部	津波の津波警報
北海道太平洋沿岸中部	津波の津波警報
北海道太平洋沿岸西部	津波の津波警報
青森県日本海沿岸	津波の津波警報
福島県	津波の津波警報
茨城県	津波の津波警報
千葉県九十九里・外房	津波の津波警報
千葉県内房	津波の津波警報
東京湾内湾	津波の津波警報
伊豆諸島	津波の津波警報
小笠原諸島	津波の津波警報
相模湾・三浦半島	津波の津波警報
静岡県	津波の津波警報
愛知県外海	津波の津波警報
伊勢・三河湾	津波の津波警報
三重県南部	津波の津波警報
淡路島南部	津波の津波警報
和歌山県	津波の津波警報
岡山県	津波の津波警報
徳島県	津波の津波警報
愛媛県宇和海沿岸	津波の津波警報
高知県	津波の津波警報
有明・八代海	津波の津波警報
大分県瀬戸内海沿岸	津波の津波警報
大分県豊後水道沿岸	津波の津波警報
宮崎県	津波の津波警報
鹿児島県東部	津波の津波警報
種子島・屋久島地方	津波の津波警報
奄美諸島・トカラ列島	津波の津波警報
鹿児島県西部	津波の津波警報
沖縄本島地方	津波の津波警報
大東島地方	津波の津波警報
宮古島・八重山地方	津波の津波警報
北海道日本海沿岸南部	津波注意報
オホーツク海沿岸	津波注意報
陸奥湾	津波注意報
大阪府	津波注意報
兵庫県瀬戸内海沿岸	津波注意報
広島県	津波注意報
香川県	津波注意報
愛媛県瀬戸内海沿岸	津波注意報
山口県瀬戸内海沿岸	津波注意報
福岡県瀬戸内海沿岸	津波注意報
福岡県日本海沿岸	津波注意報
長崎県西方	津波注意報
熊本県天草灘沿岸	津波注意報

津波警報・注意報
平成２２年　２月２８日０９時３３分　気象庁発表

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊　見出し　＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
大津波・津波の津波警報を発表しました
　東北地方太平洋沿岸、北海道太平洋沿岸、青森県日本海沿岸、関東地方、
　伊豆・小笠原諸島、東海地方、近畿四国太平洋沿岸、岡山県、
　有明・八代海、九州地方東部、鹿児島県、沖縄県地方
これらの沿岸では、直ちに安全な場所へ避難してください
なお、これ以外に津波注意報を発表している沿岸があります

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊　本文　＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
津波警報を発表した沿岸は次のとおりです
＜大津波＞
　青森県太平洋沿岸、岩手県、宮城県
＜津波＞
　北海道太平洋沿岸東部、北海道太平洋沿岸中部、北海道太平洋沿岸西部、
　青森県日本海沿岸、福島県、茨城県、千葉県九十九里・外房、
　千葉県内房、東京湾内湾、伊豆諸島、小笠原諸島、相模湾・三浦半島、
　静岡県、愛知県外海、伊勢・三河湾、三重県南部、淡路島南部、
　和歌山県、岡山県、徳島県、愛媛県宇和海沿岸、高知県、有明・八代海、
　大分県瀬戸内海沿岸、大分県豊後水道沿岸、宮崎県、鹿児島県東部、
　種子島・屋久島地方、奄美諸島・トカラ列島、鹿児島県西部、
　沖縄本島地方、大東島地方、宮古島・八重山地方
これらの沿岸では、直ちに安全な場所へ避難してください

津波注意報を発表した沿岸は次のとおりです
＜津波注意＞
　北海道日本海沿岸南部、オホーツク海沿岸、陸奥湾、大阪府、
　兵庫県瀬戸内海沿岸、広島県、香川県、愛媛県瀬戸内海沿岸、
　山口県瀬戸内海沿岸、福岡県瀬戸内海沿岸、福岡県日本海沿岸、
　長崎県西方、熊本県天草灘沿岸

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊　解説　＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
＜大津波の津波警報＞
高いところで３ｍ程度以上の津波が予想されますので、厳重に警戒してくだ
さい
＜津波の津波警報＞
高いところで２ｍ程度の津波が予想されますので、警戒してください
＜津波注意報＞
高いところで０．５ｍ程度の津波が予想されますので、注意してください

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊　震源要素の速報　＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
［震源、規模］
きのう２７日１５時３４分頃地震がありました
震源地は、南米西部（南緯３６．１度、西経７２．６度）で、地震の規模（
マグニチュード）は８．６と推定されます

このページのトップへ

著作権・リンク・個人情報保護 |　利用上の注意について（免責事項）

http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/tsunami/focus_6.html

(found here – )

http://www.kts-tv.co.jp/

World Book at NASA

Earthquake

Earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused by the sudden breaking and shifting of large sections of Earth’s rocky outer shell. Earthquakes are among the most powerful events on earth, and their results can be terrifying. A severe earthquake may release energy 10,000 times as great as that of the first atomic bomb. Rock movements during an earthquake can make rivers change their course. Earthquakes can trigger landslides that cause great damage and loss of life. Large earthquakes beneath the ocean can create a series of huge, destructive waves called tsunamis (tsoo NAH meez)that flood coasts for many miles.

Earthquakes almost never kill people directly. Instead, many deaths and injuries result from falling objects and the collapse of buildings, bridges, and other structures. Fire resulting from broken gas or power lines is another major danger during a quake. Spills of hazardous chemicals are also a concern during an earthquake.

The force of an earthquake depends on how much rock breaks and how far it shifts. Powerful earthquakes can shake firm ground violently for great distances. During minor earthquakes, the vibration may be no greater than the vibration caused by a passing truck.

On average, a powerful earthquake occurs less than once every two years. At least 40 moderate earthquakes cause damage somewhere in the world each year. Scientists estimate that more than 8,000 minor earthquakes occur each day without causing any damage. Of those, only about 1,100 are strong enough to be felt.

This article discusses Earthquake (How an earthquake begins) (How an earthquake spreads) (Damage by earthquakes) (Where and why earthquakes occur) (Studying earthquakes).

How an earthquake begins

Most earthquakes occur along a fault — a fracture in Earth’s rocky outer shell where sections of rock repeatedly slide past each other. Faults occur in weak areas of Earth’s rock. Most faults lie beneath the surface of Earth, but some, like the San Andreas Fault in California, are visible on the surface. Stresses in Earth cause large blocks of rock along a fault to strain, or bend. When the stress on the rock becomes great enough, the rock breaks and snaps into a new position, causing the shaking of an earthquake.

Earthquakes usually begin deep in the ground. The point in Earth where the rocks first break is called the focus, also known as the hypocenter, of the quake. The focus of most earthquakes lies less than 45 miles (72 kilometers) beneath the surface, though the deepest known focuses have been nearly 450 miles (700 kilometers) below the surface. The point on the surface of Earth directly above the focus is known as the epicenter of the quake. The strongest shaking is usually felt near the epicenter.

From the focus, the break travels like a spreading crack along the fault. The speed at which the fracture spreads depends on the type of rock. It may average about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) per second in granite or other strong rock. At that rate, a fracture may spread more than 350 miles (560 kilometers) in one direction in less than three minutes. As the fracture extends along the fault, blocks of rock on one side of the fault may drop down below the rock on the other side, move up and over the other side, or slide forward past the other.

How an earthquake spreads

When an earthquake occurs, the violent breaking of rock releases energy that travels through Earth in the form of vibrations called seismic waves. Seismic waves move out from the focus of an earthquake in all directions. As the waves travel away from the focus, they grow gradually weaker. For this reason, the ground generally shakes less farther away from the focus.

There are two chief kinds of seismic waves: (1) body waves and (2) surface waves. Body waves, the fastest seismic waves, move through Earth. Slower surface waves travel along the surface of Earth.

Body waves tend to cause the most earthquake damage. There are two kinds of body waves: (1) compressional waves and (2) shear waves. As the waves pass through Earth, they cause particles of rock to move in different ways. Compressional waves push and pull the rock. They cause buildings and other structures to contract and expand. Shear waves make rocks move from side to side, and buildings shake. Compressional waves can travel through solids, liquids, or gases, but shear waves can pass only through solids.

Compressional waves are the fastest seismic waves, and they arrive first at a distant point. For this reason, compressional waves are also called primary (P) waves. Shear waves, which travel slower and arrive later, are called secondary (S) waves.

Body waves travel faster deep within Earth than near the surface. For example, at depths of less than 16 miles (25 kilometers), compressional waves travel at about 4.2 miles (6.8 kilometers) per second, and shear waves travel at 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) per second. At a depth of 620 miles (1,000 kilometers), the waves travel more than 11/2 times that speed.

Surface waves are long, slow waves. They produce what people feel as slow rocking sensations and cause little or no damage to buildings.

There are two kinds of surface waves: (1) Love waves and (2) Rayleigh waves. Love waves travel through Earth’s surface horizontally and move the ground from side to side. Rayleigh waves make the surface of Earth roll like waves on the ocean. Typical Love waves travel at about 23/4 miles (4.4 kilometers) per second, and Rayleigh waves, the slowest of the seismic waves, move at about 21/4 miles (3.7 kilometers) per second. The two types of waves were named for two British physicists, Augustus E. H. Love and Lord Rayleigh, who mathematically predicted the existence of the waves in 1911 and 1885, respectively.

Damage by earthquakes

How earthquakes cause damage

Earthquakes can damage buildings, bridges, dams, and other structures, as well as many natural features. Near a fault, both the shifting of large blocks of Earth’s crust, called fault slippage, and the shaking of the ground due to seismic waves cause destruction. Away from the fault, shaking produces most of the damage. Undersea earthquakes may cause huge tsunamis that swamp coastal areas. Other hazards during earthquakes include rockfalls, ground settling, and falling trees or tree branches.

Fault slippage

The rock on either side of a fault may shift only slightly during an earthquake or may move several feet or meters. In some cases, only the rock deep in the ground shifts, and no movement occurs at Earth’s surface. In an extremely large earthquake, the ground may suddenly heave 20 feet (6 meters) or more. Any structure that spans a fault may be wrenched apart. The shifting blocks of earth may also loosen the soil and rocks along a slope and trigger a landslide. In addition, fault slippage may break down the banks of rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water, causing flooding.

Ground shaking causes structures to sway from side to side, bounce up and down, and move in other violent ways. Buildings may slide off their foundations, collapse, or be shaken apart.

In areas with soft, wet soils, a process called liquefaction may intensify earthquake damage. Liquefaction occurs when strong ground shaking causes wet soils to behave temporarily like liquids rather than solids. Anything on top of liquefied soil may sink into the soft ground. The liquefied soil may also flow toward lower ground, burying anything in its path.

Tsunamis

An earthquake on the ocean floor can give a tremendous push to surrounding seawater and create one or more large, destructive waves called tsunamis, also known as seismic sea waves. Some people call tsunamis tidal waves, but scientists think the term is misleading because the waves are not caused by the tide. Tsunamis may build to heights of more than 100 feet (30 meters) when they reach shallow water near shore. In the open ocean, tsunamis typically move at speeds of 500 to 600 miles (800 to 970 kilometers) per hour. They can travel great distances while diminishing little in size and can flood coastal areas thousands of miles or kilometers from their source.

Structural hazards

Structures collapse during a quake when they are too weak or rigid to resist strong, rocking forces. In addition, tall buildings may vibrate wildly during an earthquake and knock into each other. Picture San Francisco earthquake of 1906 A major cause of death and property damage in earthquakes is fire. Fires may start if a quake ruptures gas or power lines. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake ranks as one of the worst disasters in United States history because of a fire that raged for three days after the quake.

Other hazards during an earthquake include spills of toxic chemicals and falling objects, such as tree limbs, bricks, and glass. Sewage lines may break, and sewage may seep into water supplies. Drinking of such impure water may cause cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and other serious diseases.

Loss of power, communication, and transportation after an earthquake may hamper rescue teams and ambulances, increasing deaths and injuries. In addition, businesses and government offices may lose records and supplies, slowing recovery from the disaster.

Reducing earthquake damage

In areas where earthquakes are likely, knowing where to build and how to build can help reduce injury, loss of life, and property damage during a quake. Knowing what to do when a quake strikes can also help prevent injuries and deaths.

Where to build

Earth scientists try to identify areas that would likely suffer great damage during an earthquake. They develop maps that show fault zones, flood plains (areas that get flooded), areas subject to landslides or to soil liquefaction, and the sites of past earthquakes. From these maps, land-use planners develop zoning restrictions that can help prevent construction of unsafe structures in earthquake-prone areas.

How to build

An earthquake-resistant building includes such structures as shear walls, a shear core, and cross-bracing. Base isolators act as shock absorbers. A moat allows the building to sway. Image credit: World Book illustration by Doug DeWitt

Engineers have developed a number of ways to build earthquake-resistant structures. Their techniques range from extremely simple to fairly complex. For small- to medium-sized buildings, the simpler reinforcement techniques include bolting buildings to their foundations and providing support walls called shear walls. Shear walls, made of reinforced concrete (concrete with steel rods or bars embedded in it), help strengthen the structure and help resist rocking forces. Shear walls in the center of a building, often around an elevator shaft or stairwell, form what is called a shear core. Walls may also be reinforced with diagonal steel beams in a technique called cross-bracing.

Builders also protect medium-sized buildings with devices that act like shock absorbers between the building and its foundation. These devices, called base isolators, are usually bearings made of alternate layers of steel and an elastic material, such as synthetic rubber. Base isolators absorb some of the sideways motion that would otherwise damage a building.

Skyscrapers need special construction to make them earthquake-resistant. They must be anchored deeply and securely into the ground. They need a reinforced framework with stronger joints than an ordinary skyscraper has. Such a framework makes the skyscraper strong enough and yet flexible enough to withstand an earthquake.

Earthquake-resistant homes, schools, and workplaces have heavy appliances, furniture, and other structures fastened down to prevent them from toppling when the building shakes. Gas and water lines must be specially reinforced with flexible joints to prevent breaking.

Safety precautions are vital during an earthquake. People can protect themselves by standing under a doorframe or crouching under a table or chair until the shaking stops. They should not go outdoors until the shaking has stopped completely. Even then, people should use extreme caution. A large earthquake may be followed by many smaller quakes, called aftershocks. People should stay clear of walls, windows, and damaged structures, which could crash in an aftershock.

People who are outdoors when an earthquake hits should quickly move away from tall trees, steep slopes, buildings, and power lines. If they are near a large body of water, they should move to higher ground. Where and why earthquakes occur

Scientists have developed a theory, called plate tectonics, that explains why most earthquakes occur. According to this theory, Earth’s outer shell consists of about 10 large, rigid plates and about 20 smaller ones. Each plate consists of a section of Earth’s crust and a portion of the mantle, the thick layer of hot rock below the crust. Scientists call this layer of crust and upper mantle the lithosphere. The plates move slowly and continuously on the asthenosphere, a layer of hot, soft rock in the mantle. As the plates move, they collide, move apart, or slide past one another.

The movement of the plates strains the rock at and near plate boundaries and produces zones of faults around these boundaries. Along segments of some faults, the rock becomes locked in place and cannot slide as the plates move. Stress builds up in the rock on both sides of the fault and causes the rock to break and shift in an earthquake.

There are three types of faults: (1) normal faults, (2) reverse faults, and (3) strike-slip faults. In normal and reverse faults, the fracture in the rock slopes downward, and the rock moves up or down along the fracture. In a normal fault, the block of rock on the upper side of the sloping fracture slides down. In a reverse fault, the rock on both sides of the fault is greatly compressed. The compression forces the upper block to slide upward and the lower block to thrust downward. In a strike-slip fault, the fracture extends straight down into the rock, and the blocks of rock along the fault slide past each other horizontally.

Most earthquakes occur in the fault zones at plate boundaries. Such earthquakes are known as interplate earthquakes. Some earthquakes take place within the interior of a plate and are called intraplate earthquakes.

Interplate earthquakes occur along the three types of plate boundaries: (1) mid-ocean spreading ridges, (2) subduction zones, and (3) transform faults.

Mid-ocean spreading ridges are places in the deep ocean basins where the plates move apart. As the plates separate, hot lava from Earth’s mantle rises between them. The lava gradually cools, contracts, and cracks, creating faults. Most of these faults are normal faults. Along the faults, blocks of rock break and slide down away from the ridge, producing earthquakes.

Near the spreading ridges, the plates are thin and weak. The rock has not cooled completely, so it is still somewhat flexible. For these reasons, large strains cannot build, and most earthquakes near spreading ridges are shallow and mild or moderate in severity.

Subduction zones are places where two plates collide, and the edge of one plate pushes beneath the edge of the other in a process called subduction. Because of the compression in these zones, many of the faults there are reverse faults. About 80 per cent of major earthquakes occur in subduction zones encircling the Pacific Ocean. In these areas, the plates under the Pacific Ocean are plunging beneath the plates carrying the continents. The grinding of the colder, brittle ocean plates beneath the continental plates creates huge strains that are released in the world’s largest earthquakes.

The world’s deepest earthquakes occur in subduction zones down to a depth of about 450 miles (700 kilometers). Below that depth, the rock is too warm and soft to break suddenly and cause earthquakes.

Transform faults are places where plates slide past each other horizontally. Strike-slip faults occur there. Earthquakes along transform faults may be large, but not as large or deep as those in subduction zones.

One of the most famous transform faults is the San Andreas Fault. The slippage there is caused by the Pacific Plate moving past the North American Plate. The San Andreas Fault and its associated faults account for most of California’s earthquakes.

Intraplate earthquakes are not as frequent or as large as those along plate boundaries. The largest intraplate earthquakes are about 100 times smaller than the largest interplate earthquakes.

Intraplate earthquakes tend to occur in soft, weak areas of plate interiors. Scientists believe intraplate quakes may be caused by strains put on plate interiors by changes of temperature or pressure in the rock. Or the source of the strain may be a long distance away, at a plate boundary. These strains may produce quakes along normal, reverse, or strike-slip faults.

Studying earthquakes

Recording, measuring, and locating earthquakes

To determine the strength and location of earthquakes, scientists use a recording instrument known as a seismograph. A seismograph is equipped with sensors called seismometers that can detect ground motions caused by seismic waves from both near and distant earthquakes. Some seismometers are capable of detecting ground motion as small as 0.1 nanometer. One nanometer is 1 billionth of a meter or about 39 billionths of an inch. Scientists called seismologists measure seismic ground movements in three directions: (1) up-down, (2) north-south, and (3) east-west. The scientists use a separate sensor to record each direction of movement.

A seismograph produces wavy lines that reflect the size of seismic waves passing beneath it. The record of the wave, called a seismogram, is imprinted on paper, film, or recording tape or is stored and displayed by computers.

Probably the best-known gauge of earthquake intensity is the local Richter magnitude scale, developed in 1935 by United States seismologist Charles F. Richter. This scale, commonly known as the Richter scale, measures the ground motion caused by an earthquake. Every increase of one number in magnitude means the energy release of the quake is about 32 times greater. For example, an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 releases about 32 times as much energy as an earthquake measuring 6.0. An earthquake with a magnitude of less than 2.0 is so slight that usually only a seismometer can detect it. A quake greater than 7.0 may destroy many buildings. The number of earthquakes increases sharply with every decrease in Richter magnitude by one unit. For example, there are 8 times as many quakes with magnitude 4.0 as there are with magnitude 5.0.

Although large earthquakes are customarily reported on the Richter scale, scientists prefer to describe earthquakes greater than 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale. The moment magnitude scale measures more of the ground movements produced by an earthquake. Thus, it describes large earthquakes more accurately than does the Richter scale.

The largest earthquake ever recorded on the moment magnitude scale measured 9.5. It was an interplate earthquake that occurred along the Pacific coast of Chile in South America in 1960. The largest intraplate earthquakes known struck in central Asia and in the Indian Ocean in 1905, 1920, and 1957. These earthquakes had moment magnitudes between about 8.0 and 8.3. The largest intraplate earthquakes in the United States were three quakes that occurred in New Madrid, Missouri, in 1811 and 1812. The earthquakes were so powerful that they changed the course of the Mississippi River. During the largest of them, the ground shook from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Atlantic Coast to the Rocky Mountains. Scientists estimate the earthquakes had moment magnitudes of 7.5.

Scientists locate earthquakes by measuring the time it takes body waves to arrive at seismographs in a minimum of three locations. From these wave arrival times, seismologists can calculate the distance of an earthquake from each seismograph. Once they know an earthquake’s distance from three locations, they can find the quake’s focus at the center of those three locations.

Predicting earthquakes

Scientists can make fairly accurate long-term predictions of where earthquakes will occur. They know, for example, that about 80 percent of the world’s major earthquakes happen along a belt encircling the Pacific Ocean. This belt is sometimes called the Ring of Fire because it has many volcanoes, earthquakes, and other geologic activity.

Scientists are working to make accurate forecasts on when earthquakes will strike. Geologists closely monitor certain fault zones where quakes are expected. Along these fault zones, they can sometimes detect small quakes, the tilting of rock, and other events that might signal a large earthquake is about to occur.

Exploring Earth’s interior

Most of what is known about the internal structure of Earth has come from studies of seismic waves. Such studies have shown that rock density increases from the surface of Earth to its center. Knowledge of rock densities within Earth has helped scientists determine the probable composition of Earth’s interior.

Scientists have found that seismic wave speeds and directions change abruptly at certain depths. From such studies, geologists have concluded that Earth is composed of layers of various densities and substances. These layers consist of the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. Shear waves do not travel through the outer core. Because shear waves cannot travel through liquids, scientists believe the outer core is liquid. Scientists believe the inner core is solid because of the movement of compressional waves when they reach the inner core.

Contributor: Karen C. McNally, Ph.D., Professor of Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz.

How to cite this article: To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format: McNally, Karen C. “Earthquake.” World Book Online Reference Center. 2005. World Book, Inc. http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar171680

http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/earthquake_worldbook.html

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Chile quake similar to 2004 Indian Ocean temblor

February 27, 2010 By ALICIA CHANG , AP Science Writer

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Chile quake similar to 2004 Indian Ocean temblor (AP)

Enlarge

Residents look at a collapsed building in Concepcion, Chile, Saturday Feb. 27, 2010 after an 8.8-magnitude struck central Chile. The epicenter was 70 miles (115 kilometers) from Concepcion, Chile’s second-largest city. (AP Photo

(AP) — Scientists say the major earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile was a “megathrust” – similar to the 2004 Indian Ocean temblor that spawned a catastrophic tsunami.

Megathrust earthquakes occur in subduction zones where plates of the Earth’s crust grind and dive. Saturday’s jolt occurred when the Nazca plate dove beneath the South American plate, releasing tremendous energy.

The U.S. Geological Survey says 13 temblors of magnitude-7 or larger have hit coastal Chile since 1973.

The latest quake occurred about 140 miles north of the largest earthquake ever recorded. The magnitude-9.5 struck southern Chile in 1960, killing some 1,600 people and generating a tsunami that killed another 200 people in Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines.

2010 The Associated Press

http://www.physorg.com/news186516165.html

My Note -

The difference is that the earthquake in Chile yesterday morning at 23 hours ago, was much deeper – 35 kilometers down. Now, there are 300 people listed as killed during the earthquake.

- cricketdiane

1.5M homes damaged in Chile quake—official
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 07:54:00 02/28/2010

Filed Under: Earthquake, Disasters (general), Housing & Urban Planning

SANTIAGO, Chile—Some 1.5 million homes were damaged by the powerful earthquake that struck central Chile, Housing Minister Patricia Poblete said Saturday.

The figure includes half a million homes “with severe damage” that will “probably not be able to be lived in again,” Poblete told reporters.

The huge 8.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Chile in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday left a trail of twisted buildings, destroyed bridges, and closed down the Santiago International Airport

The city of Concepcion, some 440 kilometers (273 miles) southwest of Santiago, and its surrounding area was especially hard-hit.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20100228-255817/15M-homes-damaged-in-Chile-quakeofficial

***

The 1960 eruption of Cordón Caulle soon after the Great Chilean Earthquake was triggered by movements in the fault. (found in the text below – where is that volcano now?)

Liquiñe_Ofqui_Fault - Chile - earthquake 1960 and 02-27-2010

The Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault marked with red.

The Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault is major geological fault^[1] that runs a length of roughly 1000 km in a north-south direction and exhibits current seismicity ^[2]. It is located in the Chilean northern patagonean Andes.

As the name implies it runs from the Liquiñe hot springs in the north to the Ofqui Isthmus in the south, where the Antarctic Plate meets the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate in Chile Triple Junction. A large parth of the fault runs along the Moraleda Channel. North of Liquiñe the fault is gradually converted into a compression area. At Quetrupillán volcano the fault is crossed by the Gastre Fault Zone. It may be classified as a dextral intra-arc transform fault.

The 1960 eruption of Cordón Caulle soon after the Great Chilean Earthquake was triggered by movements in the fault. The Aysén Fjord earthquake in 2007 and the eruption of Chaitén Volcano in 2008 are belivied to have been caused by movements in the fault.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liqui%C3%B1e-Ofqui_Fault

Liquiñe_Ofqui_Fault

***

My Note – as I was looking for information about the earthquake fault zones in Chile and other info about the tsunami earlier today, I also found a few other good things including these which were interesting – cricketdiane

magnetic polarity reversal. A change of the earth’s magnetic field to the opposite polarity that has occurred at irregular intervals during geologic time. Polarity reversals can be preserved in sequences of magnetized rocks and compared with standard polarity-change time scales to estimate geologic ages of the rocks. Rocks created along the oceanic spreading ridges commonly preserve this pattern of polarity reversals as they cool, and this pattern can be used to determine the rate of ocean ridge spreading. The reversal patterns recorded in the rocks are termed sea-floor magnetic lineaments.

http://www.sciencemaster.com/physical/item/earthquake_glossary.php

1-quantummeasurement

Graphic

http://www.physorg.com/news186395462.html

Quantum measurement precision approaches Heisenberg limit

February 26, 2010 By Lisa Zyga

Enlarge

This illustration shows an adaptive feedback scheme being used to measure an unknown phase difference between the two red arms in the interferometer. A photon (qubit) is sent through the interferometer, and detected by either c1 or c0, depending on which arm it traveled through. Feedback is sent to the processing unit, which controls the phase shifter in one arm so that, when the next photon is sent, the device can more precisely measure the unknown phase in the other arm, and calculate a precise phase difference. Image credit: Hentschel and Sanders.

(PhysOrg.com) — In the classical world, scientists can make measurements with a degree of accuracy that is restricted only by technical limitations. At the fundamental level, however, measurement precision is limited by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. But even reaching a precision close to the Heisenberg limit is far beyond existing technology due to source and detector limitations.

Now, using techniques from machine learning, physicists Alexander Hentschel and Barry Sanders from the University of Calgary have recently shown how to generate measurement procedures that can outperform the best previous strategy in achieving highly precise quantum measurements. The new level of precision approaches the Heisenberg limit, which is an important goal of quantum measurement. Such quantum-enhanced measurements are useful in several areas, such as atomic clocks, gravitational wave detection, and measuring the optical properties of materials.

“The precision that any measurement can possibly achieve is limited by the so-called Heisenberg limit, which results from Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,” Hentschel told PhysOrg.com. “However, classical measurements cannot achieve a precision close to the Heisenberg limit. Only quantum measurements that use quantum correlations can approach the Heisenberg limit. Yet, devising quantum measurement procedures is highly challenging.”

Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle ultimately limits the achievable precision depending on how many quantum resources are used for the measurement. For example, gravitational waves are detected with laser interferometers, whose precision is limited by the number of photons available to the interferometer within the duration of the gravitational wave pulse.

In their study, Hentschel and Sanders used a computer simulation of a two-channel interferometer with a random phase difference between the two arms. Their goal was to estimate the relative phase difference between the two channels. In the simulated system, photons were sent into the interferometer one at a time. Which input port the photon entered was unknown, so that the photon (serving as a qubit) was in a superposition of two states, corresponding to the two channels. When exiting the interferometer, the photon was detected as leaving one of the two output ports, or not detected at all if it was lost. Since photons were fed into the interferometer one at a time, no more than one bit of information could be extracted at once. In this scenario, the achievable precision is limited by the number of photons used for the measurement.

As previous research has shown, the most effective quantum measurement schemes are those that incorporate adaptive feedback. These schemes accumulate information from measurements and then exploit it to maximize the information gain in subsequent measurements. In an interferometer with feedback, a sequence of photons is successively sent through the interferometer in order to measure the unknown phase difference. Detectors at the two output ports measure which way each of the photons exits, and then transmit this information to a processing unit. The processing unit adapts the value of a controllable phase shifter after each photon according to a given policy.

However, devising an optimal policy is difficult, and usually requires guesswork. In their study, Hentschel and Sanders adapted a technique from the field of artificial intelligence. Their algorithm autonomously learns an optimal policy based on trial and error – replacing guesswork by a logical, fully automatic, and programmable procedure.

Specifically, the new method uses a machine learning algorithm called particle swarm optimization (PSO). PSO is a “collective intelligence” optimization strategy inspired by the social behavior of birds flocking or fish schooling to locate feeding sites. In this case, the physicists show that a PSO algorithm can also autonomously learn a policy for adjusting the controllable phase shift.

As Hentschel and Sanders show, after a sequence of input qubits have been sent through the interferometer, the measurement procedure learned by the PSO algorithm delivers a measurement of the unknown phase shift that scales closely to the Heisenberg limit, setting a new precedent for quantum measurement precision. The new high level of precision could have important implications for the gravitational wave detection.

“Einstein’s theory of General Relativity predicts gravitational waves,” Hentschel said. “However, a direct detection of gravitational waves has not been achieved. Gravitational wave detection will open up a new field of astronomy that augments electromagnetic wave and neutrino observations. For example, gravitational wave detectors can spot merging black holes or binary star systems composed of two neutron stars, which are mostly hidden to conventional telescopes.”

More information: Alexander Hentschel and Barry C. Sanders. “Machine Learning for Precise Quantum Measurement.” Physical Review Letters 104, 063603 (2010). DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.063603

2010 PhysOrg.com.

http://www.physorg.com/news186395462.html

Physicists detect entanglement of one photon shared among four locations
May 08, 2009 | not rated yet | 0

Evidence of a new phase in liquid hydrogen

February 25, 2010 By Miranda Marquit

Protium, the most common isotope of hydrogen. Image: Wikipedia.

(PhysOrg.com) — We like to think that we’ve got hydrogen, one of the most basic of elements, figured out. However, hydrogen can still surprise, especially once scientists start probing its properties on the most fundamental levels. “We ran simulations in order to provide a quantitative map of the molecular to atomic transition in liquid hydrogen,” Isaac Tamblyn tells PhysOrg.com. “Some of what we found was surprising, and could change the basic equations of state used in models involving hydrogen.”

Tamblyn is a scientist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. He worked with Stanimir A. Bonev to simulate the transition in liquid hydrogen, offering evidence for an unreported liquid phase, and noting some interesting structural characteristics of liquid hydrogen. Information on the simulation efforts, as well as results and conclusions, are presented in Physical Review Letters: “Structure and Phase Boundaries of Compressed Liquid Hydrogen.”

“We used first principles molecular dynamics simulations to model the liquid,” Tamblyn explains. “Forces between atoms were obtained using the Schrödinger equation. Velocities of the atoms were then updated, and the system was evolved through time.”

“We ran simulations to determine what would happen under different thermodynamic conditions, like density and temperature, and monitored the stability of molecules as the simulations progressed,” Tamblyn continues. “Our transition line is based on molecular stability. The chances of a molecule surviving are greater in a molecular liquid than in an atomic one, so this is a natural way to describe the transition.”

After running the simulations, Tamblyn and Bonev then had to analyze them. “We discovered an ordering in the liquid that accounts for some of the interesting characteristics of hydrogen, such as the fact that under certain conditions, liquid hydrogen is more dense than the solid. We also found that highly ordered packing explains properties related to dissociation that were previously not well understood.”

The pair found that the simulations suggest criteria for the existence of a first-order phase transition in liquid hydrogen. “The existence of this has been debated,” Tamblyn explains, “and we provide some evidence for its possibility.”

One of the most significant things Tamblyn and Bonev discovered through their simulations, from an astrophysics standpoint, is that equations describing the properties of hydrogen might need to be updated. “This should change the modeling going forward,” Tamblyn insists. “What we found in the liquid suggests what the solid might look like, and that can help determine some of its thermal and electronic properties.”

There is a good chance that planetary models might be changed using the new information on hydrogen structure discovered through these simulations. “Some previous calculations may need to be revised,” Tamblyn predicts. He also says that the simulations hint at some of the potential effects of mixtures involving hydrogen. “We’re especially interested in the implication for hydrogen and helium mixtures.”

Going forward, Tamblyn believes there is room to expand upon the work. “We are looking at the metallization of hydrogen, following the transition into a liquid metal. We are also looking at simulating hydrogen mixtures, especially with helium, to see if our findings hold true.”

More information: Isaac Tamblyn and Stanimir A. Bonev, “Structure and Phase Boundaries of Compressed Liquid Hydrogen,” Physical Review Letters (2010). Available online: http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.065702

2010 PhysOrg.com.

http://www.physorg.com/news186310440.html

Earthquake in Chile today 02-27-10 2 million people have been affected by the Chilean earthquake this morning – according to the President of Chile 3.34 am local time – widespread damage in the Chile capital – aftershocks could be happening for months to come – 7.07 pmET – 214 deaths officially so far –

Posted by cricketdiane on February 28, 2010

Chile is a strong proponent of pressing ahead on negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and is active in the WTO’s Doha round of negotiations, principally through its membership in the G-20 and Cairns Group.^[6]

Chile is the first OECD member in South America.^[61]

Finance

Skyline of Santiago’s Financial District

Chile’s financial sector has grown quickly in recent years, with a banking reform law approved in 1997 that broadened the scope of permissible foreign activity for Chilean banks. The Chilean Government implemented a further liberalization of capital markets in 2001, and there is further pending legislation proposing further liberalization. Over the last ten years, Chileans have enjoyed the introduction of new financial tools such as home equity loans, currency futures and options, factoring, leasing, and debit cards. The introduction of these new products has also been accompanied by an increased use of traditional instruments such as loans and credit cards. Chile’s private pension system, with assets worth roughly $70 billion at the end of 2006, has been an important source of investment capital for the capital market. However, by 2009, it has been reported that $21 billion had been lost from the pension system to the global financial crisis.^[62]

Chile maintains one of the best credit ratings (S&P A+) in Latin America.^[63] There are three main ways for Chilean firms to raise funds abroad: bank loans, issuance of bonds, and the selling of stocks on U.S. markets through American Depository Receipts (ADRs). Nearly all of the funds raised through these means go to finance domestic Chilean investment. The government is required by law to run a fiscal surplus of at least 1% of GDP. In 2006, the Government of Chile ran a surplus of $11.3 billion, equal to almost 8% of GDP. The Government of Chile continues to pay down its foreign debt, with public debt only 3.9% of GDP at the end of 2006.^[6]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Chile

Population of Chile from 1820, projected up to 2050

Chile’s 2002 census reported a population of 15,116,435. Its rate of population growth has been decreasing since 1990, because of a declining birth rate.^[64] By 2050 the population is expected to reach approximately 20.2 million.^[65] About 85% of the country’s population lives in urban areas, with 40% living in Greater Santiago. The largest agglomerations according to the 2002 census are Greater Santiago with 5.6 million people, Greater Concepción with 861,000 and Greater Valparaíso with 824,000.^[66]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile

***

The VII Maule Region (Spanish: VII Región del Maule) is one of Chile‘s 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River, which running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km². The Maule river is of considerable historic interest because, among other reasons, it marked the southern limits of the Inca Empire.

[ . . . ]

Geography and ecology

The region covers an area of 30,296 km² and is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean; on the east by the Argentine Republic; on the north by the O’Higgins Region, and on the south by the Bío-Bío Region. There are a number of flora and fauna species present in Maule. For example, the endangered Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis is found in a very limited distribution that includes the Maule Region.^[1] The limited distribution Nothofagus allesandri is also found in the Maule Region.^[2]

Demography

According to the 2002 Census the population of the region was 908,097. With one third of its population living in rural areas, Maule has a greater proportion of rural inhabitants than any other region of Chile.

Economy

Forestry and agriculture, led by wine grape plantations, are the main economic activities. The Maule region is Chile’s leading winemaking region, producing 50% of all the country’s fine export wines, and a number of the largest vineyards are located here. Owing to its high concentration of vineyards, the Curicó valley – which means “black water” in Mapudungun – is considered the core of Chile’s wine industry. Winemaking is a traditional activity, some vineyards dating back to 1830. The increased wine-growing area is matched by the development of the industry’s infrastructure, technology, and equipment.

In addition to wine growing, two export-oriented agricultural items have emerged dynamically: fruit growing, vegetables and flowers.

Electricity, gas and water are the second most important economic activity. The Maule River feeds five hydroelectric power plants, including the Colbún-Machicura complex.

Heritage

The Maule Region has produced a remarkable number of famous men and women, in particular writers and poets but also, statesmen and presidents, scientists and naturalists, churchmen, musicians and folklorists, journalists and historians. Thus, the Maule river – the long and wide artery that runs through the region – has been considered Chile’s literary river par excellence. Many novels and short stories have had the river as their main background or protagonist. Several antologies, author’s dictionaries and essays have given their account of the wealth of culture that the region has generated.

The region can boast many small towns and villages with well-preserved colonial rural architecture both in the religious as well as the civil fields. The Talca and Linares dioceses (the two Roman Catholic dioceses in the Maule region) have several parish churches of particular beauty and architectural and historic value.

Cathedral “San Ambrosio”, Linares

Bride’s Veil Waterfall (El velo de la novia), Molina, Maule Region,

Parish church of the village of Nirivilo

Talca‘s main comercial street

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maule_Region

***

Literature

Chileans call their country país de poetas—country of poets.^[135][136] Gabriela Mistral was the first Chilean to win a Nobel Prize for Literature (1945). Chile’s most famous poet, however, is Pablo Neruda, who also won the Nobel Prize for Literature (1971) and is world-renowned for his extensive library of works on romance, nature, and politics. His three highly individualistic homes, located in Isla Negra, Santiago and Valparaíso are popular tourist destinations.

Among the list of other Chilean poets are Carlos Pezoa Véliz, Vicente Huidobro, Gonzalo Rojas, and Nicanor Parra. Novelist José Donoso’s novel The Obscene Bird of the Night is considered by critic Harold Bloom to be one of the cononical works of Twentieth Century Western literature. Another internationally recognized Chilean novelist is Roberto Bolaño whose translations into English have had an excellent reception from the critics.^{[137][138][139]}

The Andean condor is the national bird of Chile

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile

Update time = Sat Feb 27 21:41:05 UTC 2010

MAP	6.2	2010/02/27 06:52:35	-34.735	-72.638	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	8.8	2010/02/27 06:34:15	-35.846	-72.719	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE

(from)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

***

My Note -

I was noticing how strong the aftershocks in Chile and how close together – so, I started doing a bit of the math between the intervals – (its roughly “mathed out” – and not the entire list of aftershocks – but this is what people continue to experience and according to the CNN coverage – these aftershocks can continue for months to come . . . hopefully, people are away from the buildings and houses.)

02-27-10

2 million people have been affected by the Chilean earthquake this morning – according to the President of Chile 3.34 am local time – widespread damage in the Chile capital – aftershocks could be happening for months to come – 7.07 pmET – 214 deaths officially so far –

MAP

5.2

2010/02/27 19:06:18

-37.473

-73.502

35.0

BIO-BIO, CHILE

(6 minutes +/-)

MAP

6.3

2010/02/27 19:00:08

-33.425

-71.909

34.8

OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE

(19 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.1

2010/02/27 18:41:51

-37.581

-73.501

34.9

BIO-BIO, CHILE

(18 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.3

2010/02/27 18:23:12

-37.618

-73.818

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(8 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.6

2010/02/27 18:15:23

-37.527

-73.696

20.8

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(3 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.1

2010/02/27 18:12:51

-33.847

-71.577

35.0

REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE

(16 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.3

2010/02/27 17:56:53

-34.688

-71.571

35.0

LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE

(13 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.5

2010/02/27 17:43:37

-36.453

-72.978

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(19 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.6

2010/02/27 17:24:34

-36.256

-72.927

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(2 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.0

2010/02/27 17:22:26

-38.043

-73.629

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(11 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.5

2010/02/27 17:11:49

-33.953

-71.796

35.0

LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE

(21 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.2

2010/02/27 16:50:20

-34.162

-72.010

35.0

LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE

(13 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.5

2010/02/27 16:37:34

-37.509

-73.605

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(5 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.2

2010/02/27 16:32:21

-34.986

-72.356

35.0

OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE

(5 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.5

2010/02/27 16:27:58

-37.820

-73.404

35.0

BIO-BIO, CHILE

(6 minutes +/-)

MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 16:21:14	-38.266	-73.434	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	6.3	2010/02/27 15:45:41	-24.588	-65.432	38.2	SALTA, ARGENTINA

(22 minutes +/- to Argentina earthquake and 58 minutes until the next aftershock in Chile)

MAP

5.1

2010/02/27 15:23:06

-34.528

-74.987

35.0

OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE

(14 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.2

2010/02/27 15:09:08

-33.890

-71.268

35.0

REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE

(28 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.0

2010/02/27 14:40:53

-31.321

-74.548

35.0

OFF THE COAST OF COQUIMBO, CHILE

(11 minutes +/-)

MAP

4.9

2010/02/27 14:29:10

-35.028

-71.714

35.0

MAULE, CHILE

(6 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.2

2010/02/27 14:23:28

-34.505

-72.596

35.0

OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE

(3 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.0

2010/02/27 14:20:00

-37.274

-73.062

35.0

BIO-BIO, CHILE

(13 ½ minutes +/-)

MAP

5.0

2010/02/27 14:06:47

-37.288

-72.835

35.0

BIO-BIO, CHILE

(12 ½ minutes +/-)

MAP

5.2

2010/02/27 13:54:04

-33.269

-71.834

35.0

OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE

(42 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.0

2010/02/27 13:12:52

-35.014

-71.660

35.0

MAULE, CHILE

(5 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.1

2010/02/27 13:07:42

-38.436

-73.254

35.0

ARAUCANIA, CHILE

(3 minutes +/-)

MAP

4.9

2010/02/27 13:04:51

-37.115

-73.325

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(6 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.1

2010/02/27 12:58:33

-33.443

-70.944

35.0

REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE

(12 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.1

2010/02/27 12:46:19

-37.699

-73.681

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(1 minute 30 seconds +/-)

MAP

5.1

2010/02/27 12:44:50

-36.999

-73.038

35.0

BIO-BIO, CHILE

(16 minutes +/-)

MAP

4.9

2010/02/27 12:28:48

-34.187

-70.439

35.0

LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE

(5 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.0

2010/02/27 12:23:06

-36.253

-72.266

35.0

BIO-BIO, CHILE

(20 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.5

2010/02/27 12:03:27

-34.399

-73.825

35.0

OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE

(18 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.4

2010/02/27 11:45:03

-36.318

-73.216

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(18 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.3

2010/02/27 11:27:00

-38.103

-73.587

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(33 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.4

2010/02/27 10:54:24

-36.828

-73.336

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(16 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.9

2010/02/27 10:38:36

-38.019

-73.575

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(8 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.9

2010/02/27 10:30:35

-33.559

-72.636

35.0

OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE

(20 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.6

2010/02/27 10:10:15

-33.701

-72.184

35.0

OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE

(11 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.8

2010/02/27 09:59:21

-37.991

-73.467

35.0

BIO-BIO, CHILE

(38 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.1

2010/02/27 09:21:26

-36.609

-73.218

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(21 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.6

2010/02/27 09:00:18

-33.425

-71.625

35.0

VALPARAISO, CHILE

(6 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.3

2010/02/27 08:53:57

-34.447

-73.397

35.0

OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE

(30 seconds )

MAP

5.0

2010/02/27 08:53:27

-35.073

-71.760

35.0

MAULE, CHILE

(5 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.6

2010/02/27 08:48:05

-38.584

-75.257

35.0

OFF THE COAST OF ARAUCANIA, CHILE

(17 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.7

2010/02/27 08:31:05

-34.820

-72.443

35.0

OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE

(6 minutes +/-)

MAP

6.1

2010/02/27 08:25:30

-34.750

-72.394

35.0

OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE

(6 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.5

2010/02/27 08:19:24

-33.479

-71.574

35.0

VALPARAISO, CHILE

(6 minutes +/-)

MAP

5.6

2010/02/27 08:13:16

-33.062

-71.702

35.0

OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE

(12 minutes +/-)

MAP

6.9

2010/02/27 08:01:24

-37.654

-75.199

39.0

OFF THE COAST OF BIO-BIO, CHILE

(1 minute +/-)

MAP

5.4

2010/02/27 07:59:56

-36.050

-73.562

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

(3 minutes +/-)

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/at-least-one-dead-in-argentina-quake_100327496.html

MAP

5.2

2010/02/27 07:56:37

-36.933

-73.240

35.0

OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE

these are pretty strong aftershocks and they are continuing right now –

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

***

My Note – after watching the way the tsunami warning was handled generally, several things came to light – one, is that many of the buoys need to be kept repaired and maintained across the whole system; two, that if the tsunami had been any faster and any more than a two – six foot surge, most of the communities surrounding the tsunami warning area would have been screwed; and three, that many people along the coast of California thought the tsunami warning was a hoot and did not appreciate the threat to their own safety that it could have been. Had the tsunami been any one bit bigger, stronger, faster, higher or more compressed as it came in, there would have been no safety to the people along the California coast, partly because they did not take it seriously. The efforts made in Hawaii were surely inconvenient but certainly worth it and if the danger had been any more eminent, faster or of greater magnitude – those efforts would not have been near enough to move that many people out of harm’s way.

- cricketdiane

***

Tsunami hits California, no injuries or damage

By ELLIOT SPAGAT Associated Press Writer

Posted: 02/27/2010 06:28:12 AM PST

Updated: 02/27/2010 03:33:40 PM PST

// <![CDATA[// // <![CDATA[// 0){
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// ]]>SAN DIEGO—Tsunami waves from Chile’s deadly earthquake hit California shores Saturday, barely eliciting notice from surfers who ignored advice to stay away from beaches. No injuries or property damage were reported.

The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said water surged 2.2 feet in Santa Monica shortly before 12:30 p.m. PST and less in other areas, including 1.4 feet in San Diego and 1.5 feet in Santa Barbara. Authorities reported scattered unusual tidal surges in San Diego and Ventura north of Los Angeles.

The California Emergency Management Agency has received reports of varying turbulence up and down the coast, but nothing significant yet, said spokesman Jordan Scott.

“It’s a nonevent,” said Maurice Luque, spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

At San Diego’s La Jolla Shores, the tide receded sharply after a small increase in wave heights, disappointing curious surfers and strollers who expected more. Lifeguards had warned swimmers about the tsunami but didn’t order them to leave. All city beaches stayed open.

David Klein, a San Diego chiropractor, set up a tripod on a bench and filmed himself riding the paltry waves amid intermittent rain. When five or six small waves rolled in, he was convinced he had ridden a tsunami.

“They actually got big enough to surf on,” he said, laughing. “If you blinked, you missed it.”

Angelo Scolari, 49, went at the behest of his 17-year-old son.

“I’m more concerned about the rain than the surge,” he said.

The Coast Guard recommended that people in San Diego avoid going near beaches or other low-lying coastal areas, especially jetties and rocky areas. It said large waves can quickly and unexpectedly sweep a person from those areas, easily overtaking even the strongest swimmers.

Boaters and swimmers largely stayed away, but crowds were probably sparse because it rained after several days of sunny weather, said Jetta Disco, a Coast Guard spokeswoman in San Diego.

Coastal communities continued to remain on alert since dangerous waves are still possible hours after the initial waves.

Lt. John Eberhart of San Diego Lifeguard Services said there were unusual tidal surges in Mission Bay and La Jolla Cove, two popular tourist spots, but no reports of injuries or damage.

Ventura Fire Battalion Chief Matt Brock said there was a 3-foot tidal surge in the harbor that receded, causing a dock to become unmoored. There was a 15-foot boat on the dock, but it has been recovered with no damage, he said.

In Santa Monica, police Sgt. Jay Trisler said the surge didn’t cause any problems.

In Northern California, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office closed beaches in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.

California was under a tsunami advisory issued for the entire West Coast, but that didn’t deter surfers competing in a qualifying match of a Professional Longboards Association contest at San Diego’s Ocean Beach.

“We’re just trying to stay on schedule, that’s the biggest thing,” said Jeff Stoner, the association’s executive director, as organizers monitored the tsunami’s progress.

All but five of 72 contestants showed up Saturday, Stoner said. One from Hawaii dropped out to catch a flight home, hoping to join family before the first waves hit the islands.

The tsunami was a hot topic of conversation at coastal coffee shops, though some surfers hadn’t heard about the quake. Their big complaint was choppy waves that measured little more than two feet.

“You could definitely ask for better day,” said Josh Rapozo, 27, of Laguna Niguel, after competing in a qualifying round.

Devastating tsunamis are rare in California. Since 1812, 14 tsunamis with waves higher than 3 feet have been observed along the California coast, but only six caused destruction.

The deadliest occurred in 1964 when a magnitude-9.2 quake in Alaska spawned tsunami waves that killed 12 people in Northern California.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14483614

California Tsunami Inundation Map - click on county to see specific areas

Tsunami_Index_Map_575

CA.GOV |

CGS Geologic Hazards alt=”/”> Tsunami Inundation Maps Tsunami Inundation Map

Tsunami Inundation Map

Click on the county to view/download the Tsunami Inundation Maps or click on the alphabetized list of counties to the right of the image.

Download Maps by County Name

Additional inundation map compilations:

When citing the tsunami inundation maps, please use the following format (entering the specific map name, county name, and date on the map):

State of California, 2009, Tsunami Inundation Map for Emergency Planning, (map name) Quadrangle, (county name) County; produced by California Emergency Management Agency, California Geological Survey, and University of Southern California – Tsunami Research Center; dated (date on the map), mapped at 1:24,000 scale.

Map Disclaimer: These maps were prepared to assist cities and counties in identifying their tsunami hazard. They are intended for local jurisdictional, coastal evacuation planning uses only. These maps are not a legal documents and do not meet disclosure requirements for real estate transactions nor for any other regulatory purpose. The California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the California Geological Survey (CGS) make no representation or warranties regarding the accuracy of this inundation map nor the data from which the map was derived. Neither the State of California nor USC shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or any third party on account of or arising from the use of this map.

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http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Inundation_Maps/Pages/Statewide_Maps.aspx
***All southern Antarctic ice shelves melting

Published: Feb. 24, 2010 at 2:00 PM

RESTON, Va., Feb. 24 (UPI) — The U.S. Geological Survey says every ice shelf in the southern section of the Antarctic Peninsula is retreating because of climate change.

The USGS says its report is the first to document that every ice front in that area has been retreating overall from 1947 to 2009, with the most dramatic changes occurring since 1990.

The retreat, scientists said, could result in sea-level rise if warming continues, threatening coastal communities and low-lying islands worldwide.

The USGS previously documented the majority of ice fronts on the entire peninsula have also retreated during the late 20th century and into the early 21st century.

Officials said the ice shelves are attached to the continent, holding in place the Antarctic ice sheets that covers about 98 percent of the Antarctic continent. As the ice shelves break off, it becomes easier for outlet glaciers and ice streams from the ice sheet to flow into the sea. That transition of ice from land to the ocean is what raises the sea level.

“This research is part of a larger ongoing USGS project that is for the first time studying the entire Antarctic coastline in detail, and this is important because the Antarctic ice sheet contains 91 percent of Earth’s glacier ice,” USGS scientist Jane Ferrigno said.

“The loss of ice shelves is evidence of the effects of global warming,” she added. “We need to be alert and continually understand and observe how our climate system is changing.”

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/02/24/All-southern-Antarctic-ice-shelves-melting/UPI-56431267038057/

***

My Note – According to the article above, there is melting of the great ice sheets and global climate change that I’ve kept wondering whether would increase the amount of weight bearing down on the sea floors as our sea levels are rising. These are massive systems and way past the tipping point already. Oh well, that’s what comes of spending the last forty years telling people that everything is fine the way it is without fixing any of it that’s broken. – cricketdiane

***

U.S. scientists study Haitian earthquake

Published: Feb. 24, 2010 at 1:34 PM

SEATTLE, Feb. 24 (UPI) — A five-person U.S. team evaluating the magnitude-7 earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12 says much of the massive loss of life might have been prevented.

The team, led by University of Washington structural engineering.

Professor Marc Eberhard, said its main conclusion was that much of the loss of life could have been prevented by using earthquake-resistant designs and construction, as well as improved quality control in concrete and masonry work. The researchers recommended simple and cost-effective earthquake engineering be emphasized in Haiti’s rebuilding effort.

“A lot of the damaged structures will have to be destroyed,” Eberhard said. “It’s not just 100 buildings or 1,000 buildings. It’s a huge number of buildings, which I can’t even estimate.

“Usually when I go to earthquakes I find that the amount of damage is less than what appears on the television,” Eberhard said. “In this case it was much more.”

The report from the team that included Steven Baldridge of Baldridge & Associates Structural Engineering Inc., Auburn University Assistant Professor Justin Marshall, Walter Mooney of the U.S. Geological Survey and Georgia Institute of Technology Professor Glenn Rix is available at http://www.eqclearinghouse.org/20100112-haiti/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/USGS_EERI_HAITI_V1.1.pdf.

Chile earthquake and tsunami effects currently occurring -

Posted by cricketdiane on February 27, 2010

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/

Data last checked at Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:24:12 +0000.

Image last created on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:24:11 +0000.

Tsunami Messages for All Regions (Past 10 Days)

Click on the map or table below for more information.
Tsunami Messages for All Regions (Past 10 Days)

There’s also an issue relating to maintenance of the sensor network: Last year, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility issued a report pointing to what it said were “gaping holes” in the tsunami warning system. NOAA’s records indicate that 10 out of its 39 deep-ocean pressure monitoring stations, also known as DART buoys, were failing. Still more deep-ocean sensors operated by other countries are on the blink.

Officials at NOAA acknowledge that keeping the stations in operation can be a problem, and they’ve asked mariners to help out by staying well away from the buoys and reporting any damaged or drifting buoys to the U.S. Coast Guard.

This report is an updated version of a Cosmic Log posting that was first published in September 2009.

Click for related content

Latest news about the Chile quake
Latest updates from Hawaii
Hawaii tsunami warning information
Is Mother Nature out of control?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35619051/

Updated tsunami warning system in action

Monitoring network upgraded dramatically since 2004 Asian catastrophe

NOAA Center for Tsunami Research

This chart shows the computerized model for the propagation of tsunami waves from the Chile earthquake, color-coded to indicate maximum wave amplitude.

View related photos

(from -)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35619051/

At least one dead in Argentina quake

February 28th, 2010 – 3:22 am ICT by BNO News

More at : At least one dead in Argentina quake http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/at-least-one-dead-in-argentina-quake_100327496.html#ixzz0gm5QJOQ2

SALTA, ARGENTINA (BNO NEWS) — A strong earthquake struck Argentina’s Salta Province on Saturday, seismologists said, killing at least one person.

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck about 15 miles (20 km) northwest of Salta, the capital city of the country’s Salta Province. It struck around 12.45 p.m. local time (15.45 GMT) at a depth of 23.7 miles (38.2 km).

The Buenos Aires Herald reported that the earthquake killed an eight-year-old boy when a wall collapsed in Salta city, while several others were injured.

Even though media reports initially said the earthquake was an aftershock from an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile earlier on Saturday, a seismologist at the U.S. Geological Survey denied that.

The seismologist said the earthquake struck too far away from Chile’s epicenter to be an aftershock. However, he said, the earthquake in Argentina may have been triggered by the earthquake in Chile. “We don’t know yet, but its not an aftershock.”

The seismologist explained that aftershocks are not the same as an earthquake-triggered earthquake.

More at : At least one dead in Argentina quake http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/at-least-one-dead-in-argentina-quake_100327496.html#ixzz0gm5e9MDp

(from – )

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/at-least-one-dead-in-argentina-quake_100327496.html

Update time = Sat Feb 27 21:41:05 UTC 2010

	MAG	UTC DATE-TIME y/m/d h:m:s	LAT deg	LON deg	DEPTH km	Region
MAP	?	2010/02/27 21:40:33	38.818	-122.803	3.3	NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 21:00:37	-33.855	-73.028	35.0	OFF THE COAST OF VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 20:44:34	-37.893	-73.423	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 20:29:23	-34.689	-73.621	35.0	OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	2.7	2010/02/27 20:23:53	36.058	-117.890	2.7	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	4.9	2010/02/27 20:05:28	-33.470	-72.470	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 19:54:30	10.896	-43.442	10.0	NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 19:06:18	-37.473	-73.502	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	6.3	2010/02/27 19:00:08	-33.425	-71.909	34.8	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 18:41:51	-37.581	-73.501	34.9	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.3	2010/02/27 18:23:12	-37.618	-73.818	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 18:15:23	-37.527	-73.696	20.8	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 18:12:51	-33.847	-71.577	35.0	REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE
MAP	5.3	2010/02/27 17:56:53	-34.688	-71.571	35.0	LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 17:43:37	-36.453	-72.978	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 17:24:34	-36.256	-72.927	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 17:22:26	-38.043	-73.629	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 17:11:49	-33.953	-71.796	35.0	LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 16:50:20	-34.162	-72.010	35.0	LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 16:37:34	-37.509	-73.605	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 16:32:21	-34.986	-72.356	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 16:27:58	-37.820	-73.404	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 16:21:14	-38.266	-73.434	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	6.3	2010/02/27 15:45:41	-24.588	-65.432	38.2	SALTA, ARGENTINA
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 15:23:06	-34.528	-74.987	35.0	OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	2.7	2010/02/27 15:16:06	64.609	-149.293	1.3	CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 15:09:08	-33.890	-71.268	35.0	REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE
MAP	3.2	2010/02/27 15:01:35	36.066	-117.884	1.9	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 14:40:53	-31.321	-74.548	35.0	OFF THE COAST OF COQUIMBO, CHILE
MAP	4.9	2010/02/27 14:29:10	-35.028	-71.714	35.0	MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 14:23:28	-34.505	-72.596	35.0	OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 14:20:00	-37.274	-73.062	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 14:06:47	-37.288	-72.835	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	3.1	2010/02/27 13:56:38	36.065	-117.885	2.3	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 13:54:04	-33.269	-71.834	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 13:12:52	-35.014	-71.660	35.0	MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 13:07:42	-38.436	-73.254	35.0	ARAUCANIA, CHILE
MAP	4.9	2010/02/27 13:04:51	-37.115	-73.325	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 12:58:33	-33.443	-70.944	35.0	REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 12:46:19	-37.699	-73.681	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 12:44:50	-36.999	-73.038	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	4.9	2010/02/27 12:28:48	-34.187	-70.439	35.0	LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 12:23:06	-36.253	-72.266	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 12:19:51	25.979	128.434	9.9	RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 12:03:27	-34.399	-73.825	35.0	OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 11:45:03	-36.318	-73.216	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.3	2010/02/27 11:27:00	-38.103	-73.587	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 10:54:24	-36.828	-73.336	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.9	2010/02/27 10:38:36	-38.019	-73.575	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.9	2010/02/27 10:30:35	-33.559	-72.636	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 10:10:15	-33.701	-72.184	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.8	2010/02/27 09:59:21	-37.991	-73.467	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	3.8	2010/02/27 09:40:02	61.871	-150.942	55.1	SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 09:21:26	-36.609	-73.218	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 09:00:18	-33.425	-71.625	35.0	VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.3	2010/02/27 08:53:57	-34.447	-73.397	35.0	OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 08:53:27	-35.073	-71.760	35.0	MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 08:48:05	-38.584	-75.257	35.0	OFF THE COAST OF ARAUCANIA, CHILE
MAP	2.7	2010/02/27 08:31:52	33.993	-117.187	9.0	GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.7	2010/02/27 08:31:05	-34.820	-72.443	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	2.7	2010/02/27 08:28:00	33.999	-117.189	9.0	GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
MAP	6.1	2010/02/27 08:25:30	-34.750	-72.394	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 08:19:24	-33.479	-71.574	35.0	VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 08:13:16	-33.062	-71.702	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	3.6	2010/02/27 08:08:50	62.755	-148.809	0.1	CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP	6.9	2010/02/27 08:01:24	-37.654	-75.199	39.0	OFF THE COAST OF BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 07:59:56	-36.050	-73.562	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 07:56:37	-36.933	-73.240	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 07:51:06	-36.399	-72.498	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	3.4	2010/02/27 07:47:34	33.489	-116.822	15.6	SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 07:46:50	-36.795	-72.924	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	6.0	2010/02/27 07:37:18	-36.837	-72.541	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 07:33:31	-38.007	-73.484	35.7	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	3.4	2010/02/27 07:21:54	36.072	-117.885	2.9	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 07:19:49	-35.811	-72.945	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	6.0	2010/02/27 07:12:29	-33.807	-71.913	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	3.5	2010/02/27 07:10:48	36.062	-117.888	0.6	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	2.9	2010/02/27 07:04:24	40.138	-121.317	8.6	NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP	4.1	2010/02/27 06:56:03	36.060	-117.886	2.1	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	6.2	2010/02/27 06:52:35	-34.735	-72.638	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	8.8	2010/02/27 06:34:15	-35.846	-72.719	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	4.8	2010/02/27 05:37:30	25.987	128.527	18.3	RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
MAP	2.5	2010/02/27 05:19:42	58.912	-152.897	71.9	KODIAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP	4.4	2010/02/27 05:04:29	-7.196	111.316	246.5	JAVA, INDONESIA
MAP	2.9	2010/02/27 01:54:40	62.565	-151.520	105.6	CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP	4.9	2010/02/27 01:33:21	25.947	128.384	6.4	RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
MAP	4.7	2010/02/27 01:17:35	52.229	158.672	53.7	NEAR THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA, RUSSIA
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 00:48:46	25.989	128.510	32.8	RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN

(from)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

My Note – this thing looks like its still moving – and most of the aftershocks are very large and close together – structures that may have made it through the original earthquake may not make it after the continuing structural fatigues from aftershocks and in the pictures, it looks like people are going back into structures to recover mattresses and household goods – that’s gotta stop -

There may be other pictures from Argentina and surrounding places where they have had some earthquakes at this same time and / or damages from the Chile 8.8 earthquake this morning. I should look around a bit more . . .

- cricketdiane

Chile earthquake – seismicity map and other info – my google map with recent Calif

Posted by cricketdiane on February 27, 2010

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116238247468961946537.00048028e139ff5af76db&ll=-37.431251,-73.515015&spn=1.967293,5.410767&t=h&z=8

Historic Seismicity

Magnitude 8.8 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 06:34:14 UTC

Historic Seismicity World Location
Magnitude / Depth Legend

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2010/eq_100227_tfan/neic_tfan_h.html

My Note -

We all need to learn how Chile has been able to do this – I want to know how they’ve done it – they are already mobilized, getting people out of structures, getting assessments made, providing immediate health services for people injured during the quake, already setting up the food, water and shelter systems that will be needed and less than twelve hours after the quake they were doing it. We haven’t seen that happen that way in the United States and I want to know what we need to do to get it right the way they are doing right now. Please tell me how they have managed to put so much of this in place before hand and what our country needs to do for the same thing to happen when we have disasters.

So far, after hurricane Katrina – changes were made but if there were an earthquake anywhere in the US – we would unfortunately resemble what happened in Haiti and numbers of days, even weeks before aid gets to people – even aid that was already in place, even aid that was sitting on the tarmac. – and now Haiti customs wants to tax the donated goods coming in and not give them to the people of Haiti. It is obviously true that some countries have their act together when it comes to extreme events of human disaster and tragedy. Italy was very well organized after L’Aquila, the armies that came in to help after the tsunami in December 2004, were exemplary in some countries and disorganized in others. It is possible that at the very least, we can all do something that resembles this organized and immediate response rather than a bungling horror or secondary tragedy from bureaucratic incompetence that has occurred during other disasters, whether hurricane, flood, earthquake, volcano, or tsunami. We’ve all seen the secondary traumas and human tragedy that occurred and are occurring in Haiti as a direct result of poor handling of resources that were made immediately available. To have paid for and sent so many of our world leaders to classes, seminars, workshops, UN sponsored information resource conventions and conferences, etc. ad nauseum – it is ridiculous that any country would be disorganized in the way Haiti was in its capital recently after the earthquake. It is remarkable to see the efforts in Chile that are immediate and organized to help the people of Chile, to retrieve them from damaged buildings and to get to outlying areas that have been affected. I wish the United States towns and cities could respond that well . . .

Amazing. So far, it is an intelligent and coordinated response. And the preparation of using earthquake resistant design, technologies and building methods is extraordinary considering the loss of life that would have otherwise occurred and the physical harms that could have left the population in Chile with the same injuries that have been seen in Haiti – which were absolutely horrific.

- cricketdiane

http://www.livesurfcamhawaii.com/

Hawaii Live Surfcams – a lot of them are down for some reason – maybe heavy traffic – the site below seems a little better

http://www.surfline.com/home/index.cfm

http://da.wavewatch.com/Live-Surf-Cams.php

There are scenes coming in right now on CNN from the tsunami hitting in Huatulco, Mexico on an IReport. – most of the above surfcams seem to be taking a long time loading or are offline altogether. I think checking YouTube and IReport might be a better choice.

Notified Google helps you find people in Chile
The Internet search engine launched a service to locate people in the Andean country, after the 8.8 earthquake that shook degrees early Saturday

- (you can use the Google language tools page found to the right of the window on the Google Search homepage)

Entérate Google ayuda a buscar personas en Chile

El buscador de internet lanzó un servicio para localizar a personas en el país andino, tras el terremoto de 8.8 grados que los sacudió en la madrugada del sábado

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<b>Entérate</b> Google ayuda a buscar personas en Chile

AYUDA. Google puso el servicio para ayudar a las personas que buscan a sus seres queridos en Chile. (Foto: Tomada de Google.com )

Imprimir |

Envíar |

Compartir
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  // Recomendar
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- ¿Qué es esto?


	Enterate Teléfonos de emergencia para informes sobre Chile 10:50

	Terremoto en Chile: Suman 122 muertos 09:52

	Terremoto en Chile: Recuento Sismos ocurridos en 2010 06:29

	Terremoto en Chile Reportan dos réplicas 03:43

	Terrremoto en Chile: Sismo de 8.8 grados sacude Chile 01:35

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		Comenta la nota

Redacción
El Universal
Ciudad de México Sábado 27 de febrero de 2010
13:30

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El buscador de internet Google lanzó un servicio para localizar a personas en Chile, tras el terremoto de 8.8 grados que azotó al país andino durante la madrugada del sábado, en el que los usuarios tienen la oportunidad tanto de buscar a sus seres queridos como de proporcionar información sobre personas desaparecidas.

Mediante la página http://chilepersonfinder.appspot.com/?lang=es, el servidor pregunta en primera instancia cuál es la situación del usuario, que pude elegir entre “Busco a alguien” y “Tengo información sobre alguien”, para después proporcionar los datos de la persona.

Para buscar, sólo hace falta introducir el nombre o parte del nombre de la persona, mientras que los que tienen información pueden registrar el nombre, la dirección, la descripción, fotografía y un mensaje.

Hasta el medio día, se encontraban registradas mil 200 personas a este servicio, que, sin embargo, advierte que: “todos los datos introducidos estarán disponibles al público y estarán visibles y utilizables por cualquier persona. Google no ha revisado la veracidad de esta información”.

mcs

(from)

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/662091.html

Notified Google helps you find people in Chile
The Internet search engine launched a service to locate people in the Andean country, after the 8.8 earthquake that shook degrees early Saturday

news about the earthquake from Mexica – El Universal

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/noticias.html

Terremoto en Chile Suben a 147 las muertes

Carmen Fernández, directora de la Oficina Nacional de Emergencia, dijo que la cifra de decesos podría aumentar en las próximas horas 12:43


14:40	Terremoto en Chile Recibe embajada en México 80 llamadas

14:40	Identifican a militares muertos en avioneta

14:38	Terremoto en Chile Chilenos utilizan internet para mostrar destrucción

14:37	Terremoto en Chile “Fue aterrador, eterno y con mucho ruido”

14:23	Topos alistan viaje a Chile

14:14	Terremoto en Chile Suman 15 desaparecidos

14:05	Terremoto en Chile Perú declara ‘duelo nacional’

13:57	Terremoto en Chile Obama pide atender alerta de tsunami

13:56	Cae implicado de masacre en Juárez; era policía

13:55	Darío Botinelli se solidariza con Chile

13:53	Terremoto en Chile Reportan primera víctima por sismo en Argentina

13:47	Terremoto en Chile Comisión Europea envía 3 mde

13:30	Entérate Google ayuda a buscar personas en Chile

13:27	Ticos solicitan a Chile suspender amistoso

13:17	Sin reportes de mexicanos muertos en Chile (from)

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/noticias.html

***

http://www.khon2.com/default.aspx

Live Streaming video from Hawaii right now – tsunami warning and pictures from the news broadcasts there

http://www.khon2.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=3299&navCatId=4

Earthquake Chile info sources

Posted by cricketdiane on February 27, 2010

Brinda Obama ayuda a Chile tras terremoto

El portavoz presidencial Robert Gibbs dijo a través de una breve declaración que Estados Unidos está listo para ayudar al pueblo chileno en esta hora de necesidad.

Sáb, 27/02/2010 – 12:05

Washington.- La administración del presidente estadunidense Barack Obama brindó hoy ayuda al gobierno y pueblo de Chile, tras el terremoto de 8.8 grados en la escala de Richter que azotó esta madrugada al país sudamericano.

El portavoz presidencial Robert Gibbs dijo a través de una breve declaración que Estados Unidos está listo para ayudar al pueblo chileno en esta hora de necesidad.

Agregó que la situación se monitorea ante la posibilidad de tsunamis en las costas estadunidenses.

El Departamento de Estado señaló asimismo su disposición a ayudar a Chile, así como a velar por el bienestar de los estadunidenses que residen o estaban de visita en ese país.

Se estima que alrededor de mil estadunidenses residen en la zona más afectada por el sismo. Hasta el momento dos trabajadores diplomáticos de Estados Unidos en Chile están desaparecidos. Estados Unidos se mantiene en alerta ante un eventual tsunami que podría llegar a la costa de estado de Hawai.

Notimex

http://www.milenio.com/node/391022

***

Retiran alerta ante posible tsunami en playas de Guerrero

El secretario de Seguridad Pública y Protección Civil del Gobierno de Guerrero
informó que personal de salvavidas, policías turísticos estatales y municipales fueron desplegados principalmente en Acapulco, donde se colocaron banderas rojas desde las 8 hasta las 10:30 de la mañana.

Sáb, 27/02/2010 – 11:37

Además de México la alerta se emitió para otros países. Foto: Archivo

Ciudad de México.-Luego de la alerta emitida por Estados Unidos del incremento de los niveles del mar y probable tsunami en las costas del Pacífico, derivado del sismo de 8.2 grados que azotó a Chile, en las playas de Guerrero se desplegó un operativo desde la primeras horas de éste sábado, hasta que dieron por concluida la alerta, informó el secretario de Seguridad Pública y Protección Civil del Gobierno de Guerrero, Juan Heriberto Salinas Altés.

El funcionario agregó que personal de salvavidas, policías turísticos estatales y municipales fueron desplegados principalmente en Acapulco, donde se colocaron banderas rojas desde las 8 hasta las 10:30 de la mañana, “el alertamiento ha cesado y los elementos fueron retirados de la playas junto con las banderas que se colocaron para proteger a los turistas y a las palapas que hay en las zonas turísticas”, mencionó Salinas Altés.

Este incidente coincide con el inicio de la temporada de Spring Break en Acapulco, donde ya unos 500 estudiantes de la Universidad de Michigan se encuentran en este destino de playa.

Mientras tanto, el gobierno del estado citó a conferencia de prensa pasado el mediodía donde el jefe del departamento de Hidrometeorología de la Subsecretaría de Protección Civil, Roel Ayala Mata, hablará sobre las posibles en la entidad por el sismo en Chile.

José Juan Delgado / Corresponsal Milenio

http://www.milenio.com/node/391010

***

Acapulco out of danger by tsunami

Staff of the National Seismological Service said the behavior of the sea at the port has not been anything spectacular, as only registered an increase of 30 centimeters

Acapulco fuera de peligro por tsunami

Personal del Servicio Sismológico Nacional aseguró que el comportamiento del mar en el puerto no ha sido nada espectacular, ya que sólo registran un incremento de 30 centímetros

Redacción
El Universal
Ciudad de México Sábado 27 de febrero de 2010
11:54


	Monitorean oleaje en el mar de Chiapas 11:44

	Autoridades revisan oleaje en costas de Oaxaca 11:14

La alerta de tsunami en las costas de Guerrero, en especial en el puerto de Acapulco, parece que podría descartarse, después del terremoto de 8.8 grados Richter que azotó a Chile.

Un integrante del Servicio Sismológico Nacional, Víctor Hugo Espínola, manifestó a la cadena de noticias CNN que el comportamiento del mar en el puerto sí ha tenido modificaciones, pero no para generar pánico.

“Sólo hemos visto que el aumento del mar ha sido de 30 centímetros en Acapulco, la verdad no es nada espectacular, además quiero dejar claro que estos datos son de hace dos horas, las cuales no han cambiado hasta el momento”, dijo.

Sobre las recomendaciones para los habitantes y turistas que se encuentran en la playa mexicana, Espínola fue claro al señalar que deben esperar y mantener la calma.

“Sólo puedo recomendar que mantengan la clama y esperen las recomendaciones necesarias, además se dará un nuevo reporte dentro de dos horas para no generar tensión o confusión”, apunto.

Finalmente, Víctor Hugo Espínola confesó que el personal de este centro está laborando desde las primeras horas de este día, después de enterarse del terremoto en las costas del Océano Pacífico.

dro

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/662089.html

My Note -

There would have been hundreds of thousands dead if it had not been for Chile putting in place, earthquake resistant building codes. I still do not understand why so many roadways, bridges and support columns in buildings gave way as if they had no integrity at the point of connection to their primary structures. There are places with nothing but rubble, but many, many buildings in Chile that have been shown on the news have compartments where people’s living spaces stayed intact, even though portions of the buildings were damaged. That is remarkable and has definitely resulted in lower numbers of casualties than what would have occurred.

In California and other earthquake prone areas, I wish they would bring every single building and residence up to a code standard of earthquake resistance, including the use of everything the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, L’Aquila and Sichuan have taught us. There are too many structures which still need to be retrofitted for earthquake resistant measures. It still seems that we desperately need a masonry building material / cement / mortar recipe that works extremely better during earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, under extreme stresses / fatigue and especially during extreme events. It continues to be that the mortar is the weak point in the structures with the resulting catastrophic failures of those building materials during extreme events in particular.

Thank God for the leaders, builders, engineers and construction specialists in Chile that have made sure so many of these buildings and structures did have earthquake resistant building measures used. Where those measures did not fully protect, they simply did make the loss of life and damages to human life far less than it could have been. It is truly amazing to see the pictures with areas where people were living in buildings survive the earthquake intact. Truly amazing. We need to do that everywhere as part of the process of building, rebuilding and as a policy, to retrofit every structure to be better able to withstand extreme events, particularly earthquakes – especially where people could be inside those structures.

- cricketdiane

President Obama is speaking now – 1.47 pm (02-27-10)

Tsunami Event – February 27, 2010 Chile
Main Event Page

The Chile tsunami was generated by a Mw 8.8 earthquake (35.846°S, 72.719°W ), at 06:34 UTC, 115 km (60 miles) NNE of Concepcion, Chile (according to the USGS). In approximately 3 hours, the tsunami was first recorded at DART® buoy 32412. Forecast results shown below were created with the NOAA forecast method using MOST model with the tsunami source inferred from DART® data.

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The tsunami waves first arrived at Valparaiso, Chile (approximately 330 km northeast from earthquake epicenter ) earlier than other tide gages, at 0708UTC, about 34 minutes after the earthquake.

The graphics to the left display forecast results, showing qualitative and quantitative information about the tsunami, including tsunami wave interaction with ocean floor bathymetric features, and neighboring coastlines. Tsunami model amplitude information is shown color-coded according the scale bar.

Modeling Results

(see this page – for animation that describes how the tsuname from the Chile earthquake is expected to affect areas.)

http://nctr.pmel.noaa.gov/chile20100227/

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden displacements in the sea floor, landslides, or volcanic activity. In the deep ocean, the tsunami wave may only be a few inches high. The tsunami wave may come gently ashore or may increase in height to become a fast moving wall of turbulent water several meters high.

Although a tsunami cannot be prevented, the impact of a tsunami can be mitigated through community preparedness, timely warnings, and effective response.

NOAA has primary responsibility for providing tsunami warnings to the Nation, and a leadership role in tsunami observations and research.

Basics:

The Tsunami Story: Generation, propagation, warning systems, forecasts and reduction of impacts.
Basic information about Tsunamis & What’s happening now?
Tsunami Terminology

http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/

Tectonic Summary

This earthquake occurred at the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. The two plates are converging at a rate of 80 mm per year. The earthquake occurred as thrust-faulting on the interface between the two plates, with the Nazca plate moving down and landward below the South American plate.

Coastal Chile has a history of very large earthquakes. Since 1973, there have been 13 events of magnitude 7.0 or greater. The February 27 shock originated about 230 km north of the source region of the magnitude 9.5 earthquake of May, 1960 – the largest earthquake worldwide in the last 200 years or more. This giant earthquake spawned a tsunami that engulfed the Pacific Ocean. An estimated 1600 lives were lost to the 1960 earthquake and tsunami in Chile, and the 1960 tsunami took another 200 lives among Japan, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Approximately 870 km to the north of the February 27 earthquake is the source region of the magnitude 8.5 earthquake of November, 1922. This great quake significantly impacted central Chile, killing several hundred people and causing severe property damage. The 1922 quake generated a 9-meter local tsunami that inundated the Chile coast near the town of Coquimbo; the tsunami also crossed the Pacific, washing away boats in Hilo harbor, Hawaii. The magnitude 8.8 earthquake of February 27, 2010 ruptured the portion of the South American subduction zone separating these two massive historical earthquakes.

A large vigorous aftershock sequence can be expected from this earthquake.

Earthquake Information for Chile

Earthquake Information for South America

Predecessors of the giant 1960 Chile earthquake – Brian Atwater, Nature 437, 404-407 (15 September 2005)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2010/us2010tfan/#summary

From CNN News – There is a timetable of the events in Chile – since the earthquake – including these two most recent entries -

2:15 p.m. – The government of a Chilean province says a large wave killed three people and 10 were missing on the island of Juan Fernandez, 400 miles off the coast of Chile.

2:02 p.m. – U.S. State Department now says two of its Embassy employees in Santiago are missing, after earlier reporting that all 118 were accounted for

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/27/chile.quake.ticker/index.html

(And from another article on CNN – )

Coastal Chile has a history of deadly earthquakes, according to the USGS. Since 1973, there have been 13 quakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher.

Saturday’s epicenter was just a few miles north of the largest earthquake recorded in the world, a magnitude 9.5 quake in May 1960 that killed 1,655 and unleashed a tsunami that crossed the Pacific.

The earthquake off the west coast of South America caused a tsunami that reached the Hawaiian Islands in about 15 hours. This tsunami caused little damage elsewhere in the islands, but the Hilo Bay area was hard hit. Sixty-one people lost their lives and about 540 homes and businesses were destroyed or severely damaged. The wave heights in Hilo Bay reached 35 feet compared to only 3-17 feet elsewhere.

CNN’s Rolando Santos, Brian Byrnes and Patty Lane contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/27/chile.quake/index.html?hpt=T1

***

Seismic Hazard Map

Magnitude 8.8 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 06:34:14 UTC

Seismic Hazard Map World Location
Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green

Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program -GSHAP

Preliminary Earthquake Report
U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
World Data Center for Seismology, Denver

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2010/eq_100227_tfan/neic_tfan_w.html

Magnitude 7 and Greater Earthquakes
Magnitude / Depth Legend
Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green

Preliminary Earthquake Report
U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
World Data Center for Seismology, Denver

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2010/eq_100227_tfan/neic_tfan_h.html

***

Earthquake and Tsunami from Chile 8.8 earthquake this morning – population and cities / towns exposure from ANSS

Posted by cricketdiane on February 27, 2010

Chile Earthquake early this morning -

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/index.php

Population Exposure
Population per ~1 sq. km. from LandScan

Selected Cities Exposed

MMI	City	Pop.
VIII	Arauco	25k
VIII	Lota	50k
VIII	Concepcion	215k
VIII	Constitucion	38k
VIII	Canete	20k
VII	Melipilla	63k
VII	Talca	197k
VII	Rancagua	213k
VII	Temuco	238k
VII	Santiago	4,837k
VI	Valparaiso	282k

Shaking Intensity

PAGER – M 8.8 – OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE

Alert Version: 6Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 06:34:14 UTCLocation: 35.8° S, 72.7° WDepth: 35kmEvent Id: US2010TFANCreated: 9 hours, 10 minutes after earthquake.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. On May 22, 1960 (UTC), a magnitude 9.5 earthquake 273 km South of this one struck Valdivia, Chile, with estimated population exposures of 230,000 at intensity VIII and 216,000 at intensity IX , resulting in a reported 3263 deaths from the earthquake and tsunami. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused tsunamis, landslides, and liquefaction that may have contributed to losses.

(from pager – population exposure to this earthquake – ANSS)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/pager/events/us/2010tfan/index.html

MMI	City	Population
VIII	Arauco	25k
VIII	Lota	50k
VIII	Constitucion	38k
VIII	Concepcion	215k
VIII	Canete	20k
VII	Melipilla	63k
VII	Angol	45k
VII	Bulnes	13k
VII	Cabrero	18k
VII	Talca	197k
VII	Santa Cruz	33k
VII	Lebu	22k
VII	El Monte	23k
VII	Chillan	150k
VII	Parral	27k
VII	Talcahuano	253k
VII	San Carlos	32k
VII	Los Angeles	125k
VII	Curanilahue	31k
VII	Lampa	29k
VII	Tome	47k
VII	Coronel	93k
VII	Penco	46k
VII	Longavi	6k
VII	Chiguayante	83k
VII	Linares	70k
VII	San Antonio	86k
VII	Coihueco	7k
VII	Teno	7k
VII	San Clemente	14k
VII	Molina	29k
VII	Paine	33k
VII	Curico	102k
VII	Cauquenes	31k
VII	La Laja	17k
VII	Yumbel	11k
VII	Victoria	25k
VII	Nacimiento	21k
VII	San Bernardo	250k
VII	Chimbarongo	17k
VII	Nueva Imperial	19k
VII	Rancagua	213k
VII	Rengo	38k
VII	Llaillay	17k
VII	San Javier	22k
VII	Graneros	23k
VII	Villa Alemana	97k
VII	Quilpue	130k
VII	Traiguen	14k
VII	Limache	36k
VII	Talagante	52k
VII	Penaflor	66k
VII	Temuco	238k
VII	Collipulli	16k
VII	San Vicente	23k
VII	vina causino	510k
VII	Vilcun	9k
VII	Quillota	68k
VII	Buin	55k
VII	Pitrufquen	14k
VII	Freire	8k
VII	Mulchen	22k
VII	Carahue	12k
VII	Hacienda La Calera	49k
VII	Vina del Mar	295k
VII	Santiago	4,837k
VII	Lautaro	22k
VI	Machali	28k
VI	Los Andes	57k
VI	San Felipe	59k
VI	La Ligua	25k
VI	Loncoche	16k
VI	Panguipulli	16k
VI	Las Animas	30k
VI	Villarrica	32k
VI	Valparaiso	282k
V	Valdivia	133k
V	Las Gaviotas	2k
V	Mendoza	877k
IV	San Martin	83k
IV	Cutral-Co	47k
IV	San Rafael	109k
III	Neuquen	242k

Downloads

PAGER results are generally available on the Internet within 30 minutes of the earthquake’s occurrence. However, information on the extent of shaking will be uncertain in the minutes and hours following and earthquake and typically improves as additional sensor data and reported intensities are acquired and incorporated into models of the earthquake’s source. Users of PAGER estimates should account for uncertainty and always seek the most current PAGER release for any earthquake.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/pager/events/us/2010tfan/index.html

Update time = Sat Feb 27 17:55:05 UTC 2010

	MAG	UTC DATE-TIME y/m/d h:m:s	LAT deg	LON deg	DEPTH km	Region
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 17:24:34	-36.256	-72.927	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 17:22:26	-38.043	-73.629	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 17:11:49	-33.953	-71.796	35.0	LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 16:50:20	-34.162	-72.010	35.0	LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 16:37:34	-37.509	-73.605	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 16:32:21	-34.986	-72.356	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 16:27:58	-37.820	-73.404	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 16:21:14	-38.266	-73.434	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	6.3	2010/02/27 15:45:41	-24.588	-65.432	38.2	SALTA, ARGENTINA
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 15:23:06	-34.528	-74.987	35.0	OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	2.7	2010/02/27 15:16:06	64.609	-149.293	1.3	CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 15:09:08	-33.890	-71.268	35.0	REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE
MAP	3.2	2010/02/27 15:01:35	36.066	-117.884	1.9	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 14:40:53	-31.321	-74.548	35.0	OFF THE COAST OF COQUIMBO, CHILE
MAP	4.9	2010/02/27 14:29:10	-35.028	-71.714	35.0	MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 14:23:28	-34.505	-72.596	35.0	OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 14:20:00	-37.274	-73.062	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 14:06:47	-37.288	-72.835	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	3.1	2010/02/27 13:56:38	36.065	-117.885	2.3	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 13:54:04	-33.269	-71.834	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 13:12:52	-35.014	-71.660	35.0	MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 13:07:42	-38.436	-73.254	35.0	ARAUCANIA, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 12:19:51	25.979	128.434	9.9	RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 12:03:27	-34.399	-73.825	35.0	OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 11:45:03	-36.318	-73.216	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.3	2010/02/27 11:27:00	-38.103	-73.587	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 10:54:24	-36.828	-73.336	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.9	2010/02/27 10:38:36	-38.019	-73.575	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.9	2010/02/27 10:30:35	-33.559	-72.636	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 10:10:15	-33.701	-72.184	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.8	2010/02/27 09:59:21	-37.991	-73.467	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	3.8	2010/02/27 09:40:02	61.871	-150.942	55.1	SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP	5.1	2010/02/27 09:21:26	-36.609	-73.218	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 09:00:18	-33.425	-71.625	35.0	VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.3	2010/02/27 08:53:57	-34.447	-73.397	35.0	OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE
MAP	5.0	2010/02/27 08:53:27	-35.073	-71.760	35.0	MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 08:48:05	-38.584	-75.257	35.0	OFF THE COAST OF ARAUCANIA, CHILE
MAP	2.7	2010/02/27 08:31:52	33.993	-117.187	9.0	GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.7	2010/02/27 08:31:05	-34.820	-72.443	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	2.7	2010/02/27 08:28:00	33.999	-117.189	9.0	GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
MAP	6.1	2010/02/27 08:25:30	-34.750	-72.394	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	5.5	2010/02/27 08:19:24	-33.479	-71.574	35.0	VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 08:13:16	-33.062	-71.702	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	3.6	2010/02/27 08:08:50	62.755	-148.809	0.1	CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP	6.9	2010/02/27 08:01:24	-37.654	-75.199	39.0	OFF THE COAST OF BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 07:59:56	-36.050	-73.562	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.2	2010/02/27 07:56:37	-36.933	-73.240	35.0	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 07:51:06	-36.399	-72.498	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	3.4	2010/02/27 07:47:34	33.489	-116.822	15.6	SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 07:46:50	-36.795	-72.924	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	6.0	2010/02/27 07:37:18	-36.837	-72.541	35.0	BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	5.6	2010/02/27 07:33:31	-38.007	-73.484	35.7	OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
MAP	3.4	2010/02/27 07:21:54	36.072	-117.885	2.9	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	5.4	2010/02/27 07:19:49	-35.811	-72.945	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	6.0	2010/02/27 07:12:29	-33.807	-71.913	35.0	OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
MAP	3.8	2010/02/27 07:10:43	36.360	-117.943	7.8	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	2.9	2010/02/27 07:04:24	40.138	-121.317	8.6	NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP	4.1	2010/02/27 06:56:03	36.060	-117.886	2.1	CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP	6.2	2010/02/27 06:52:35	-34.735	-72.638	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
MAP	8.8	2010/02/27 06:34:15	-35.846	-72.719	35.0	OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE

(From -)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

Tsunami Warning in Hawaii: Register on Safe and Well

February 27, 2010

A Tsunami warning is in effect for Hawaii. Expected landfall is about 11am local time (4pm ET).

You can follow the Hawaii Red Cross chapter on Twitter: http://twitter.com/hawaiiredcross

Registering with the Safe and Well Web site is an easy way to notify loved ones of your well-being during a tsunami evacuation (US only)

If you have time before you evacuate, call someone and ask them to register you and your family.
Registration can be done with the Safe and Well feature of redcross.org or by calling 866-438-4636.
Friends and family can then search for your message on Safe and Well by using your phone number or complete address.

Chile Earthquake
For inquiries about friends and family in Chile, please try to keep calling them, monitor their social networking profiles or contact other family members who live nearby.

Telephone, internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster.

People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Chile should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.

Leave a Comment » | Chile Earthquake (2010), Disaster Alerts | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Chile Earthquake: Update #2

February 27, 2010

For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Chile, please try to keep calling, monitor their social networking profiles or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster. People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Chile should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.

Leave a Comment » | Chile Earthquake (2010) | Tagged: American Red Cross, assist, chile, communication, contact, earthquake, help, reunite | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Earthquake in Chile

February 27, 2010

Update 11:15am
The American Red Cross has pledged an initial $50,000 from the International Response Fund to assist communities impacted by today’s earthquake in Chile. We are prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation.

******

We are waking up to news of a massive earthquake in Chile.

We are working with the International Federation of Red Cross / Red Crescent to determine if and how the American Red Cross is responding.

To ask for or provide information about US citizens in Chile, contact the US State Dept at 1-888-407-4747.

The Chilean Red Cross is on Twitter. @CruzRojainforma. You can translate here: http://bit.ly/9duK6a.

Leave a Comment » | Chile Earthquake (2010) | Tagged: American Red Cross, chile, donate, earthquake | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

http://newsroom.redcross.org/

Earth scientists began recording earthquakes about 1880, but it was not until the 1940′s that instruments were installed in buildings to measure their response to earthquakes. The number of instruments installed in strucures increased in the 1950′s and 1960′s. The first abundant data on the response of structures came from the devastating 1971 San Fernando, California, earthquake, which yielded several dozen records. These records were primitive by today’s standards. The first records from instruments sophisticated enough to measure twisting of a building were obtained during the 1979 Imperial Valley, California, earthquake.

Today there are instruments installed in hospitals, bridges, dams, aqueducts, and other structures throughout the earthquake-prone areas of the United States, including Illinois, South Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Idaho, California, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. Both the California Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG) and the USGS operate instruments in California. The USGS also operates instruments in the other seismically active regions of the nation.

http://quake.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/SaferStructures/

***

(Click on image for a full size version – 128K)
Earthquakes are a widespread hazard in the United States. Colors show magnitudes of historical earthquakes: red, 7 or greater; orange, 5.5 to 7; yellow, 4.5 to 5.5. The U.S. Geological Survey operates instruments in many structures in the seismically active areas shown. These instruments measure how structures respond to earthquake shaking.
Designing and building large structures is always a challenge, and that challenge is compounded when they are built in earthquake-prone areas. More than 60 deaths and about $ 6 billion in property damage resulted from the Loma Prieta earthquake. As earth scientists learn more about ground motion during earthquakes and structural engineers use this information to design stronger buildings, such loss of life and property can be reduced.

To design structures that can withstand earthquakes, engineers must understand the stresses caused by shaking. To this end, scientists and engineers place instruments in structures and nearby on the ground to measure how the structures respond during an earthquake to the motion of the ground beneath. Every time a strong earthquake occurs, the new information gathered enables engineers to refine and improve structural designs and building codes. In 1984 the magnitude 6.2 Morgan Hill, California, earthquake shook the West Valley College campus, 20 miles away. Instruments in the college gymnasium showed that its roof was so flexible that in a stronger or closer earthquake the building might be severely damaged, threatening the safety of occupants. At that time, these flexible roof designs were permitted by the Uniform Building Code (a set of standards used in many states). Many industrial facilities nationwide were built with such roofs.

(Click on image for a full size version – 82K)
Seismic records (upper right) obtained during the 1984 Morgan Hill, California, earthquake led to an improvement in the Uniform Building Code (a set of standards used in many states). The center of the gym roof shook sideways three to four times as much as the edges. The Code has since been revised to reduce the flexibility of such large-span roof systems and thereby improve their seismic resistance.
Building codes provide the first line of defense against future earthquake damage and help to ensure public safety. Records of building response to earthquakes, especially those from structures that failed or were damaged, have led to many revisions and improvements in building codes. In 1991, as a direct result of what was learned about the West Valley College gymnasium roof, the Uniform Building Code was revised. It now recommends that such roofs be made less flexible and therefore better able to withstand large nearby earthquakes.

(Click on images for full size versions – 192K, 238K, 98K, 114K)
USGS scientists have installed instruments in a variety of structures across the United States to monitor their behavior during earthquakes. Examples shown include a dam, a bridge supporting a large aqueduct, a highway overpass, and a Veterans hospital.
The majority of deaths and injuries from earthquakes are caused by the damage or collapse of buildings and other structures. These losses can be reduced through documenting and understanding how structures respond to earthquakes. Gaining such knowledge requires a long-term commitment because large devastating earthquakes occur at irregular and often long intervals. Recording instruments must be in place and waiting, ready to capture the response to the next temblor whenever it occurs. The new information acquired by these instruments can then be used to better design earthquake-resistant structures. In this way, earth scientists and engineers help reduce loss of life and property in future earthquakes.

Mehmet Celebi, Robert A. Page, and Linda Seekins

COOPERATING AGENCIES, COMPANIES, AND INSTITUTIONS
California Department of Transportation
California Division of Mines and Geology
City of Los Angeles
General Services Administration
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Oregon Department of Highways
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington Department of Highways
Washington Department of Natural Resources
Private building owners

For more information contact:
Earthquake Information Hotline (415) 329-4085
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 977
345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
USGS Menlo Park Earthquakes Home Page

U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet-167-95 1995

http://quake.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/SaferStructures/

***

Why I know the government of the states and the US are lying to us – whether Party, Legislatures, Legislators, Politicians, Elected US Government Officials, State Government Officials, Republicans, Democrats, Administration Leadership, Agency Appointees, Highly Paid Experts to Cabinet Members and Administration Officials, Highly Paid Experts and Think Tanks to Congressional Members and Caucuses – gee, let me think – what tells me they are lying?

Posted by cricketdiane on February 25, 2010

Here is why I know Washington is lying – all of them that we’ve elected to be there making decisions who are at the table -

1. They didn’t invite us to the table (as in, the American people). Oh no, they invited the insurance companies to be at the table, the automakers CEOs, the banking industry and financial services industry CEOs, pharmaceutical company representatives, oil company lobbyists and big industry consortium representatives to be at the table – not us.)

2. If they (legislators in Washington) had wanted to pass a health care insurance bill to serve the US population, they could’ve passed one bill to make it illegal for insurance companies to charge 80% more in premiums based on gender and to make it illegal to deny coverage in pre-existing conditions. (Period – nothing else in the bill, no “riders”, no pork, no bullshit.) But they didn’t do that – no, not even after a year of fussing, cussing, discussing and putting off other more important issues to play with this one. Time consuming at best – energy, manpower, effort, money, resource, time and opportunity wasting at worst.

3. If they were very concerned about the health and well-being of the American people and our quality of life throughout the US, these legislators would’ve stopped a lot of common practices in industries, including the release of toxic chemicals into their surrounding living communities. They would’ve stopped corporations from taking profits made in the US into other countries in order to evade taxes on those profits. They would’ve funded schools first and the re-building of Iraq and Afghanistan second. They would’ve thought more of us than to allow 2600 complaints about cars with defective design elements to be disregarded while causing deaths and injuries to people throughout the US. They would’ve made sure our food supply and food providers were using safe food handling methods and processes across the board whether the manufacturer sneaked the production facilities into another country with lax standards or was sitting here in the US right under their noses breeding salmonella and E.Coli in their production facilities. They would’ve required standards of accounting in our corporations that show everything on the balance sheet, not off-balance hidden accounting for liabilities and they would’ve required that accounting to be prudent and truthful and accurately reflect the true values of those assets and liabilities across the board. They would’ve made financiers who got into trouble dig into their own pockets to get themselves out of it, since that is the same thing required of us. And, they would’ve made sure that nobody, but nobody could buy the goodwill and rubber stamp of the consumer protection agency that was intended to keep us safe from defective products and fraudulent business practices. They didn’t do any of that.

4. The elected officials in Washington also never, never, never create and apply policy that does what they claimed it would do, either by their intentional design of it which is the antithesis of what they claimed it would be or by virtue of some very basic misunderstanding of applied common sense which escapes their abilities and that of their staff members. Rarely, if ever, are the people of the United States doing anything that they can hear, acknowledge, believe or understand to express the accurate facts about what their policy decisions are destroying, causing, distorting, screwing up, manipulating in negative ways or otherwise resulting in some unnecessary and expensive suffering of some kind. That information is either discounted, discredited or just plainly not heard in Washington no matter how it is done and no matter what measures are used to get the information to them. Then, why do I know they are lying because of this – because I can hear it, I can see it, I know about it, I find it easy to get the information about what their policies have done in real factual reflections of reality. To say they can’t or don’t know or can’t see it or can’t hear it or don’t know about it – has to be either a lie or a lying excuse to do nothing about it.

5. I also know they are lying because the evidence is there in their choices, decisions and actions. One side of their mouths says that the American people are at fault for our financial meltdown, while their backhand is giving away our money to financial institutions and insurance companies like it is a private bank account of free money to cover whatever they want at the moment. The other side of those mouths they have are saying that they want us to innovate and create solutions, while behind their backs they are doing everything possible to hinder the growth and opportunities of entrepreneuship, raising fees and licenses, requiring absurd groups of regulations to be met by small businesses and startups, hindering business grants and loan packages to any but the large business communities and foreign investors, and generally, laying every complexity of intellectual prowess in the path of starting up any business from scratch at all – particularly those that are innovative, new, and competitive to larger industries.

6. At every turn, they have taken out the checks and balances systems that would ensure our Constitutional rights and guarantees are upheld and that would insure our government doesn’t become the bully state of Orwellian novels which we’ve all seen come to fruition in dictatorships, regimes of absolute tyranny, despotism, aristocratic rule, profit-driven anything goes industrialism, and in Nazi Germany’s Aryan race atrocities. Enough is enough, none of us like the America that has become so close to those things as to mitigate the belief it can be something else. If our government legislators in the states and federal levels cared about that as they say they do, they simply wouldn’t be doing half the things they are doing now and wouldn’t have done 90% of the things they’ve already done. The checks and balances built into our system would be restored to what it was intended in order to accomplish what was intended and offer accountability both individually and collectively from our government officials at every level as well as our agencies. The sovereign immunity clause offering no accountability to government personnel is only appropriate in a tyranny or a dictatorship where there are no rights afforded the citizens – not in a free and democratic society where the government serves the people who are their primary source of power.

7. One side of our government party system says that small government is desirable and offers a list of benefits they assume come with that territory – and they did their best to accomplish that while they spent the last thirty years in power. They were lying then and they are lying now. Those benefits did not materialize during their reign. And, the word for small government is “king” with the tentacles of an octopus doing all his dirty work. Which, by the way, is exactly what we’ve had in the US for the last thirty years and more so in each and every day throughout that time and still yet from the damages that they caused. States underfunded programs that the Republican administratorship did not want, removed checks and balances because they didn’t want to be accountable for the heinous crimes they committed everywhere they touched, acted like mini-dictatorships at the behest of the federal government lackeys who were serving the interests of industries, big business, and financial conglomerates and genuinely, treated the American people like slaves and undesirables along with establishing a caste system in America where it didn’t belong that is still there to this day. They were lying when they said that is the “American Way.” They were lying when they said it would be the best for America. They were lying when they told us our lives would be better and America would be stronger for it. They were lying when they said they weren’t criminals. They were lying when they said they had the interests of the American people first and foremost on their agenda and on their minds when they did these things and numerous others (both at state levels and federal levels). It was all lies.

8. I also know they are lying now because they do know better. They have the finest resources available, all of our money, the best in education, the best in the educated minds of our country available to them, the most in money, materials and manhours to get any job done, the best in intellectual and data resources from around the world available to them, the instant information resources from the American people to use as feedback on how their decisions are actually working out – if they choose to see them or hear them, the best opportunities, the most egregious pool of combined resources that belong to us which we’ve made available to them from every hard earned dime and dollar we’ve sent there along with the resources that have been bought with it – as well as having resources available to them on a daily basis that cover every basic need, want, income, delight, luxury, comfort, opportunity and desirable life experience for each of them personally – so they could want for nothing while doing our national and state business. How the hell can you screw it up with that much to work with?

9. If they wanted to stop waste and fraud, they could stop giving themselves raises. If they wanted to help the budget deficit, they wouldn’t have been charging the American people to cover each of them with 100% fully paid health care coverage when they, if anybody could afford it for themselves. If they wanted to cut government dole, they would’ve only hired lawyers to cover their asses as needed instead of keeping armies of them on the payroll at anywhere from $187,000 – $450,000 a year each as they have done. If they wanted to insure good health in America, they would’ve changed the fuel on school buses from diesel to natural gas and they would’ve made polluting industries stop polluting in the same year they discovered they were doing it, not years into the future after really damaging the health of everybody for hundreds of miles around and many generations thereafter. If they had ever wanted to get legislation passed that was sane, sober and built on some kind of common sense, they would’ve made it illegal to place riders into bills that are in no way related to the material subject of the legislation. At the very least, if they had wanted to do a good job for the American people, they would’ve considered the American people and their interests in light of what they were doing, what they are doing and in light of what choices they are making in order to serve industries that basically have no use for them or us in the overall scheme of their activities.

10. I’m sad to say that I know they are lying because to get to Washington requires being the better liar, the more convincing liar and the best opportunistic lying bastard of the lot or people just don’t get to be elected to go to Washington. Isn’t that the shame of it all, that we, as Americans would choose the best liar of the lot to send into Washington to get our business done than to choose an honest, decent man or woman to serve our interests? And, isn’t it the shame and tragedy of it all, that we let them get away with it without doing a damn thing to change it when we knew what they were doing was wrong and even, as most of us noticed that they weren’t listening to any of us with any real regard – that we let them get away with demonizing us, discrediting us, disregarding us, and generally, dismissing us and our concerns? They lied to us in Washington and in our state legislators and administrations. The Republican Party and the Democratic Party have served the interests of their financial power base while lying to us and using us to further their own personal opportunities and enrichment. The lies have been so pervasive and perverse that the media and the American people alike believe that the truth, the facts and the reality are no more than a matter of opinion and rhetoric as presented by whosever side is representing it and irregardless of those facts. And, isn’t it the greater shame of all of it that the truth, in fact – will be the reality that we all suffer, endure or experience – no matter what perspective we might have about it. Dead is dead and broke is broke and polluted beyond recognition is still polluted beyond recognition – climate change is, because we are experiencing it whether the “rhetoric” told us it didn’t exist or not, and most of us in America are living in a “Depression Economy” whether it is called that or not and no matter what the politicians tell us it is.

(And)

11. Just for good measure, the problem with these lies and probably the reason most religions suggest that it is a bad idea in the first place, is because reality will win out every time. Sooner or later, the propaganda doesn’t work and the deflected, distorted perspectives about reality and about the facts just doesn’t make any difference in changing what is what. It still is whatever it is. And sooner or later, people know about it and they do understand it for what it is, and sooner or later, they do get up and make things different starting right where they are with a power that is unknown and misunderstood by the people who think they hold all the power. One change, changes everything a little bit and another change, changes it even more, and as another person and another person join in making those changes one at a time from where they are with their own personal abilities and perceptions, the whole thing changes even more.

That is the truth. And, that is what made the Boston Tea Party so monumental. The American Revolutionaries said – You will not tax us without representation. You will not steal from us without our voice. You will not indenture us in enslavement to you and you will not indenture our lands and the abilities of our hands. You will not tread on me nor force me to set below your feet for you to stand on nor for your power to rest upon. You will not use me to do your bidding without my will or choice. You will not remove from Us nor from me that which God has given: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and the right of every man to set his own course and to pursue his own destiny. Try as you might, once a human being knows the taste of freedom, democracy and the rights to life free of the burdenous yoke of tyranny – there is no going back.

Don’t believe for one minute that perception is everything. It just isn’t. The power and truth of our Constitution does not exist in a piece of paper or some flimsy document resting in a museum somewhere. It is in each of us and that is where the true power of our nation’s substance exists and where it will always exist. It is in the power and wonder of freedom that we already know exists and can exist for each of us that can never be taken away no matter the circumstances where we find ourselves. It is the truth of what we see and know in our hearts and minds which is defined by the reality of the facts at hand that can never be distorted by politicians or religious fervor or zealousness of a cause or by the disregard for human life that we have experienced or have seen those in authority exemplify. It is the desire for human dignity and decency and fairness for all without discrimination, contempt or disregard. It is the sword of justice that is not blind, deaf and dumb to the plight of suffering and inhumanity to human lives and human dignity at the hands of others. It is the will of the American people, both individually and collectively that define the power of the government to govern by no more and no less than the consent of the governed. And, it is the true power that comes from the intimate knowledge of the freedom, rights and accountability to those tenets of America’s founding fathers that spilled our blood to protect it and have made us the soldiers of freedom that we are and will always be as American citizens and as citizens of the World.

- cricketdiane, 02-25-10

Toxic Fumes across America – and the Health “Care” Summit in Washington – obviously it isn’t about health care – its just another way to charge a required fee to every American for being alive and line the pockets of insurance companies that are as evil as any inbred psychotic dictator or king that ever lived

Posted by cricketdiane on February 25, 2010

Total launches carbon capture facility

Published: Jan. 11, 2010 at 11:29 AM

LACQ, France, Jan. 11 (UPI) — French supermajor Total inaugurated a carbon capture facility in the south of France that could remove more than 120,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions

Total hailed its $85.6 million end-to-end carbon capture, transportation and storage demonstration facility in Lacq as Europe’s first such project.

The French supermajor said intergovernmental studies showed that carbon capture and storage could remove roughly 30 percent of carbon emissions from the atmosphere. More than 7,000 industrial facilities could benefit from the technology by 2050, the company added.

The Lacq demonstration facility uses a system that employs pure oxygen for its industrial boiler in order to produce smaller amounts of carbon-rich flue gas. Remaining carbon is ferried through a pipeline and injected into a depleted underground natural gas reservoir.

Total said the facility could remove more than 120,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere within two years, which is equal to removing 40,000 cars from European roads during the same time period.

The Lacq facility contributes to Total’s green-energy portfolio and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuel oil, natural gas and other heavy industries, the supermajor noted.

© 2010 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI’s prior written consent.

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/01/11/Total-launches-carbon-capture-facility/UPI-12231263227385/

Toxic fumes – testing equipment and processes

Air quality testing and information gathering science

Testing processes in use now

(From a note on 09-14-09)

Check for story about new equipment that tests for toxic fumes – UPI? Reuters? CNN?

Status of EMP research now

(Also)

Second skin stuff

Put together equipment to locate IED’s from a distance – isn’t the sand around them hot and the IED’s cold until ignited? Sonic or infrared to see them?

(from the same 09-16-09 notes)

(Also – from today)

Hand swabs for explosive chemicals are being used now in Atlantic City airport security and others – how are they testing for that? How do the swabs get tested quickly on the ground (in field)?

Aberdeen Test Center Facilities / Capabilities Guide

Toxic Fumes and Field Testing (Chemistry)

State-of-the-art instrumentation analyzes gases produced during weapons and ammunition testing, mobile and stationary vehicle tests, and during the assessment of tents, shelters, and other field equipment in real time.
Measurements are taken with portable analyzers for vehicle testing, mobile instrumentation vans for remote site testing, and a bombproof for ballistics tests
A list of the gases analyzed and particulate collectors used is as follows:

• Carbon monoxide	• Carbon dioxide	• Sulfur dioxide
• Nitric oxide	• Nitrogen dioxide	• Hydrocarbons
• Ammonia	• Oxygen depletion	• Explosive gases (LEL)
• Hydrogen	• Particulate impactors	• Chlorine
• Cyclone and Particulate Traps

Reactive gases can be detected during toxic gas analysis using a field Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR)

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Warfighter Directorate, 410-278-4277, email atcwd@atc.army.mil

Facilities/Capabilities Guide

http://www.atc.army.mil/fac_guide/facilities/toxicfumes.html

Decades later, U.S. military pollution in Philippines linked to deaths

By Travis J. Tritten, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Travis J. Tritten / S&S

Nov. 8, 2009 Residents fish at the mouth of the Santa Rita river, where the U.S. Navy dumped its untreated sewage until it left Subic Bay in 1991. A landfill used by the Navy still sits along the river.

Travis J. Tritten / S&S

Nov. 7, 2009 These members of the Fastulan village tribe worked as subcontractors for the U.S. Navy sorting waste such as paints, chemicals and asbestos materials by hand until 1991. Villagers, who do not keep birth or death records, made a list of 42 former workers who they believed died of complications from exsposure to military toxic waste, some dating back to the 1970s.

Watch video

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines – The U. S. military is long gone from bases in the Philippines, but its legacy remains buried here.

Toxic waste was spilled on the ground, pumped into waterways and buried in landfills for decades at two sprawling Cold War-era bases.

Today, ice cream shops, Western-style horse ranches, hotels and public parks have sprung up on land once used by the Air Force and the Navy — a benign facade built on land the Philippine government said is still polluted with asbestos, heavy metals and fuel.

Records of about 500 families who sought refuge on the deserted bases after a 1991 volcanic eruption indicate 76 people died and 68 others were sickened by pollutants on the bases. A study in 2000 for the Philippine Senate also linked the toxins to “unusually high occurrence of skin disease, miscarriages, still births, birth defects, cancers, heart ailments and leukemia.”

The 1991 base closing agreement gave the Philippines billions of dollars in military infrastructure and real estate at the bases and in return cleared the United States of any responsibility for the pollution. The Department of Defense told Stars and Stripes it has no authority to undertake or pay for environmental cleanup at the closed bases.

Philippine government efforts never gained traction. Philippine President Joseph Estrada formed a task force in 2000 to take on the issue, but it fell dormant and unfunded after he left office a year later. Efforts by private groups and environmentalists to force a cleanup have largely fizzled.

After two decades, the base closing agreement has run up a troubling environmental record. Filipinos claim exposure to U.S. pollutants has brought suffering and death.

As the U.S. military works to become greener in the 21st century, the Philippines stand as a dark reminder of how environmental responsibilities can go astray overseas.

Both the Air Force and the Navy polluted haphazardly in the Philippines.

The Navy pumped 3.75 million gallons of untreated sewage each day into local fishing and swimming waters at Subic Bay, according to a 1992 report by what was then known as the General Accounting Office.

The bases poured fuel and chemicals from firefighting exercises directly into the water table and used underground storage tanks without leak detection equipment, the agency found.

At least three sites at the Subic Bay Navy base — two landfills and an ordnance disposal area — are dangerously polluted with materials such as asbestos, metals and fuels, the Philippines government found after an environmental survey there.

Clark Air Base was a staging area during the Vietnam War. Its aviation and vehicle operations contaminated eight sites with oil, petroleum lubricants, pesticides, PCB and lead, according to a 1997 environmental survey by the Philippine government.

Before the U.S. closed the bases, it drew up a rough bill for cleaning the hazardous pollution.

Though they never tested the water or soil, the Air Force and the Navy estimated cleanup at each could cost up to $25 million — the average cost of handling the most polluted sites back in the United States, according to the GAO.

Rose Ann Calma is believed to be one of the warning signs of pollution at Clark Air Base.

Now 13 years old, she weighs just 32 pounds and must wear diapers. Cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation have stolen her ability to speak or walk.

Her mother and about 500 other families who were displaced by a volcanic eruption in 1991 moved onto the base and set up a tent village.

They drilled shallow wells on a former motor pool site and drank the untreated water — despite an oily sheen — until they were moved off the land in the late 1990s.

Records of the families, published by the Philippines Senate, said 144 people were sickened at the camp, 76 of whom died.

It said at least 19 children were born with disabilities, diseases and deformities between 1996 and 1999.

Tests in 1995 by the Philippine Department of Health confirmed wells on Clark were contaminated with oil and grease, a byproduct of decades of military use.

“If it is God’s will, then I accept it,” Rose Ann’s mother, Susan Calma, said recently.

In a village near Subic Bay, Norma Abraham, 58, holds an X-ray showing the lung disease that killed her husband, Guillermo.

Her husband worked through the 1980s and early 1990s sorting the Navy waste that went into local landfills, which are the most polluted sites at Subic Bay.

Many aborigines like Abraham, who are among the poorest in a poor country, were paid about 30 cents per day to hand-sort recyclable metals from Navy waste that included asbestos, paint and batteries, villagers told Stars and Stripes.

No protective equipment other than gloves was ever used, and asbestos dust was often thick in the air, the villagers said. Sometimes, when a truck dumped new waste for sorting, they said the workers would faint from the toxic fumes.

Guillermo Abraham began to cough, feel tightness in his lungs and have trouble breathing while working there, his wife said.

The lung ailment plagued him through his life and after an X-ray in January showed he was terminally ill with lung disease, he died on May 29, Norma Abraham said.

His disease, which mirrors asbestosis, is the most common ailment and killer among the 70 or so families who worked with the Navy’s waste, according to the villagers.

The aborigines rarely get quality medical treatment and do not keep birth or death records. But they compiled a list for Stars and Stripes of 41 people who they believe died over the years from toxic exposure.

Any real chance for an environmental cleanup was scuttled by the two governments in the agreement that gave the Philippines billions of dollars in base infrastructure and real estate in return for absolving the United States of any responsibility for the pollution.

As a result, the United States has no legal responsibility or authority to conduct a cleanup, and an influential Philippines politician said that government has little interest in the problem.

“It is not one of its priorities,” said Philippine Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., a former majority leader and Senate president. “If it was, it would have been done a long time ago.”

Dolly Yanan keeps the records and photos of the gray-faced, emaciated and disabled children believed to have been poisoned by U.S. military pollution in the Subic Bay area.

The records count 38 deaths from disease between 2000 and 2003.

But the record-keeping has begun to lapse in recent years as hope for a cleanup and enthusiasm for the cause recedes.

“For the past four or five years, we cannot track the leukemia,” said Yanan, who runs a community center in Olongapo City.

A coalition of citizens known as the People’s Task Force for Bases Cleanup has fought for U.S. accountability for two decades and met with a string of disappointments.

The Philippine Senate inquiry and task force in 2000 led to no action, and a lawsuit designed to force a U.S.-led environmental assessment survey, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, was thrown out in 2003.

“If only our government was strong enough, I think there would have been a cleanup or at least an initial assessment,” Yanan said. “First, it should be our government who should have a strong will and call for a cleanup.”

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=67676

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http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=67676

The Associated Press February 17, 2010, 11:42AM ET text size: T T

Toxic fumes leak in Philippine port kills 3

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MANILA, Philippines

A chemical leak on a barge undergoing repairs killed three workers and prompted authorities to close schools and move to safety nearly 2,000 residents at a northern Philippine port, officials said Wednesday.

The three men suffocated Tuesday while repainting and fixing the docked barge in Batangas port south of Manila, said regional police director Rolando Anonuevo.

Three other workers were hospitalized while authorities temporarily moved about 2,000 people living nearby to a local school.

The gas was probably sodium hydrosulfide, a toxic chemical used in the production of paper and dyes and to process ores, said Philippine National Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon.

Mayor Ryan Dolor declared an emergency in the town, sealed off a 1.6-mile (1 kilometer) radius around the wharf and suspended classes. Police vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances and Red Cross personnel were on the scene as officials investigated the leak, he said.

Police summoned the owner of the barge for questioning.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DU1OPO2.htm

Trackman’s estate sues BNSF over toxic fumes
2/18/2010 10:00 AM By Kelly Holleran

The executrix of a deceased man’s estate has filed suit against his former employer, saying he developed respiratory and cardiovascular problems after being exposed to toxic fumes while working.

Maria Seijas claims the recently deceased Roberto Seijas worked as a trackman and machine operator for BNSF Railway Company from 1971 until 2008.

During the time of his employment, Roberto Seijas was exposed to numerous airborne pollutants, chemicals, toxins, ballast dust and diesel fumes, which led him to experience a heart attack on May 15, 2008, according to the complaint filed Feb. 11 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Before his death, Roberto Seijas sustained severe and permanent injuries to his respiratory and cardiovascular systems, lungs, heart and body, which caused him to suffer great pain and mental anguish, the suit states. In addition, he lost money, experienced an extinguished earning capacity and incurred medical costs, the complaint says.

Maria Seijas blames BNSF for causing Roberto Seijas’ death, saying the company was guilty of a number of negligent acts, including its failure to provide safe tools, proper equipment and adequate supervision; its failure to warn him of hazardous conditions; its allowance of unsafe business practices to become common; and its assigning work to Roberto Seijas that it knew would cause him injury.

In her complaint, Maria Seijas seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Gregory M. Tobin of Pratt and Tobin in East Alton will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-160.

http://www.madisonrecord.com/news/224868-trackmans-estate-sues-bnsf-over-toxic-fumes

Pan-frying meat over gas hob ups cancer risk

by Kangna Agarwal – February 18, 2010

Frying meat on a gas hob may elevate the risk of developing cancer , warns a novel research.

The study claims that frying meat on a gas hob may be worse than frying it on an electric ring. Professional chefs and cooks may be particularly at risk, it cautioned.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently declared that frying on high-temperature may be ‘probably carcinogenic to humans.’

Details of the study
To come up with this finding, a research team from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology replicated the conditions of a typical Western European restaurant kitchen.

For the study, 17 beefsteaks, weighing 400 g each, were fried both on a gas or an electric hob consecutively for 15 minutes, using margarine or soya bean oil.

Then the team measured the amount of toxic particles given off in the ‘breathing zone’ of the chefs.

Outcome of the study
It was found that meat cooked on a gas hob produced more toxic fumes or the harmful polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compared to food cooked on the electric hob.

Margarine oil was shown to produce the highest level of toxic fumes. The researchers also found napthalene, a chemical contained in mothballs, in 16 of the 17 samples.

The cooks were also shown to report an increased risk of respiratory tract cancer due to the presence of PAHs in their breathing zones.

Findings of the study caution that cooking fumes, as well as other tiny particles given off while frying cause DNA changes which may trigger cancer risk, or cause lung cancer.

However, what causes such toxic content–type of fat or food–still remains uncertain.

Word of caution
The researchers recommended that in order to avoid the consequences, people should keep their kitchens as ventilated as they can, and also make sure that their gas appliances are well maintained.

They concluded, “The measured levels of total particles and PAHs for the cooks in our study are far below the Norwegian occupational exposure limits for nuisance dust.

“However, cooking fumes consist of a mixture of toxic and mutagenic compounds, including mutagenic aldehydes and heterocyclic amines with no known dose-response relationship, so exposure to cooking fumes should be reduced as much as possible.”

Health expert Dr Deborah Jarvis of Imperial College London said, “People should keep their kitchens well ventilated when cooking.”

The study appears in the Journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

http://www.themedguru.com/20100218/newsfeature/pan-frying-meat-over-gas-hob-ups-cancer-risk-86132380.html

Pan-frying meat over gas hob ups cancer risk

TheMedGuru - ‎Feb 18, 2010‎

It was found that meat cooked on a gas hob produced more toxic fumes or the harmful polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compared to food cooked on the …

Frying meat on gas hob less healthy than cooking with electricity Mirror.co.uk

Frying steak on gas hob ‘may increase risk of cancer’ Telegraph.co.uk

The ‘cancer risk’ of frying steak on a gas hob Daily Mail

Metro

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Gas Cooking Might Up Your Cancer Risk

BusinessWeek - Amanda Gardner – ‎20 hours ago‎

Researchers in Norway have found that cooking with gas produces more potentially harmful fumes than electric cooking. But, in a report published online Feb. …

Scientists warn that cooking with electric stove better for your health than … Daily Telegraph

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(from google search for “toxic fumes” on the news search function)

Poison death rate is high

Health » Utahns die of poisoning at twice the national rate, according to experts.

By Mike Stark

The Associated Press

Updated: 02/15/2010 10:03:27 AM MST

Toone family tragedy
Feb 19:
Poison linked to death of Utah girls championed by tobacco lobby
Feb 13:
Hundreds gather for funeral of Rebecca and Rachel Toone
Feb 12:
Family of girls dead of suspected pesticide poisoning rely on faith
Feb 10:
Exterminator owner: ‘I would have told the family … to get out’
Phosphine poisoning is rare
Second Layton girl dies in case of possible pesticide poisoning
Feb 8:
Killer pesticide? Layton girl dies, toddler sister hospitalized
Feb 7:
Toxic chemical may have killed girl, 4

Whether it’s an overdose of pain medications or being overcome by toxic fumes, Utah residents die at twice the national rate of poisonings, according to new state figures.

The Utah Department of Health reports 21.3 deaths from poisoning each year per 100,000 residents. The national average is 11 per 100,000 people, the department said.

Many of Utah’s poison deaths go relatively unnoticed, but the state has had several high-profile cases in recent weeks.

Those include the deaths of 4-year-old Rebecca Toone and her 15-month-old sister, Rachel, last week. Investigators believe they died after fumes from rodent poison pellets placed in their yard seeped into their house.

Last month, 30-year-old Mauricio Lacayo, of Saratoga Springs, died after reporting he had been exposed to a hazardous substance at his job.

The most common exposures reported at the Utah Poison Control Center are analgesics, household cleaning products and cosmetics and personal care products.

For the first time, pesticides also are on the center’s top 10 list.

“They’ve crept up. Now they’re No. 7,” said Marty Malheiro, an outreach coordinator at the poison center, which fielded more than 56,000 calls last year.

Overall, the Salt Lake County area has the highest rates of poisoning deaths in the state. Summit County had the lowest.

Those between the ages of 45 and 54 were the most likely to die of poisoning, according to state

officials.

They said poisoning deaths among children have dropped in recent years, mostly because of safer packaging and poison control hot lines.

Many poisoning deaths in Utah are linked to prescription drug overdoses, thought it’s often difficult to tell whether the overdoses were intentional, according to health officials.

Between 1999 and 2007, the number of deaths attributed to prescription pain medications rose more than 500 percent, according to the health department.

“There are a lot of people working on this issue to figure out why,” said Jenny Johnson, who works with the state’s violence and injury-prevention program, which released the latest figures.

In recent years, much focus has been on the state’s steady increase in drug deaths, which make up the largest single category of cases — roughly 20 to 25 percent — at the state medical examiner’s office.

Fatal overdoses from prescription drugs happen at nearly three times the rate of those from illicit drugs, according to Todd Grey, the state’s chief medical examiner.

There are likely several factors at work, health officials said, such as an increase in the number of prescriptions, including narcotics. While new and better medicines provide benefits to many patients, there is an increased risk of those same drugs being abused, said Robert Rolfs, the state epidemiologist.

The latest U.S. Health and Human Services survey ranked Utah fourth in the nation for non-medical use of pain relievers.

Other reasons for the ranking include misuse of medications and abuse by those stealing them from medicine cabinets.

State officials say they’ve also seen more drug deaths in which it’s unclear whether people intended to kill themselves.

Utah lawmakers this year are considering several bills to address the problem, including one that would notify doctors of a patient’s DUI conviction if it was caused by prescription medication and another requiring any physician licensed to prescribe medicine to register with a controlled-substance database and learn how to use it.

Health officials have also launched public awareness campaigns about prescription drug use.

“It’s a solvable problem but it’s complex,” Rolfs said.

Salt Lake Tribune staff contributed to this report.

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_14401198

Saturday, 20th February 2010

(from THE STAR – serving South Yorkshire, UK)

Gas deaths recall alert

Published Date: 20 February 2010

By Russ Newton

THE deaths of a Doncaster couple from carbon monoxide poisoning has prompted a nationwide safety recall for thousands of potentially dangerous gas cookers.

Boris and Vilma Green, aged 78 and 80, were among six people across the UK who died because they used a grill oven with the door closed, causing it to give off toxic fumes which overcame them as they sat in their armchairs watching TV.

One of their sons found them when he entered their house in Acacia Road, Cantley, after being unable to get a response by phone. Their pet poodle was also killed by the carbon monoxide.

At an inquest it emerged the £300 Leisure Alta cooker – less than three years old – had a defective oven so the couple used the grill as an oven to cook some meat.

But they appear not to have read the instruction manual which stated the grill door should be left open when it was turned on to provide a supply of air for safe combustion.

When experts investigated they found the Greens’ gas boiler and gas fire were working properly but tests on the grill oven produced dangerous levels of CO within minutes.

Their son, Malcolm, said after the inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death: “You can’t prepare for that sort of thing. When you hear about carbon monoxide poisoning you think it’s from boilers or fires, nobody thinks about cookers.

“I think this shows grill ovens should be fitted with a safety device to switch it off if the door is closed, just like when you close the lids on hobs.

“I don’t suppose my parents read the instructions because everyone thinks they know how to use a cooker. If I’d known they had something wrong with the main oven we would have had it sorted.”

The inquest was told the other deaths in Kent, Ulster and Ireland involved New World, Leisure, Belling and Flavel cookers, which are all manufactured in Turkey by the Beko firm.

Their British operations director, Andrew Mullen, gave a statement that 25,835 cookers had been sold in the British Isles and there had been an extensive campaign to make safety changes by removing part of the grill door seal.

Although 21,752 customers had been traced only 10,500 had responded to have them modified.

Doncaster Deputy Coroner Fred Curtis said it was a distressing case “particularly when an elderly couple seek to cook their main meal of the day and never survived to see the end product because of a development they were unaware of”.

He pointed out a small sticker on the cooker might have alerted users to the potential danger.

He added: “Once this oven door had been closed it did develop carbon monoxide fumes in the property at a considerable rate.

“Had there been a CO detector in the house then it would be possible that it would have been heard by the Greens and they would have realised something was amiss and taken appropriate action.”

Mr Curtis said the cookers had been certified as safe before going on sale but those safety standards were not sufficient and were now being addressed across Europe.

He said he was gratified that Beko had acted quickly.

He also urged gas cooker users to have their appliance checked out, not to buy second-hand ones, and make sure they were fitted by qualified people, as well as fitting a CO detector

http://www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/Gas-deaths-recall-alert.6090520.jp

Veterans speak out against burn pits

A range of health problems are linked to the pits on military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Toxic substances have been found in the smoke.

A military environmental agency that tested air samples from Balad in 2007 found dioxins, metals, volatile organic compounds and other toxic substances in the smoke. (U.S. Air Force)

By David Zucchino

February 18, 2010

The noxious smoke plumes that wafted over the military base in Balad, Iraq, alarmed Lt. Col. Michelle Franco. The stench from a huge burn pit clung to her clothing, skin and hair.

“I remember thinking: This doesn’t look good, smell good or taste good,” Franco said recently. “I knew it couldn’t be good for anybody.”

She wheezed and coughed constantly. When Franco returned to the U.S., she was diagnosed with reactive airway dysfunction syndrome. She is no longer able to serve as an Air Force nurse.

Other returning veterans have reported leukemia, lymphoma, congestive heart problems, neurological conditions, bronchitis, skin rashes and sleep disorders — all of which they attribute to burn pits on dozens of U.S. bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“The military needs to step up and address this problem,” said John Wilson of the advocacy group Disabled American Veterans, which maintains a registry of more than 500 veterans with disorders they blame on burn pits. The fumes emanating from the pits, he warned, could become the Agent Orange of the current war zone.

Items burned in the pits have included medical waste, plastics, computer parts, oil, lubricants, paint, tires and foam cups, according to soldiers and contractors. Some say amputated body parts from Iraqi patients were burned in Balad, site of a large U.S. military hospital.

A military environmental agency that tested air samples from Balad in 2007 found dioxins, metals, volatile organic compounds and other toxic substances in the smoke. But in its report — titled “Just the Facts” — the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine said the substances “were within acceptable standards.” It also blamed particulate matter found at levels above military exposure guidelines on the blowing sand and dust that is common at bases across the region.

“Although no chemical concerns or significant health risks have been identified, smoke from any source, including burning trash, can still cause temporary irritation effects,” the report said.

Last year, the center recommended moving burn pits downwind from areas where service members live and work, and minimizing the burning of plastics and cooking grease.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Bill Speaks, a military spokesman, the burning of medical waste, fuels, oils, lubricants, tires, most metals, electronics, batteries and other hazardous items is prohibited. More environmental sampling and independent reviews are planned “to ensure . . . an improved understanding of burn-pit smoke and any resulting health risks,” Speaks said.

Still, Army Master Sgt. Tex C.G. Hughes said batteries, computer parts and other banned materials were burned regularly at the main U.S. military base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He said the fumes wafted over a nearby training camp, where he and other soldiers suffered from burning eyes, coughing and wheezing.

“You could taste the smoke all night long,” said Hughes, a 61-year-old intelligence specialist. He attributes his sleep apnea to smoke exposure.

The Pentagon operates at least 84 burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Rep. Timothy H. Bishop (D-N.Y.), who cosponsored legislation last fall that prohibited burning hazardous and medical waste unless the military showed it had no alternative. The law also requires the Defense Department to justify burn pits, develop alternatives and improve medical monitoring.

Two pits at Balad were shut down in October and replaced by four closed incinerators with pollution controls. The military has installed 27 incinerators in Iraq and Afghanistan and has ordered 82 more, Bishop said.

While the Pentagon says the pits do not cause serious long-term health problems, some health experts disagree.

Dr. Anthony Szema, chief of the allergy section at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northport, N.Y., said exposure to smoke and fumes from burning refuse can increase the risk of death from lung cancer or cardiovascular disease. Szema told a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing in November that burning plastic bottles produces dioxin and hydrochloric acid, and burning polystyrene foam cups produces dioxin, benzene and other carcinogens.

“In summary, you should not burn trash or inhale burning trash,” Szema said.

And retired Lt. Col. Darrin L. Curtis — a bioenvironmental engineer who served at Balad in 2006 and 2007 — told the committee that “burn pits may be responsible for long-term health problems in many individuals who were exposed to the smoke plumes.”

Army Sgt. 1st Class Francis Jaeger, a communications specialist, said he was regularly ordered to haul refuse to a pit at a U.S. base in Tall Afar, Iraq, where it was burned by contractors.

“We were told to burn everything — electronics, bloody gauze, the medics’ biohazard bags, surgical gloves, cardboard. It all went up in smoke,” said Francis, 46, who attributes his asthma, joint pain, muscle spasms and fatigue to exposure.

Russell Keith, a paramedic working at Balad, said he could tell when the wind had blown dark green plumes from burn pits toward base living areas. He said long lines formed for sick call, with troops coughing up blood, vomiting and complaining of nausea or burning lungs.

Keith said that medical waste, including syringes and expired drugs, was burned in the pits, and that jet fuel was sometimes used as an accelerant. Keith, 50, said he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he blames on toxic smoke.

In January, Bishop and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) introduced the Military Personnel Toxic Exposure Registry Act, which would require the Pentagon to create a database of the tens of thousands of troops exposed to burn pits. The bill also would ban burning plastics, require annual reports to Congress on sicknesses, and ensure that veterans affected by the smoke received full service-related health benefits, Bishop said.

More than 280 veterans and contract workers have sued defense contractor KBR Inc., alleging that burn pits it operated on U.S. bases in Iraq and Afghanistan caused cancers, respiratory problems and 13 wrongful deaths, said Susan Burke, lead attorney for the plaintiffs.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 John A. Wester, 59, a Special Forces soldier, blames his Hodgkin’s disease on exposure to a burn pit at the U.S. base in Bagram, Afghanistan.

“The military wants to deny anything’s wrong, just like with Agent Orange,” Wester said. “But there’s no doubt in my military mind where I got my cancer.”

david.zucchino@ latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-burn-pits18-2010feb18,0,1455676.story

While serving for Operation Enduring Freedom at a base that was not exactly secret but not exactly publicized, we were told to burn anything and everything that had any English on it. We used 55-gallon drums, and burned 24 hours a day. All food wrappers, papers, trash, batteries, etc. The smell was incredible. Every so often, another unit came to burn cassette tapes, and then you couldn’t even be in the area because you just couldn’t breathe. HOWEVER, the worst airborne contamination we faced was the mystery powder that they sprayed from trucks to kill mosquitos. It was bright yellow and killed any insect it touched. It had this bizarre smell and made your eyes itch. Against regulation, I used my gas mask every time the truck came by. There were a few Army guys that were stationed in a tower about 10 feet from the road where the truck would drive by that had no masks or any other way to not breathe whatever this powder was, and they told me that their hands would go so numb that they couldn’t make a fist after breathing this stuff. However, the base commanders refused to tell us what was in the insecticide. Our military only cares about the troops so much, then we are thrown to the wolves. Also, we dumped our raw sewage from the porta-johns on open ground a few miles off base…and we wonder why they hate us over there!

Bay_Area_Vacationer (02/18/2010, 4:49 PM )

Another example of why we shouldn’t be in Iraq. We have no respect for other people and cultures.

ma8rty (02/18/2010, 8:59 AM )

What about all the material burned or buried on domestic military bases? Check out the marine corps logistics bases, east coast and west coast, they routinely dispose of old materials. What about camp lejeune north carolina?

Blackbeard420 (02/18/2010, 6:40 AM )

On both of my tours in Iraq, there were burn pits operated by KBR in the vicinity of our compound. They burned all garbage such as tires, batteries, plastics, etc. Everything was burnt. The burn pit had a toxic smell that was impossible to get rid of. Our battalion commander complained about the burn pit because it was endangering the health of his Marines. Because of his complaints, the EPA came out to sample the air quality. On the day the EPA arrived, KBR had shut down the burn pit. Air quality was acceptable, case closed. I have had breathing problems ever since.

bkmoore773 (02/18/2010, 2:10 AM )

Ya Duh. Most communities in the US banned burning trash decades ago. And EricBeck this is no surprise to me. I was in the Army during the VietNam debacle. The Captain had a sign above his door “Death to all who enter” Not “Death to the Enemy” Or Death to Evildoers” (oops Bush wasn’t famous then) but Death to all who enter. Well who enters? The Captains subordinates that’s who. Disrespect for underlings is a hallmark of authoritarian hierarchical institutions.

wydeeyed (02/17/2010, 7:34 PM )

If you want to do something other than the burn pits, dont complain about the cost of war when they have to build insinerators to burn trash!

HannInc (02/17/2010, 6:39 PM )

Let’s be more precise here. Are these really “Pentagon” burn pits, or are these Pentagon-outsourced burn pits run by the likes of KBR-Halliburton? KBR-Halliburton rountinely burns “surplus” equipment because it is on a cost-plus accounting contract. It gets reimbursed for expenditures plus a guaranteed percentage above that. In one case documented by Robert Greenwald, KBR bought the wrong computer equipment and rather than return it, they burned it. Not only a waste of money, but extremely toxic. Unfortunately, I have come to expect this from the new and increasingly privatized Pentagon. It makes me sick everytime I hear some pro-business type politician boast how s/he “supports the troops.” What, as a profit center?

citizengkar38 (02/17/2010, 6:23 PM )

Despite living in an area and participating in activities (Little League, Cub Scouts) in which unthinking patriotism is cultivated, my nine-year-old son is decidedly anti-war and expresses no interest in joining the military when he is grown. I will do everything I can to sustain that thinking. Why should anyone be surprised the military would expose its enlistees to high levels of toxic pollution, when the same military so cavalierly wastes the lives of enlistees in wars that are not at all, or only barely, in the legitimate national interest? For that matter, why are the soldiers themselves surprised at this?

LouBr (02/17/2010, 5:09 PM )

Hello! This sort of incineration is well known to cause all of the health effects listed in the article. Any scientist or doctor will tell you that! This sort of incineration is banned or very closely regulated in most states. What a tragedy.

gandalf69 (02/17/2010, 5:04 PM )

Where are these weapons of mass destruction you speak of??

“Ummmm, they’re uhhhhh… In the burn pit! Yeaaahhh, that’s where they are. In the fire. We found them and we burned them because uhhh…”

SoCalJess (02/17/2010, 2:45 PM )

Oh gee, what a surprise! The military, that loves to advertise their love of and loyalty to their ranks, engages in practices that show nothing short of hostility towards the men and women that wear the uniform. From Agent Orange to Walter Reed to this, the military treats their enlisted ranks like disposable toys.

EricBeck4501 (02/17/2010, 2:36 PM )

Inhaling smoke from burning medical waste, plastics, computer parts, oil, lubricants, paint, tires and foam cups cannot be good. We need to give these soldiers more adequate living conditions and more respect.

dankpancake (02/17/2010, 2:33 PM )

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-burn-pits18-2010feb18,0,824341,comment-display-all.story

VerdictSearch: BP Must Cough Up $100 Million in Toxic Fumes Suit, Jury Says

VerdictSearch

February 10, 2010

TOXIC TORTS

On Dec. 18, 2009, a jury awarded more than $100 million to 10 workers who accused BP North America Inc. of releasing toxic chemicals into the air at its refinery in Texas City.

The workers were among dozens who were treated for sore throats and dizziness related to chemical exposure in March and April 2009. The plaintiffs’ attorneys said the plant had a poor safety record, citing a 2005 explosion that killed 15 people and injured 170, and they contended BP had failed to take adequate steps to remedy the problems.

BP denied releasing any hazardous substances into the plant, but the jury disagreed. It found the energy giant negligent and awarded each plaintiff $10 million in punitive damages, plus between $5,000 and $244,000 apiece for medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

Garner, et al. v. BP Products North America Inc., No. 3:07-cv-00221

Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston

Plaintiffs’ Attorneys: Anthony G. Buzbee, Sean E. O’Rourke and Peter K. Taaffe, The Buzbee Law Firm, Houston

Defense Attorney: James B. Galbraith, McLeod, Alexander, Powell & Apffel, Galveston

The information above is reported and written by VerdictSearch Texas. Additional verdicts can be found in VerdictSearch Texas or at VerdictSearch.com, affiliates of Texas Lawyer.

http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=1202443044048&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1

Legislation would ban smoking on beach

Press of Atlantic City - Juliet Fletcher – ‎Feb 19, 2010‎

… lock yourself in … but stay in your hole, don’t you dare come out and poison me on MY property when the wind drifts your toxic fumes towards my face. …

(google search result)

(from handwritten notes – 09-16-09)

Water pollution – manufacturers dumping story – UPI & Times

(also)

Simi Valley sodium nuclear reactor facility remnants, cleanup and leftover radioactive washoff – there is going to be a state park for walking, hiking, and picnics on top of the polluted site without the appropriate full cleanup required – state of California

Probers unearth toxin shock in Greenpoint groundwater

BY Erin Durkin
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Thursday, February 18th 2010, 4:00 AM

There’s something in the water.

Investigators probing a toxic underground chemical plume in Greenpoint have discovered groundwater with levels of a cancer-causing cleaning solvent more than 14 million times the state standard.

“We got hit in the face with it before we got our gear on,” said state Department of Environmental Conservation project manager David Harrington, adding that water contaminated with PCE splashed out while his crew was doing repair work.

“It smelled like White-Out times a thousand with a lot of sugar thrown in for a couple seconds until my nasal lining burned out,” he said. “That’s pure product.”

The contamination hot spot at the corner of Norman and Kingsland Aves. was the site of the now-shuttered Spic and Span drycleaners, one of five businesses accused of dumping the solvents PCE and TCE.

A study released by the National Academy of Sciences last week found that PCE can cause cancer. It also has been linked to birth defects and infertility.

The groundwater was 73% PCE – more than 14 million times the state standard of 5 parts per billion.

“Those numbers are off the charts,” said Center for Health and Environmental Justice coordinator Mike Schade, who lives on Sutton St. on top of the plume. “It’s going to be extremely difficult … to clean it up.”

While residents aren’t directly exposed to the groundwater, the chemicals can leach into people’s homes.

Investigators have tested 75 homes, and found that 11 had unsafe levels of the chemicals. They offered the homeowners special ventilation systems to keep the chemicals out.

But critics charge other residents may still be breathing the toxic fumes because state standards for safe PCE levels are too high.

“You could be under [state standards] and still be unsafe. There’s no doubt in my mind,” said HabitatMap.org executive director Michael Heimbinder, who did an analysis and found four more homes that would have qualified for the ventilation systems with tougher standards.

A state Health Department spokeswoman said the guideline is being reviewed but was based on the best available scientific data.

The state has been investigating the contamination – known as the Meeker Plume – since 2007, and pledged to clean it up under the state Superfund program – though the cleanup could take years.

While they were doing that the particular waste pile began to emit fumes which staff identified as being a chemical reaction rather than smoke.

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IXXXXXX

CCID: 27451

Emergency services were immediately called and controlled the emission, closing the site.

The operator of the wheel loader was temporarily exposed to the fumes and was taken to hospital as a precaution. He has since been discharged.

EnviroWaste’s specialist hazardous waste handling division, Chemwaste, was also deployed to remove any contaminants.

No member of the public was involved in the incident and the site was re-opened at around midday.

The company said that people who continued to dispose of potentially hazardous chemicals within their general refuse were acting irresponsibly and illegally, endangering people’s lives.

- NZPA

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10622601

TCE facts

Some facts about trichloroethylene, or TCE, a colorless, sweet-smelling liquid mainly used for vapor degreasing of metal parts:

* The EPA considers it a “likely human carcinogen.”

* Exposure is associated with several types of cancers in humans, especially in the kidney, liver, cervix and lymphatic system.

* Chronic exposure by inhalation can affect the human central nervous system, causing dizziness, headache, sleepiness, nausea, confusion, blurred vision, facial numbness or weakness.

* Some studies link TCE exposure to increased incidence of miscarriage or congenital heart defects. But since those studies looked at people who also were exposed to other chemicals, it is impossible to identify the cause.

* TCE can migrate from soil into groundwater and can get into drinking water.

Centralia, Pa.: How an underground coal fire erased a town

The Centralia, Pa., coal fire is expected to drive out the town’s few remaining residents.

By Eoin O’Carroll Blogger / February 5, 2010

If officials in Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg, have their way, the borough of Centralia, Pa., will soon cease to exist.

Skip to next paragraph

Photo Gallery
The last days of Centralia

OSHA booklet outlines hexavalent chromium standards

Docuticker (blog) - ‎Feb 12, 2010‎

Workers exposed to this toxic chemical can develop lung cancer and damage to the nose, throat and respiratory system. Inhaling the chemical’s fumes can …

Formaldehyde-Laden FEMA Trailers May Be Headed to Haiti

Courthouse News Service - Sabrina Canfield – ‎Feb 1, 2010‎

The wood swells with heat and sweats with moisture, increasing emissions of toxic formaldehyde fumes. “Just go ahead and sign their death certificate,” Paul …

Residents Complain of Flavor Odors from Factory

San Clemente Times - ‎Feb 4, 2010‎

Concerns that a flavor factory’s odors and fumes could be toxic have prompted a local resident to file a complaint with the city. “It’s so sickeningly gross …

On oil, a (human) line in the sand

Florida Today - Keyonna Summers – ‎Feb 13, 2010‎

Constant pollution in the form of drilling mud that carries toxic heavy metals and heavy fumes. Industrialization of the coast caused by oil rigs that …

What you should know about coal tar sealant

News-Leader.com - ‎Feb 7, 2010‎

From a number of other sources, including diesel fumes and the charcoal that develops on a hot dog cooked on a grill. Not yet. The Environmental Protection …

Solar Generator Providing Free Electricity Eliminates the Need for Gas …

TransWorldNews (press release) - ‎Jan 29, 2010‎

… air conditioning or heat running and the food fresh in the fridge

- Posting Index -

Meeting Total Fat Requirements for School Lunches: Influence of School Policies and Characteristics »

OSHA booklet outlines hexavalent chromium standards

OSHA booklet outlines hexavalent chromium standards
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently published Hexavalent Chromium, a booklet outlining industry requirements for hexavalent chromium standards. Workers exposed to this toxic chemical can develop lung cancer and damage to the nose, throat and respiratory system.

Inhaling the chemical’s fumes can cause allergic reactions or asthmatic symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breath. Hexavalent chromium is used in pigments, metal finishing, wood preservatives and fungicides. Workers may also be exposed to hexavalent chromium fumes generated during welding of chromium metal alloys.

+ Full Document (PDF; 394 KB)

http://www.docuticker.com/?p=31360

Kettleman City residents deserve clean water

Posted at 10:52 PM on Wednesday, Feb. 03, 2010

By Bill McEwen / The Fresno Bee

Similar stories:

•

Fed funds sought for Kettleman City water plant

HANFORD — Kings County officials said Monday they will seek federal and state funds for a new treatment plant in Kettleman City that would provide safe drinking water for the community and spur economic development.

Officials said they will request about $7.9 million in grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — the federal economic stimulus program established to boost the national economy — and other funding sources to build the plant and water-storage tanks. The county has provided an additional $3 million for the project and has purchased the site for the plant.

Ground water in Kettleman City contains levels of arsenic that do not meet federal safety standards, officials said.

•

Kettleman City’s coverage

I was pleasantly surprised to read Bill McEwen’s Feb. 4 column, “Kettleman City residents deserve clean water.” I was also left wondering why it takes national exposure to the Valley’s dirty little secrets before our local papers decide to follow up on the story. I applaud Mr. McEwen for finding the back story on the salacious story of birth defects and focusing on possible solutions to the deeper, ongoing problem in the area.

I agree that residents of Kettleman aren’t looking for a handout, but rather, desperately need a water-treatment plant. However, we cannot expect our state and federal government to pay attention to the tiny town of Kettleman when even the local news agencies have chosen to ignore the pleas for help.

I know lack of water is a constant theme in the Valley, but why don’t we pay a little attention to our neighbor and realize that their children deserve safe drinking water more than our lawns. I call on The Bee to pay attention to this issue long after the national press has moved on

•

5 vie for seats on Coalinga council

Candidates for Coalinga City Council say they hope to focus on bringing businesses and jobs to town and make improvements to the limited water supply to help the southwest Fresno County town prosper.

They are seeking election to a council that has been embroiled in controversy in recent years over the council’s firing of the city manager who refused to fire the police chief.

The former city manager, Stephen Julian, filed a $1.8 million claim earlier this year against the city for wrongful termination. He later reached a settlement with city officials for about $225,000.

•

Kettleman landfill to host EPA official

The new head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest region will tour the controversial Kettleman Hills hazardous waste landfill next week, an agency spokeswoman said Wednesday.

EPA regional administrator Jared Blumenfeld also will visit residents in the Kings County community of Kettleman City, who blame cleft-palate birth defects or other disabilities affecting five children on exposure to toxic waste at the site owned and operated by Waste Management Inc.

The company denies that the landfill is causing birth defects or health problems in Kettleman City.

•

Kettleman birth defects to be probed

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday ordered state environmental and public health officials to send experts to Kettleman City to investigate a rash of birth defects.

The governor’s directive comes after months of protests by residents of the small Kings County town, who suspect the birth defects are due to toxic wastes stored at the landfill, and the same week that a top federal environmental official in California focused attention on the issue.

Jared Blumenfeld, the EPA’s administrator for the Pacific Southwest region, told Kettleman City residents earlier this week that he had ordered an internal investigation to determine whether the federal agency had properly reviewed complaints that environmental regulations have been ignored at the landfill, which is owned and operated by Waste Management Inc.

A rash of birth defects and infant deaths in the isolated crossroads town of Kettleman City is attracting national attention and putting a powerful face on conditions there.

Investigators finally are investigating whether there is a link between the defects and all that envelopes Kettleman City: a daily average traffic count of 41,200 cars and trucks on two highways, chemicals used on vast agricultural fields and a hazardous waste landfill.

While government agencies investigate, let’s agree on one thing. The 1,500 people of this Kings County community — one of the most abused and poorest places in America — deserve clean water.

Right now, they drink and bathe in water that contains higher levels than federal standards allow for arsenic — although not high enough for regulators to ban drinking it. What’s more, the town can’t attract new business or accommodate establishments that want to expand because the community water district is at capacity.

Do you hear me, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Jim Costa?

On the radio

Listen to Bill McEwen’s talk show daily at noon on KYNO (AM 1300).

High-profile attention on Kettleman City’s plight

Folks in Kettleman City don’t want a handout. They just want a water-treatment plant.

With more water, developers could partner with citizens to build badly needed affordable, sweat-equity housing.

With more water, the town can build its tax base.

And with extra tax money, it could afford the luxury of streets, sidewalks and gutters.

“We have a moratorium on building because we don’t have the water,” says Aletha Ware, who has lived in Kettleman City since 1968. “People want to build. It’s the only way we can grow.”

Ware and others have been trying to get the plant for five years. Kings County has helped, forming a Redevelopment Agency for the town and loaning it $3 million. They need $4 million more. Despite hiring consultants and lobbyists to chase down grants, the county’s requests have fallen on deaf ears.

This slap in the face is hard to imagine given that the water-treatment plant is “shovel ready,” according to Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle, whose district includes the town.

“We have a great intersection,” Valle says of the Interstate 5 off-ramps feeding into Highway 41, which is packed with fast-food franchises and gas stations. “If the businesses can expand, the money stimulates our RDA and success will trickle down to the residential area.”

What town in America would benefit as much from $4 million?

What town in America sucks up as many diesel exhaust fumes in exchange for a per capita income of $7,389?

While Kettleman City goes without safe drinking water, money from the federal spigot flows freely for less worthy projects and out-and-out pork.

House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi sliced $5 million from the latest defense spending bill to turn the old officer’s club at the Presidio into an information center and exhibit space.

Bay Area Democrat Mike Thompson delivered $54 million in stimulus money for flood control in an area where the Napa Valley wine train runs.

A water-treatment plant should be a higher priority than an information center at a closed army base. Largely because of urban encroachment, the Napa Valley floods every few years. People in Kettleman City drink bad water every day.

Republican indifference, I understand.

But I thought that Democrats were supposed to stick up for the poor and underserved.

Maybe there’s an asterisk in their mission statement: *Unless you live in Kettleman City.

“It seems like everybody is passing us by,” Ware says. “We pay our taxes. We want our own.”

The columnist can be reached at bmcewen@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6632. His blog is at fresnobeehive.com.

http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/mcewen/story/1808421.html

Monday, February 01, 2010Last Update: 9:43 AM PT

Formaldehyde-Laden FEMA Trailers May Be Headed to Haiti

By SABRINA CANFIELD

NEW ORLEANS (CN) – The trailer industry and lawmakers have asked FEMA to send thousands of empty, Katrina-era trailers to Haiti. Opponents of the idea say sending the formaldehyde-emitting trailers is a self-serving attempt to dump shoddy U.S. products on the poor. U.S. citizens made homeless by hurricanes have filed thousands of lawsuits, and multiple class actions, claiming the trailers made them sick.
Days after Haiti’s 7.0 earthquake left up to 200,000 dead and hundreds of thousands homeless, Mississippi state Senator Billy Hewes III, R-Gulfport, was among the first to say the 100,000 trailers, bought by the government after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, could be shipped to Haiti for shelter.
If the trailers are “being staged in Mississippi and there is no apparent use for them,” Hewes told the Biloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald, “there’s a great need for them down in Haiti and there’s no need for them to sit here in Mississippi.”
“If I had the choice between no shelter and having the opportunity of living in a shelter that might have some fumes, I know what I’d choose,” Hewe told The Associated Press.
“If these trailers were good enough for Mississippians, I would think they were good enough for folks down in Haiti as well.”
The trailers were bought by the government to house hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast hurricane refugees in 2005, but after people got sick – and by some accounts, died – tests found the trailers contained high levels of formaldehyde, a chemical found in building materials that can cause respiratory problems and cancer. Many of the trailers have sat empty for years, and many are damaged.
Opponents of the idea say that formaldehyde-laden particle board inside the trailers poses higher risks of toxicity in hot, humid climates – such as in the American South and Haiti. The wood swells with heat and sweats with moisture, increasing emissions of toxic formaldehyde fumes.
“Just go ahead and sign their death certificate,” Paul Nelson of Coden, Ala., whose mother allegedly died because of formaldehyde fumes in her FEMA trailer, told The Associated Press.
The U.S. Agency for International Development, which is coordinating U.S. assistance in Haiti, has expressed no interest in sending the trailers to the earthquake-stricken country, the AP reported. FEMA spokesman Clark Stevens declined to comment on the idea.
Haitian Culture and Communications Minister Marie Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue said she hadn’t heard of the idea and added: “I don’t think we would use them. I don’t think we would accept them.”
In a Jan. 15 letter to FEMA, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said the trailers could be used as temporary shelter or emergency clinics.
“While I continue to believe that these units should not be used for human habitation, I do believe that they could be of some benefit on a short-term, limited basis if the appropriate safeguards are provided,” he wrote.
For the recreational and travel trailer industry, which has lost thousands of jobs during the recession, the push to send the trailers to Haiti is motivated by more than charity. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the South against the largest trailer manufacturers – among them, Indiana-based Gulf Stream Coach – by people who lived in the trailers and say they have suffered illnesses as the result of toxic gases.
Bidding is under way in an online government-run auction to sell the trailers in large lots at bargain prices. The RV industry fears the sales will reduce demand for new products. Some of the bids so far work out to less than $500 for trailers that ordinarily sell for about $20,000 new.
Lobbyists for the industry, much of which is based in Indiana and includes major manufactures such as Gulf Stream, have been talking to members of Congress and disaster relief agencies to see if it would be possible to send the trailers to Haiti.
“This isn’t really the best time for the RV Industry to have very low-priced trailers put out onto the market,” the group’s spokesman Kevin Broom told AP.
How much, if any, formaldehyde remains in the trailers is unknown. The auction site warns that the trailers may not have been tested for the chemical, and FEMA says buyers are required to sign an agreement not to use the auctioned trailers for housing. Broom maintains that most are “perfectly safe,” and “the handful of trailers that might have a problem” can be removed.
Lindsay Huckabee, who lived in a FEMA trailer in Mississippi for two years with her husband and five children, blames a series of illnesses on the trailer.
“While some shelter is better than no shelter,” she said, “sending FEMA trailers is a bad idea without tight controls and warnings.”
“I think it’s very self-serving to hand off a product that’s not good for Americans and say, ‘Hey, we’re doing a good thing here,’” she said.
In Haiti, Ermite Bellande said she has had no shelter since losing her three-story house. Still, she doesn’t want one of the trailers.
“We have nothing,” she lamented. “But I would rather sleep outside than be in a metal box full of chemicals.”
Joseph Pacious, who was hoping to find shelter at a tent city near the Port-au-Prince airport, disagreed. “The trailers may be hot, and they may make us sick,” he said. “But look at how we are living already. How bad can it be?”
Myriam Bellevu, who is sleeping in a tent because she does not feel safe in her damaged home, said: “If the trailers are not good, the Americans must keep them for themselves. It’s true that we are poor, but if they want to help, they must help in a good way.”
Officials with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said Mississippi does not have authority on the matter because the trailers belong to FEMA.
Hewes told the Sun Herald that he spoke with officials from the Port of Gulfport who are planning to send supplies to Haiti. In case the trailers are released by FEMA, the officials have looked into transportation. One container company at the Port of Gulfport, Crowley, has facilities in Haiti, although Haiti’s main port has been severely damaged.
Hewes said it might be possible to ship a few trailers in military cargo planes.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/02/01/24241.htm

WEEE firm fined for exposing workers to mercury fumes

Environmental Expert (press release) - ‎Feb 10, 2010‎

A Glasgow-based Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment firm and its director have been fined £145000 for exposing workers to toxic mercury fumes at its …

WEEE firm fined for exposing workers to mercury fumes

Source: Materials Recycling Week

Feb. 10, 2010

ShareThis

A Glasgow-based Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment firm and its director have been fined £145,000 for exposing workers to toxic mercury fumes at its Huddersfield recycling plant.

Employees including one who was pregnant, of Electrical Waste Recycling Group, were poisoned when ventilation systems failed at its recycling plant.

The firm recycles WEEE including fluorescent light tubes containing mercury and TV sets and monitors containing lead (see MRW story).

Bradford Crown Court heard (February 5) that 20 employees had levels of mercury in their system “above UK guidance levels”.

Five of the employees showed “extremely high levels” following the exposure which happened between October 2007 and August 2008.

The firm was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay £35,127 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

As well as three separate breaches of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and one breach of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002.
Company director Craig Thompson, was also fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 7 (1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.

Several workers had reported ill health as a result of the exposure, including a pregnant worker who was concerned that her unborn baby was at risk.

After the hearing Health and Safety Executive inspector Jeanne Morton said: “This is a shocking case involving a large number of employees, many of them young and vulnerable, who were suddenly faced with the worrying possibility of damage to their long-term health.
“The risks associated with handling toxic substances like mercury have been known for generations, so it is all the more unacceptable that something like this has happened.

“The company failed to see the risks created by their recycling work and failed to develop effective plans for safe working. They also did nothing to check their workers’ health after exposure.

“Workers have a right to expect a reasonable level of protection in the workplace, and employers have a legal duty to provide it.”

http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=8847&codi=152324&lr=1

Steve Penrod Named Vice President of United States Enrichment Corporation

Source: Business Wire

Feb. 19, 2010

BETHESDA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– USEC Inc. (NYSE: USU) today announced that Steve Penrod has been elected vice president of the United States Enrichment Corporation. He will also remain the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant’s general manager.

USEC’s subsidiary, the United States Enrichment Corporation, operates a gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah, Kentucky and does contract work for the U.S. Department of Energy in Piketon, Ohio.

Penrod has served as general manager of the Paducah plant since 2005. Prior to this assignment, he served as the plant manager for seven years.

Robert Van Namen, senior vice president of uranium enrichment, said, “We are pleased to recognize such a talented and experienced manager like Steve who has played a critical role in improving USEC’s enrichment operations.”

Penrod joined the Paducah plant in 1979 as a design engineer and later became an engineering project manager. He has served in several supervisory positions since then in operations, health physics and the health and safety division. Penrod earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Illinois University.

USEC Inc., a global energy company, is a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.

http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=28518&codi=153621&lr=1

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Multinationals causing ₤1.4tn of damage to environment every year

Source: BusinessGreen

Feb. 19, 2010

ShareThis

The world’s 3,000 largest companies are causing £1.4 trillion worth of environmental damage every year, according to an unpublished UN report seen by the Guardian.

The report calculated around half the cost was associated with the release of greenhouse gases, while the remainder of the costs arise from local air pollution, and damage caused by the over-use and pollution of freshwater and fisheries.

These unaccounted environmental costs equate to six to seven per cent of the companies’ combined turnover, or an average of one-third of their profits. However, the report also noted some businesses would be much harder hit than others if made finanically responsible for the environmental externalities they cause.

Richard Mattison, chief operating officer of Trucost, which carried out the report for the UN, told the Guardian: ‘Externalities of this scale and nature pose a major risk to the global economy and markets are not fully aware of these risks, nor do they know how to deal with them.’

To continue reading, click here

http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=31242&codi=153538&lr=1

Had to sign up for membership to continue – chk email for password

02-20-10

Also check these companies that have advertisements on this page /

Applied Water Solutions – Solving the pure water needs of industry

Opto Acoustics – Optical Sound & Vibration Sensors

Goudsmit Magnetic Systems – Magnets and Magnetic Systems

Filter Innovations Inc. – Activated carbon, self cleaning backflushable filters

BakerCorp – Tank rental, Pump rental, Filtration rental and Shoring rental

Cambridge Environmental – Expert and timely risk assessment, scientific testimony, and research

FarrAPC.com – Factory Dust Explosions, Industrial Dust Collection Systems exceed OSHA dust collector mandates

NorthropGrummanGlobalSecurity.com – Environment Protection, dedicated to Ocean Preservation & Climate Change Observation. Call Us.

Siemens – www.siemens.com/urbanization – urban CO2 reduction, Siemens has the answers how to protect the climate in cities

Business Green, 32-34 Broadwick Street, London W1A 2HG, United Kingdom – this info about multinationals causing 1.4 trillion pounds of damage to the environment every year

http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=31242&codi=153538&lr=1

http://www.northropgrummanglobalsecurity.com/

Lawsuit: Putrid fumes drove tenants from Mesa strip mall

by Angelique Soenarie – Jan. 29, 2010 09:21 AM
The Arizona Republic

Jennifer Parks opened her Pizza Fusion franchise in east Mesa with the intent of offering pizzas made with organic and natural ingredients and delivered in hybrid cars. Even her building was made from eco-friendly material.

In fact, it became the first Arizona restaurant to win silver certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED.

But her dream lasted less than a year.

Last summer, she closed because of a hazardous odor that she believes cost her business.

She is not alone. Three other tenants at the Shoppes at Legacy House center on McKellips Road, east of Higley Road, say their businesses were also affected by the odor and closed their doors.

They also say that the property manager, Phoenix-based Capital Asset Management, is now coming after them for back rent.

In a lawsuit filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, the tenants contend the property managers failed to promptly fix an improperly installed sewer line, causing noxious gases to build and creating a putrid smell throughout the complex for more than a year.

The property managers have yet to file a legal response. They declined to speak on the record to the Republic, but issued a statement in response to written questions.

They said actions by Parks and a neighboring steakhouse contributed to the sewer problem, and that several tenants broke their lease before giving the company a fair chance to fix it.

They also contend that several of the tenants were behind on rent and said they had tried to work with them before the odor became an issue.

“After all the work was completed the tenants all moved out without notice,” said the statement from broker Merri Krugen and owner Aaron Strole, of Capital Asset Management.

They also said one tenant damaged the space when they moved and removed plumbing, electrical fixtures, and a water heater.

But Parks and the other tenants said they left because the smell was not only unbearable, but toxic.

“We were trying to offer (organic food) being that our returning customers wanted something healthy,” Parks said. “Then there’s this smell. It kind of defeats the purpose,” she said.

All parties agree that the problem stemmed from a dip in the sewer line that caused it to back up, creating hydrogen sulfide gas.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, hydrogen sulfide is a colorless, flammable hazardous gas that smells like a rotten egg. Exposure to small amounts – less than 10 parts per million – are not considered harmful.

In early July, the Mesa Water Resources Department measured gas concentrations in excess of 500 ppm, well above the safe level, city records show.

City officials recommended that the property managers send a camera into the line to identify any plumbing problems.

Days later, a plumber found a dip in the interior of the drain line that was causing waste to back up 4 feet to 5 feet beneath the shopping center, a city report shows.

According to the property managers’ statement, the problem was aggravated by the fact that grease traps at EJ’s Steakhouse were backed up while at the same time, Pizza Fusion was pouring hot water into the drains.

That caused grease to flush into the sewer line, where it became trapped in the bend and decayed, creating the gas.

A city report, however, states that EJ’s practices were adequate and did not fault the restaurant. It concluded that the gas was caused by “internal and external plumbing problems.”

On July 10, the property managers cleaned out the lines in an attempt to stop the smell while they got bids to repair the sewer line. Weeks later, the statement said, EJ’s closed without notice, and crews went to clean out its grease traps on July 30.

According to the statement, that cleaning caused tenants to complain of an overwhelming gas smell and call the fire department. The statement claims that while several people were treated after being overcome by the smell, no hazardous gas traces were found.

However Parks claims in the suit that she was hospitalized and treated for hydrogen sulfide poisoning, as were two employees from a nearby Office Max.

The property owners say the sewer problem was fixed by the first week of August, but by that time two of the tenants had already broken their leases and left. However, during the August 4 repair, tenants claim in their suit they were again overcome by the gas and forced by the fire department to evacuate for five hours.

“The sewer smell was addressed and resolved,” the statement said. “The tenants moved out during the night and without any notification . . . This seems to be a case of a group of tenants that are looking for a way to be released from their leases.”

However Joseph Stalcup, part owner of EJ’s Steakhouse, the center’s first tenant, said he noticed an odor almost from Day 1 and told the owners about it.

He said the odor persisted the entire time he was open, affecting both his customers and the staff of his restaurant, which had received rave reviews from local media for its meals and a meat shop. He said it took him a week to move out and that he didn’t damage the unit when he left. He said he took his kitchen equipment because it was purchased with a Small Business Administration loan that he is still obligated to pay.

Lynn Knuth of Red Mountain Family Chiropractic also moved her practice to the center when it opened.

She said she complained about the odor while her office was under construction, but was told it was from construction work. Knuth eventually moved to another location and is seeing an increase in business.

The fourth tenant in the suit is Derek Frader, owner of Kaizen Martial Arts Academy, who left the complex in June and moved down the street. He said he left because the odor was making his students and pregnant wife sick.

The gas also burned through parts of his karate mats and left a residue, he said.

Two of the four tenants, Pizza Fusion and EJ’s Steakhouse are no longer in business.

Parks said she could not reopen if she wanted to because she owes thousands of dollars in franchising and vendor fees.

She said she and her husband, who is a firefighter, are barely making a living, even with a side plumbing business.

“It was one whirlwind after another,” said Parks, who said that stress over losing her business and being exposed to the hazardous smell has caused a series of health problems.

“To have the business go down . . . ” said Parks, her voice trailing off with tears in her eyes. Parks said before she closed her business last summer she hosted a fundraiser to help a two-year-old who was sick with a heart condition. “That’s what kills me, not being able to give back to the community.”

Parks said when the odor was not affecting her business, she had customers.

“I really believed in my business,” she said.

Make your voice heard

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/01/29/20100129mr-smell-sparks-lawsuit.html

Toxic batts claim ups pressure on Garrett

Updated February 13, 2010 14:55:00

Peter Garrett says he has not seen proof to back up claims that dangerous levels of chemicals were present in the insulation batts. (ABC News: file photo)

The Opposition has ramped up calls for Peter Garrett to resign as Environment Minister, after he said he was warned imported insulation batts may contain dangerous levels of toxic chemicals.

Mr Garrett has been under fire in Parliament all week over the safety of the Federal Government’s insulation program, with the Opposition saying he repeatedly ignored safety warnings about problems that led to the deaths of four insulation installers.

Now Mr Garrett has confirmed that an industry leader warned him cheap imported insulation reeked of formaldehyde and could generate toxic fumes when heated.

Warrick Batt says he has had several meetings with Mr Garrett over the last six months and also raised concerns about whether the batts were being installed to Australian standards.

Mr Garrett says he has not seen any proof to back up claims that dangerous levels of chemicals were present in the insulation batts.

“We know that formaldehyde is used as a binding agent, but all batts have to conform to Australian standards and if products that conform to those standards and have the appropriate warnings then they’re acceptable to go into ceilings,” he said.

Opposition Environment spokesman Greg Hunt says he should be sacked.

“It’s about standing up for the Australian people on the basis of safety,” he said.

Mr Hunt says it should not be left to the insulation industry to produce the proof.

“Mr Garrett’s program created the problem, created the need for importing Chinese batts and we know that there are potentially deadly Chinese batts,” he said.

“Of course the Government should oversee its program.

“To blame the industry, to blame the installers and not to take responsibility is simple negligence and the Minister now, surely, must go.”

Opposition leader Tony Abbott says the matter calls into question Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s competency.

“Someone has to take responsibility for the very, very serious maladministration of this program,” he said.

“But every day Mr Rudd protects this incompetent Minister, his own Prime Ministership is called more into question.”

Mr Garrett says he has Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s full support.

Tags: government-and-politics, federal-government, labor-party, liberal-party, programs-and-initiatives, australia

First posted February 13, 2010 14:47:00

(Australia)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/13/2818748.htm?section=australia

Chk –

The Ghost Writer – CNN Live report on 4.3;;;8 pmET – 02-20-10

And “The Informant” about Archer-Daniels- Midlands agribusiness price fixing schemes – yes happened

Suspicious Shipwrecks and Toxic Seas

Posted on 30 January 2010 by | Maggie Romuld | Posted In: Science

a-four-year-old-scandal-involv2 – (photo on MyPictures)

Increasingly stringent environmental regulations, and increased costs for processing, transporting and storing toxic waste have made illegal dumping a profitable business throughout the world, and yesterday, Scientific American reported that scientists from the University of Calabria in Italy are certain that ships full of poisonous garbage have been scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to Legambiente, an Italian environmental organization, an average of two ships per year disappeared in the Mediterranean under suspicious circumstances during the 1980s and early 1990s. Physicist Massimo Scalia of the University of Rome acknowledges that while “no wreck has yet been found that contains toxic or radioactive waste,” their existence has been proven “beyond reasonable doubt.” Scalia has been involved in parliamentary commissions on illegal waste disposal, and he believes that almost 40 ships were “wrecked under questionable circumstances between 1979 and 1995 alone.” In every case the crew was long gone before the ship sank.

The problem of illegal dumping is certainly not confined to the Italian coast and Scalia further states that “The tsunami of December 2004 dredged up giant metal containers from the seabed and placed them on Somali beaches—proving that the country’s coastal waters had also received questionable trash.” The United Nations has attributed internal hemorrhages and deaths of local people to fumes from that trash.

http://indyposted.com/9994/suspicious-shipwrecks-and-toxic-seas/

Written by: Maggie Romuld

Maggie lives in southern Alberta, Canada in a now-empty nest with her husband and various assorted pets. She studies rivers, teaches Earth Sciences at a local college, and writes for a sustainability magazine. A half-finished PhD is gathering dust in her office.

January 25, 2010

Federal probes begin at DuPont plant

By Ken Ward Jr.

Staff writer

Advertiser

Read updates in the Sustained Outrage blog.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Federal investigators began to descend on DuPont Co.’s Belle chemical plant Monday after a worker who was sprayed in the face by the poison gas phosgene died and U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd warned of “a severe breakdown in even the most basic safety protocols.”

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors were at the plant Monday, and a team from the federal Chemical Safety Board has also been dispatched to begin a separate probe.

Carl “Dan” Fish, 58, of Gallagher, died Sunday at CAMC General Hospital. He had worked at the Belle plant for 32 years.

On Saturday, Fish was hit with a small cloud of phosgene that leaked from a line used to transfer phosgene from storage cylinders to a crop protection chemical production unit, plant officials said.

The fatal accident was the third in a series of four incidents at the Belle plant in just two days, including Friday’s discovery of a 1,900-pound leak of toxic and flammable methyl chloride that went undetected for nearly a week.

Byrd, D-W.Va., urged federal and state agencies “to act swiftly in mitigating any threats that may exist at the plant, to identify breakdowns in the safety structure, and to recommend and implement corrections.

“That deadly toxic chemicals reportedly were allowed to escape over a period of days undetected suggests a severe breakdown in even the most basic safety protocols,” Byrd said in a statement released Monday.

DuPont officials had already announced their own “safety pause” in which workers were reviewing the entire facility for problems and not restarting manufacturing units until any issues are resolved.

“The purpose of the safety stand down is to reinforce the seriousness of this situation and maintain the site’s focus on safe work, consistent with DuPont’s core values,” the company said in a statement.

“The site is undergoing a thorough investigation of the units involved in the incidents.”

But the company has offered few details on how the methyl chloride leak could have gone unnoticed for so long, or about exactly how Fish might have been hit in the face with phosgene fumes.

Read updates in the Sustained Outrage blog.

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors were at the plant Monday, and a team from the federal Chemical Safety Board has also been dispatched to begin a separate probe.

Carl “Dan” Fish, 58, of Gallagher, died Sunday at CAMC General Hospital. He had worked at the Belle plant for 32 years.

On Saturday, Fish was hit with a small cloud of phosgene that leaked from a line used to transfer phosgene from storage cylinders to a crop protection chemical production unit, plant officials said.

“The site is undergoing a thorough investigation of the units involved in the incidents.”

But the company has offered few details on how the methyl chloride leak could have gone unnoticed for so long, or about exactly how Fish might have been hit in the face with phosgene fumes.

“He was just walking by, doing an inspection in the area,” said plant manager Bill Menke. “As to why it occurred, that’s still under investigation.”

In its initial media statement, DuPont said that Fish was hospitalized “for treatment and observation as part of the standard protocol for exposure to this material.”

Phosgene is a valuable building block for making other chemicals and DuPont uses it to produce various crop protection chemicals. But, it is also extremely toxic. It was used as a chemical weapon in World War I, and is considered dangerous even in very tiny levels.

As little as 2 parts per million of phosgene is considered “immediately dangerous to life or health” by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Phosgene can cause coughing and watery eyes, but can also lead to heart failure and to pulmonary edema, a buildup of fluid in the lungs that can be fatal.

DuPont buys phosgene in 2,000-pound cylinders, and stores about 44,000 pounds of the chemical on site, according to plant officials and company disclosures filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Menke said Fish was exposed when “less than a pound” of phosgene leaked from a hose that is used to transfer the material from storage cylinders to manufacturing units. The hose was attached to the unit and a storage cylinder at the time, but was isolated from them with safety valves, Menke said.

The other incidents were a sulfuric acid leak Saturday morning and what the company initially described as a “small fire” Saturday night, but later said was just electrical “arcing.”

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., called the events at the plant “very disturbing” and said he had been in contact with DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman to express his concerns.

“There must be a thorough review and investigation of DuPont’s overall safety infrastructure and the facility’s compliance with emergency notification requirements to Metro 911 and federal agencies,” Rockefeller said in a statement.

William E. Wright, a member of the Chemical Safety Board, said his agency was concerned about recent events at the Belle plant “and will proceed with an investigation to understand why these unfortunate events occurred.”

The CSB does not issue citations or fines. Instead, the agency tries to find root causes for chemical accidents and recommends ways to avoid similar events.

In voting Monday to launch its own investigation, the Chemical Safety Board said it was aware of six other releases from the Belle plant since December 2006.

Board spokesman Dan Horowitz referred requests for a copy of that list to board investigator John Vorderbrueggen, who did not immediately respond to a request.

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw…@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.

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http://wvgazette.com/News/Bayerexplosion/201001250662

October 28, 2009

Science academy may study Bayer MIC stockpile

By Ken Ward Jr.

Staff writer

Advertiser

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The National Academy of Sciences would study ways for Bayer CropScience to eliminate the use of deadly methyl isocyanate at its Institute plant, under a budget bill likely to be approved by Congress.

Lawmakers tucked $600,000 in funding for the study into a conference committee report on the appropriations bill for Interior, Environment and related agencies. The report was made public Wednesday.

Because it’s part of a larger budget bill, and has received conference committee approval, the study funding is likely to become law.

Under the provision, the National Academy would “examine the use and storage of methyl isocyanate, including the feasibility of implementing alternative chemicals or processes as an examination of the cost of alternatives” at the Bayer plant.

The Bayer plant, adjacent to West Virginia State University’s campus, stores more than 200,000 pounds of MIC, the chemical that killed thousands of people in a 1984 leak at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India.

Federal lawmakers, including Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., have been taking a closer look at the Bayer facility following the August 2008 explosion and fire that killed two workers.

In April, congressional investigators concluded that the explosion could have easily damaged a nearby MIC storage tank and triggered a disaster that would have been worse than Bhopal. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board described the incident as “potentially a serious near miss, the results of which might have been catastrophic for workers, responders and the public.”

In late August, as the one-year anniversary of the deadly explosion in Institute approached, Bayer announced it was cutting its MIC storage by about 80 percent. After the changes, Bayer hopes to keep its daily maximum MIC inventory below 50,000 pounds — still far more than any other chemical plant in the nation.

Previously, legislative language had been proposed to require the Chemical Safety Board to conduct a detailed study of MIC use and storage at the Bayer facility.

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw…@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.

Lawmakers tucked $600,000 in funding for the study into a conference committee report on the appropriations bill for Interior, Environment and related agencies. The report was made public Wednesday.

Because it’s part of a larger budget bill, and has received conference committee approval, the study funding is likely to become law.

Previously, legislative language had been proposed to require the Chemical Safety Board to conduct a detailed study of MIC use and storage at the Bayer facility.

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw…@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.

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http://wvgazette.com/News/Bayerexplosion/200910280942

Pollutants giving you sick car syndrome

House Calls

By Gerald W. Deas, M.D.

Folks spend a great deal of time to and from in automobiles. They are constantly exposed to environmental pollutants. Certainly, most cars today have heaters, as well as air-conditioning systems. They also have other ventilation systems which draw air from the outside to the inside of the car.

I am sure that you have had the experience of sitting in your car behind a bus, truck or outdated car and smelling the gas fumes leaping out at you. Those gases are toxic and that is why they are exhausted to the outside. Many folks, however, can be allergic to the hundreds of chemicals in the exhaust gas. These irritants affect the eyes, skin, nasal passages and respiratory system.

In the winter, particularly, when all windows are closed tightly, these toxic substances become highly concentrated, resulting in symptoms that might be misinterpreted as viral or bacterial infections.

Because of my background in industrial toxicology, I have always been aware of environmental causes of diseases. Asthma, as well as bronchitis can be produced from even dry cleaning fluid that is present in clothing that you have just picked up from the cleaners. In fact, those clothes should be aired out properly before putting them in your home closet.

If the filters of the air conditioning system in your car are not adequately cleaned, you might be exposed to mold and other infectious agents. This is known as the “sick car syndrome.”

Recently, the market has been flooded at garages with chemical laden deodorizers which are hung in your car. They give off odors simulating anything from a strawberry to a new car smell. All of these items have been saturated with chemicals that are capable of vaporizing due to the cars heating system. Many folks may experience a chemical asthma or bronchitis. One should take this very seriously if you are transporting children or babies. This allergic reaction could cause a runny nose and itchy eyes and an antihistamine is not the answer.

I hope that by this time you get my point. Anything that is natural or unnatural can trigger allergic asthma and bronchitis, which should not be treated with cold remedies and antibiotics. You can prevent the “sick car” syndrome by airing out your car and not driving with the windows so tightly closed, especially during the winter months.

Many folks can also experience this same feeling of carsickness due to the cars motion and this is called “motion sickness.” One can experience this in cars, airplanes, trains, elevators as well as sailing. This condition can be relieved with a simple antihistamine known as Dramamine. This drug was discovered several years ago by scientists at Johns Hopkins Hospital that relieved patients suffering from hives. It was also used during WWII on seagoing troops to prevent seasickness.

I believe that many auto accidents might be caused by toxic chemicals released into the cars, which could produce mental confusion and thus be a contributing factor, rather than an alcohol consumption. By all means, do not drink while driving!

For great health tips and access to an online community of physicians and other healthcare professionals visit Dr.Deas.com.

This is part of the February 10, 2010 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

Have an opinion on this matter? We’d like to hear from you. Click here.

http://www.frostillustrated.com/full.php?sid=7040&current_edition=2010-02-10

Globalization batters Bangladesh

By Sara Flounders

Published Feb 12, 2010 7:54 PM

Are the global problems of grinding poverty, illiteracy and hunger faced by a majority of the world’s population a mere accident of history? Is the enormous inequality and underdevelopment of the formerly colonized countries of Africa and Asia due solely to the crimes of conquest by European colonial powers 100 and 200 years ago?

Or does U.S. imperialism and modern finance capital in the drive to maximize profits bear the greatest responsibility for continuing and actually intensifying this historic inequality?

Tea workers’ meeting.

WW photos: Michael Kramer

These are the questions that were discussed again and again during a visit to Bangladesh to attend the convention of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh as 2009 ended.

Following the party’s dynamic convention in Dhaka, the Socialist Party of Bangladesh made every effort to introduce the international delegates to as much of the struggle around the country as possible.

The SPB-arranged trip was accompanied by party General Secretary Khalequzzaman and several other party leaders from the capital, Dhaka, a densely populated city of 14 million, to Chittagong, the industrial port — a city of 4 million. The U.S. military continues to pressure Bangladesh to grant port facilities and landing rights at this strategic seaport on the Bay of Bengal.

Barefoot Bangladesh workers strip steel
ships in Chittagong’s.toxic hell.

After attending a rally of about 1,000 people in Chittagong, the international group traveled to the southernmost tip of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal, then to the border of Myanmar, and to an island off the southern tip, where the U.S. is also pressing for a base. Then it proceeded to the east of Dhaka to the tea and rubber plantations of the hills in the Syhlet district. Delegates had the unique opportunity to attend organizing meetings of tea and rubber workers and to meet with activists working to organize garment workers and rickshaw drivers.

The trip was an opportunity to see how the imperialist countries enforce the serious underdevelopment of Bangladesh despite the enormous resources and potential of the country. Delegates were also able to observe the organizing efforts of the party in major cities and rural areas.

Roads were often single lanes of blacktop clogged with old trucks, dangerously overcrowded buses and countless rickshaws. Bicycle rickshaws propelled by human labor provide most transport for people and materials even in the capital, where there are more than 1 million rickshaw drivers in motion almost round the clock. It is a brutal job with no security.

Lowest pay in the world

Lining the roads of Dhaka are thousands of garment sweatshops, easily identified by the rows of fluorescent lights glowing inside. In the near dark of early morning, millions of garment workers, primarily young women, rush to arrive on time for 12-hour work shifts. It is dark again as they leave.

The pay in Bangladesh for garment workers is the lowest in the world. Garment workers in India, Vietnam and Thailand now earn an average of $60 a month, a desperately low wage. But in the capitalist race to maximize profits on a global scale Bangladesh now has the largest garment industry in Asia — workers are paid only $20 per month with no benefits and no job security.

Large retail trading companies in the U.S. and Western Europe give most of the orders for Bangladeshi garment products. A handful of Western banks control the capital funds. The garment industry has been a main source of foreign exchange in Bangladesh for the last 25 years. Women garment workers are now trying to organize for higher pay and improved working conditions.

Chittagong’s ship-breaking yards

The ship-breaking yards of Chittagong service another industry that reflects a globalized market’s ruthless exploitation of low wages in Bangladesh. The shipping industry is the backbone of international trade. It is also the source of major environmental toxins.

The SPB arranged to get a few delegates into the internationally notorious yards, along with video cameras. There had been a deadly explosion in one of the yards the day before the international delegates arrived in Bangladesh. Security in all the yards was tight.

At high tide a spent vessel is driven onto the beach. It is then pulled apart by thousands of workers laboring with bare hands or using acetylene torch cutters to break huge carriers down into small pieces. Workers wear no helmets, gloves, goggles, restraining harnesses or even shoes.

This inferno of fumes and toxic chemicals creates hellish working conditions. Asbestos, lead, chromates, mercury, metal shards, radiation, noise, intense vibration, and welding and cutting fumes all mix together.

The industry is subject to no environmental laws and no health or safety requirements. No statistics are kept of accidents.

This toxic industry could not exist without the active complicity of the largest shipping conglomerates. Hundreds of ships from cargo vessels, bulk carriers, fish factories to super tankers ride at anchor in the sea waiting to be scrapped at over 70 ship-breaking yards.

Previously ships could be scrapped in two weeks in a modern shipyard using union labor in Britain, Japan, Germany, the U.S. or other countries where ships used to be built. In the last 25 years of the globalized labor market, all this has changed. Breaking up one ship now takes over six months on a beach with unskilled labor. This is now a cheaper way to recycle parts of an aging ship. Thousands of small shops, each selling a few recycled electronic or metal pieces of salvage, line the roads to the ship-breaking yards.

Ever since International Monetary Fund bankers denied credits and forced Bangladesh to shutter its steel plants, Bangladesh depends on ship breaking to meet its domestic steel requirements.

China once had a major ship-breaking industry. But as soon as China began enforcing environmental and safety laws, this dangerous industry became unprofitable there. In international shipping there is a race to find countries where no occupational health and safety standards are enforced and where wages are the lowest — a race to the bottom.

Tea and rubber workers organize

A major cash crop in Bangladesh, tea is bought and sold on the world market by a handful of large corporations. The tea pickers are mainly women and children. Men do the pruning, cutting and road work.

A high moment of the trip was attending a night meeting of hundreds of workers on an isolated tea plantation in the Syhlet district. Their very moving meeting was a vibrant mix of music, chants and talks of labor conditions. Based on their organizing, the workers at several plantations had finally won a 50 percent pay increase from $10 a month to $15 a month. They were determined to win their demands for schools for their children and basic health care.

Ratan Rajequzzaman, a leader of the Socialist Workers Front, explained in depth about both working conditions and organizing efforts.

British colonial plantation owners had imported tea workers from southern India more than 150 years ago. These workers have lived in both cultural and linguistic isolation ever since. They work under conditions of modern-day indentured slaves and depend totally on management for food and all basic necessities. These workers, who are victims of the greatest abuse and discrimination, seldom leave these extensive plantations.

Tea and rubber plantations are often combined, with tea bushes on one side of the road and rubber trees on the other. Tea plantations are idyllically called “tea gardens.” Picnicking in a tea garden is a popular tourist attraction for middle-class and returning Bangladesh immigrants. But picturesque photos of women bending and stooping to pluck tea leaves can hardly convey this backbreaking work or show that there is no protection from dangerous fertilizers and pesticides.

Archaic equipment for drying, shredding and bagging tea leaves exposes an industry that has changed little in decades. But now the old relations are being challenged with new energy.

Challenging the theft of resources

Along with its focus on labor organizing, the SPB has helped in organizing broad coalitions to challenge the grossly unequal contracts presented by such multinational oil corporations as Chevron, Shell and Conoco for development of Bangladesh’s gas, oil and coal resources. The oil giants are demanding contracts of between 6 and 21 percent royalties after exploration costs are met.

On Jan. 12, the final day of the visit, Michael Kramer, representing the International Action Center, was able to participate in human-chain demonstrations challenging these outrageous leases that were organized across the country by the National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas-Natural Resources. (The coalition has also opposed open-pit coal mining, which has resulted in destruction of wide areas of arable lands, water reservoirs and fish ponds.) The human chain was formed at 150 points along the cross-country line from Teknaf, the southernmost city, to Tentulia in the north.

Past challenges to unequal and secret leasing of national resources have led to important victories. A long march from Dhaka to Chittagong led to the cancellation of a 199-year lease of the country’s main seaport to a U.S. company.

In Bangladesh despite its enormous problems, made much worse by the global capitalist market, there are revolutionary forces who are confident that, with socialist planning and the creative involvement of the most oppressed and lowest paid workers in the world, the challenges to develop their rich resources are solvable in ways that will benefit the whole population.

Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
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http://www.workers.org/2010/world/bangladesh_0218/

A Squeamish Surreal Charade

CounterCurrents.org - Prabhat Sharan – ‎Feb 5, 2010‎

In the city shrouded in a dark mass of toxic fumes with sleep-choked, stench-soaked streets running and twisting amidst architectural monstrous fulmination …

Woman’s death after chemical spill leads to search for answers

SDNN - Khari Johnson – ‎Feb 10, 2010‎

“We could smell the fumes in the house for weeks,” Hope Goodwin said. The mature cottonwood trees near the spill would eventually die, as well as fruit …

PARI Pharma Enrolls First Patient in Phase 2b Study of L-CsA

PR Newswire (press release) - ‎Feb 11, 2010‎

The disease is also a factor in other lung diseases such as collagen vascular diseases, inhalation of toxic fumes, and respiratory tract infections. …

Letters: The noise bombardment

Jakarta Post - ‎Feb 7, 2010‎

… while being bombarded by cars honking constantly and the never-ending sound of the engine, releasing toxic fumes in the air for others to breath. …

Delaware adopts new NFPA codes

SecurityInfoWatch - ‎Feb 9, 2010‎

… while NFPA 101 creates standards for building design and construction to protect occupants against dangers caused by fire, smoke and toxic fumes. …

letsrecycle.com

WEEE recycler fined £140000 over mercury exposure

letsrecycle.com - ‎Feb 10, 2010‎

Glasgow-based WEEE reprocessor Electrical Waste Recycling Group Ltd has been fined £140000 for exposing workers to toxic mercury fumes at its site in …

ntnews.com.au

TIO bombing described as a ‘mini Bali’

ntnews.com.au - Daniel Bourchier – ‎Feb 3, 2010‎

“The main injuries were burns, inhalation of toxic fumes, and mild airway injuries.” The worst affected had burns on up to 20 per cent of their body. …

Mercury exposure causes company and director to be prosectued

February 10, 2010

A recycling company and its director have been fined after several workers reported ill health following expsoure to toxic mercury fumes.

Electrical Waste Recycling Group Ltd, of Glasgow, (formerly known as Matrix Direct Recycle Ltd) recycles electrical equipment, including fluorescent light tubes containing mercury and TV sets and monitors containing lead.

Ventilation problems at a plant in Kirkheaton meant that employees were being exposed to potentially harmful emissions. Following the exposure between October 2007 and August 2008, Bradford Crown Court heard how twenty employees had levels of mercury in their system above UK guidance levels. Five workers showed extremely high levels.

Electrical Waste Recycling Group Ltd was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay £35,127 costs. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, three separate breaches of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and one breach of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002.

Also fined was company director Craig Thompson, aged 38, of Huddersfield, who was fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.

The Health & Safety Executive issued five Improvement Notices and one Prohibition Notice to the company in relation to the incident.

HSE Inspector Jeanne Morton said after the hearing: “This is a shocking case involving a large number of employees, many of them young and vulnerable, who were suddenly faced with the worrying possibility of damage to their long-term health.

“The risks associated with handling toxic substances like mercury have been known for generations, so it is all the more unacceptable that something like this has happened.

“The company failed to see the risks created by their recycling work and failed to develop effective plans for safe working. They also did nothing to check their workers health after exposure.

Inspector Morton conlcuded: “Workers have a right to expect a reasonable level of protection in the workplace, and employers have a legal duty to provide it.”

Site inspector for the Environment Agency, Max Folkett, added: “We have worked closely with HSE and other organisations during the investigation which led to this prosecution.

“Electrical Waste Recycling Group Limited requires an environmental permit from us for the recovery and processing of hazardous waste and we routinely inspect the site to check the company is complying with the permit.

“We suspended the permit following this incident in August 2008, removing the risk of mercury escaping from the site, because of our concerns the operation posed a serious risk of pollution from mercury. Our soil monitoring around the site to check for long-term contamination showed metal levels not unusual for urban areas.”

Find out more about Environmental Awareness

http://www.safetymedia.co.uk/news/court_cases/mercury_exposure_causes_company_and_director_to_be_prosectued/428893

539w –woman’s photo with scleroderma - in File Two

(see caption and story below)

Elizabeth Lombard is among the residents of South Boston who has scleroderma, the autoimmune disease that hardens muscles and internal organs. (Suzanne Kreiter/ Globe Staff)

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Scleroderma study brings little comfort

S. Boston cluster may be genetic, not environmental, but true cause is elusive

By Meghan Irons

Globe Staff / January 25, 2010

Elizabeth Lombard’s right hand is stiff and wooden, unable to flex or move.

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“It won’t bend,’’ she said, displaying the tightened skin that is pulling back her fingers into a crooked and clawlike form.

Lombard has scleroderma, a rare, life-threatening autoimmune disease that hardens muscles and internal organs, and causes the body’s immune system to attack itself.

The disease, which has no cure, has long confounded South Boston, where a cluster of longtime residents from the City Point section – most of them middle-aged women – were falling ill with it. The residents, who lived near a power plant and hazardous waste sites, believed they were victims of their environment.

Their case gained national media attention and sparked an 11-year investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In their findings, released earlier this month, state researchers acknowledged “higher than expected cases’’ of scleroderma in South Boston, a neighborhood of roughly 30,000 people.

But it determined that genetics, not the environment, played a significant role.

“It’s not necessarily that the community they were living in was producing this disease,’’ said Robert Simms, the chief of rheumatology at Boston Medical Center and a researcher in the study. “When you look at the data, it does not support that.’’

Researchers also said low participation in the $1.75 million study may have limited their ability to find an environmental link.

Without a large enough sample, Simms said, it was difficult for scientists to gather reliable estimates on scleroderma’s link to the residents’ proximity to toxic wastes and other pollutants.

“Those are the things the South Boston study tried to do and came up short,’’ said Simms, who added that the study now opens the door for much larger, national research.

The study found that people with a family history of specific autoimmune-rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud’s disease, lupus, and thyroid disease, were more likely to develop scleroderma.

For the women afflicted with the disfiguring disease, the findings have come as a bitter disappointment.

“I thought that if we had an answer then we could fix it,’’ said Lombard, whose eyebrows have fallen out and whose face is tight and covered with red blotches. “It would help us make sense of why so many of my neighbors have this horrible disease.’’

Ann Dilorati Macaulay, another woman with scleroderma, recalled being slick with oil after swimming in the bay and seeing soot raining down from the oil-burning former Boston Edison power plant, blackening residents’ clothing and backyard laundry. The plant now uses natural gas.

“I still believe that there is something in the environment that is causing this,’’ Macaulay said. “I do think there is a genetic component, but when we are exposed to it, it triggers the disease.’’Continued…

Page 2 of 2 –

For years, residents have been raising the issue of South Boston’s troubling history with pollution – streets that glistened with chemicals when it rained, fumes from planes heading to Logan, the smell from smokestacks not far away.

“I believe there is a cumulative effect,’’ said Mary Cooney, a South Boston activist who has been working with the state on the study. “If these women had grown up in West Roxbury or Hyde Park, they would not have gotten the disease.’’

Macaulay and Lombard were Fourth Street neighbors who found out they had the disease in the late 1990s. Back then, word spread in the tight-knit community. Names began surfacing about others who lived nearby who also had the disease.

Figuring it was not a coincidence, Lombard wrote a letter to the state seeking a review.

“Longtime residents, even if we had no proof, we were always suspicious about how this little tiny community can have all these people with this rare disease,’’ Lombard said.

In the study, researchers collected information about participants’ residential, occupational, and family medical histories. They checked for possible exposures to pollution, including hazardous waste sites and a Coastal Oil refinery.

Researchers tried to recruit large numbers of people for the study, but ended up with 41 people who have the disease and 219 randomly selected individuals who did not have it.

Such a small sample, though it suggested no link to the environment, was not large enough to draw hard conclusions, Simms said.

“The trouble is that science isn’t perfect,’’ said Simms. “It can’t always give the emotional validation that they are seeking.’’

More studies in the immediate future appear unlikely, though state researchers are encouraging present and past South Boston residents with scleroderma or lupus to participate in a national registry designed to identify a genetic link.

At her home in North Attleborough, Macaulay, with a physical therapist aiding her, lifted a resistance band over her head to exercise her arms. She is not convinced by the results.

The study may be over for South Boston, she said, but the battle to understand scleroderma has not.

“South Boston is very polluted,’’ she said. “I think [this disease is] still going to keep happening.’’

Meghan Irons can be reached at mirons@globe.com.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/25/study_says_genetics_not_environment_may_be_cause_of_s_boston_scleroderma_cluster/?page=2

ndg1 wrote:

Toxins in the environment can effect, change or trigger genetic mutations. It seems to me that these studies begin with the end point in mind, which is, spare the companies and government any role or responsibility.

1/25/2010 5:48 AM EST

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JimmyCon wrote:

I believe they told the Woburn residents the same thing about their cancer cluster. Hard to believe that so many folks who grew up in the same neighborhood would develop this same disease.

1/25/2010 7:01 AM EST

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edwal wrote:

stupid researchers cant see the forest thru the trees they probably go around asking the old question about if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around does it still make noise classic case of to much education

1/25/2010 7:19 AM EST

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Potlemac wrote:

The good old Mass Dept of Public Health!!! They have yet to find an industry responsible for anything! Wouldn’t a simple map showing the number of cases surrounded a power plant be evidence enough for a reasonable person that something is wrong? Not for DPH. They want to go an study a remotely possible genetic link to this outbreak which means, simply, that industry is not responsible. Shameful!!!

1/25/2010 9:20 AM EST

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roweswharf wrote:

MGH is always doing medical studies subsidized by and for the benefit of Big Pharm. It’s time someone did a medical studies for the benefit of patients.

1/25/2010 10:24 AM EST

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JennieR wrote:

Toxins can trigger autoimmune diseases. Even if these people have a family history, it is not to be expected that the autoimmune disease would take this rare form. Scleroderma is normally quite rare.

1/25/2010 10:24 AM EST

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cjygudwin wrote:

There was no corporate input in this study in any way. Rhumatic autoimmune diseases do occur far more often in people of Northern Celtic descent than in other ethnic groups. The reason for this is not known. It is thought that hyperactivity of one type of immune response may have served some survival advantage in antiquity.

1/25/2010 10:53 AM EST

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Carnagal wrote:

I thought that at the same time of this Study that a Study for Lung Cancer, Lupus was also in order and that it was put on hold due to the $$$ not coming from the State. Well over one half of a million dollars had been spent and jobs were funded to the DPH. There should’ve been some results…or has this money been just p—-d away too?

1/25/2010 11:13 AM EST

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SingleVoice wrote:

cjygudwin: The “Northern Celtic” observation was my hypothesis, as well.

I wonder if the specific incidence identified for women to date in this study would mimic what one might find in the general population of one of Ireland’s historically industrial, coastal cities. Belfast, for example?

1/25/2010 11:23 AM EST

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thisisdumb09 wrote:

They’re upset because they can’t sue anyone and get a big chunk of money, which always eases the pain of disease.

Diseases happen, unfortunately- it doesn’t have to be someone’s “fault”.

1/25/2010 12:30 PM EST

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plunkettfan wrote:

But remember, no windmills to ruin our veiw off the Cape muffy

1/25/2010 2:14 PM EST

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sblass wrote:

So “thisisdumb09″ evidentially you have family members afflicted by this “cruel” disease and I suppose they’re looking for ‘a big chunk of money’? So I see your id name fits your IQ….People are NOT always looking for money…they ARE looking for reasons “why” they have this disease, especially when there is no family history of it. Based on the Globe’s headline, I believe that the people ‘conducting’ these studies need to ‘really’ divulge the true information to the individuals afflicted, it doesn’t have to be disclosed on the front page of ANY newspaper. All I know is that the people affected with this are basically living with a death sentence!!

1/25/2010 3:09 PM EST

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Joannski wrote:

The MA Dept. of Public Health claims they couldn’t find a link to the Power Plant, etc. due to low participation in it’s study. Did they advertise in South Boston & on the South Shore (where most former Southie residents reside) that a study was to take place? My thoughts are they probably did not. I have long been of the opinion that the Power Plant in Southie caused many cancers. Far too many of my female friends, who grew up in City Point, were diagnosed with breast cancer & far too many of them are no longer with us due to that insidious cancer. The study should be reopened & expanded to include a study of cancer in Southie.

1/25/2010 3:58 PM EST

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citypointer wrote:

I read the comments. A couple of things struck me. First, was the connection to an Irish heritage. The study made no such statement. In fact, it was related to us that women of African-American heritage are afflicted to this in much higher numbers. Second, the comment asking about the money and the opinion that it may have been spent wrong. The fact was that other possible sources for these ailments couldn’t be studied because of the lack of funds. The state and volunteers worked hard to let the public know about the study. Sadly, for some reason the people contacted declined or refused to participate. This definitely hurt the study. Last, to ‘thisisdumb09′ I haven’t heard anybody talk about suing anyone or anything. That may be your answer to these sort of things. Nobody is looking for a ‘chunk of money’. We’re looking for a cause not fault. I’ll just attribute your comment to ignorance of the situation. I hope nothing of this sort occurs to you or any family of yours.

1/25/2010 5:13 PM EST

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dpenna wrote:

This was so well written and I appreciate the effort made by this reporter to share the stories of the warriors, Liz and Ann, who for 11 years taught us all something about grace and dignity in their daily battles with this disease.

1/25/2010 6:32 PM EST

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southiedot wrote:

igrew up on east fourth between m and n. we lost 3 guys to luekemia from the same class. my ma said dont eat the snow,it used to snow a lot then. it wasnt because of dor urine but the stuff coming from the edison and mbta power plants,landing on the snow.our clothes would actually have holes in them from the yellow and brown soot.diabetes in kids is also very high,especially on 2nd street between l and m . right under the edisons nose…makes you wonder…

1/25/2010 6:37 PM EST

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momofkeed wrote:

I agree, it is not always about the money. Sometimes, finding the source or cause of an ailment is the key to finding the cure.

1/25/2010 7:30 PM EST

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PeterES wrote:

Seems like most comments say that if a study doesn’t agree with your preconception then it’s a bad study; if it agrees then it’s a good one. Clustering is difficult. Try a little home experiment: sprinkle some raisins on your breakfast cereal and see if you observe some clustering.

1/26/2010 9:19 AM EST

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elombard wrote:

WOW, who said anything about money or lawsuits? That’s right, no one did, except the two commenters hiding behind anonymity.. I am one of the SB women stricken with Scleroderma in the prime of my life. None of us (not one) ever asked the questions we asked because we were laying the groundwork for a lawsuit, that’s you.. Looking for people to sue doesn’t rate when your fine motor skills are gone, your lungs are filling up with scar tissue or you’re on dialysis because your kidneys have stopped functioning properly. Many of us can’t zip our coats, start a car or hold a fork without help.
For the two ‘charmers’ who accuse us of looking for someone (anyone) to sue, you’re wrong, not everyone is like you. My husband & I raised five great kids, two who are active duty military so despite Scleroderma, I treasure my life. Thank you to dpenna, momofkeed & other commenters for not taking cheap (and cowardly) shots and who recognize that finding the source of something can often lead to a cure.

1/26/2010 9:52 AM EST

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blazingtruth wrote:

Liz Lombard you are an inspiration. You have persevered and raised a beautiful,beautiful family. I am in awe of what you have accomplished, your stamina and your incredible courage. Those of us who have been priviledged to see you in action know that you are fighting for future generations of South Boston children, so that they might not be afflicted with this horrible disease. Thank you for your fight on their behalf. The world is full of hard hearted, malcontents. With everything you have gone through, you had every excuse to become on of them but you have carried on with grace and dignity. God bless you.

1/26/2010 10:35 AM EST

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Gena-G wrote:

Ladies, you will always have idiots out there that have to put a dollar sign on everything or a least think that everyone else does. Now my heart goes out anyone that has to deal with this cripling disease. I too have this crazy condition. I have tried it all, I have the limited version. Which when I was first diagnosed with it two years ago I felt defeated as if my life was over. I tried things that really helped, and some that didn’t. I spent a lot of money on things that didn’t but after spending all this all a long main ingredient was Jesus. I know, I know lets not get God into this. But the truth of the matter is we have an advocate to turn to, and with his guidance he put man made products in my path to do his work. My disease is reversing. I would like to share more of my thoughts with anyone who wis intrested. It’s not church it’s products and prayer that has saved my life. Lets not sit defeated lets defeat it. I’m in the process of creating a website to post what worked on me so it may help someone else. I’m not very good on a computer. I’m looking for a website that is free or dirt cheap. So that everyone can try it for on cost to them if possible. Anyone can contact me through my e-mail Please if your contact me to judge me don’t i just want to help those who want and become a team to form against this disease. Remember there is power in numbers.

1/26/2010 3:32 PM EST

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lisanagy wrote:

I am a speaker on environmental health and Medical Doctor whose story has been on Nightline and in many newspapers. Environmental doctors I am sure were not involved with this assessment. I have bee lecuring on autoimmunity, chemical sensitivity, mental changes associated with environmental exposure among other topics. Feel free contact me if you need referral or look at the website www.aaemonline.org for the American Academy of environmental medicine’s practitioner listings.
My website is: www.environmentalmedicineinfo.com, lisa@nagy1.cm and 508 696 6998 is my contact info.

1/31/2010 3:08 AM EST

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ShamrockPoprock wrote:

Meghan Irons often forms her conclusion first(the bad business people caused the Scleroderma cases in South Boston) then reports only the facts that support her preconceived conclusions in her reports. There is almost a sense of disappointment that she and the so called “community activists” can’t pin the illness on the local businesses as the cause. Community activists are the worst source information to quote in a supposed news story because they have an agenda, and a failed politician like Mary Cooney who has tried to, and failed to get herself elected to public office seek the public spotlight by latching onto “causes”. Scientific facts to the contrary, Cooney will not be dismayed from forming her own conclusions and based on supposition and guesswork, not science. This lazy reporting style of relying on all too easy sources of “opinion vs facts” from attention seeking “community activists” like Cooney is a waste of ink. The facts are that not all the things that are dumped in the water, or pumped out of a smoke stack necessarily harm you. Would we like to see cleaner water or air? Of course. But targeting industry as the source of everyone’s illnesses is irrational. We are all going to die from something some day. The best that medicine can do is delay the inevitable. Industrial pollution turned out to be a blind alley in the scientific research, so turn your attention to a different possibility, don’t keep beating a dead horse. Activists are not deterred by facts, they prefer to form their own conclusions in a vacuum devoid of supportive research and stick to them.
Attention needs to be devoted to the real cause of Scleroderma and it’s treatment without being distracted by unqualified, non scientific opinions of wanna be politicians.

2/8/2010 1:18 PM EST

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Tobeycup wrote:

Miss Irons, You should stop hanging out with community activists/advocates. Mary Cooney doesn’t seem happy with anyone. She recently opposed a new start up business bringing jobs, tax revenue and a much needed service to South Boston. She complains about pollution, smokestacks, chemicals and fumes from overhead planes in the above article. BUT yet she opposes furry faced and wagging tail clients of a dog kennel. It is a proven medical fact that pets promote a healthy life and and contribute towards a positive attitude. Maybe we should get Mary a dog… that might make her happy!!!

2/8/2010 1:44 PM EST

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/25/study_says_genetics_not_environment_may_be_cause_of_s_boston_scleroderma_cluster/?comments=all#readerComm

Filter device – US Patent 3953181 Description

Patent Description: Air pollution has become one of the most serious public health problems in the world. … U.S. patents available from 1976 to present. … Another object of this invention is to provide a smoke-stack filter device …
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Utilization of high sulphur fuels without air pollution – US …

U.S. patents available from 1976 to present. … Smokestack 6 is provided at thebase thereof with floodlights 7. … from passing upwardly into the atmosphere by means of the filter 12 while the gaseous oxygen passes through the filter. …
www.patentstorm.us/patents/4253926/description.html

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A Smokestack in Poland Emits Odor of Indecision – NYTimes.com

Feb 1, 1988 … Sulfur pollution has been a particular problem because coal burned in … has not completed a water treatment plant that was begun in 1976. …
www.nytimes.com/…/a-smokestack-in-poland-emits-odor-of-indecision.html?…

Combined air and water pollution control system – Patent 4959084

by BC Wolverton – 1990 – Cited by 11 – Related articles – All 4 versions
A bioaquatic air pollution control system for controlling both water and … flue gas and passing treated constituents into greenhouse, December, 1976, Brais, 47/17 …. A pollution control system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said filter …. 2, illustrating some of the aspirators extending from the smoke stack …
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Estimating air quality impacts – Elsevier

by L Ortolano – 1985 – Cited by 2 – Related articles
A smokestack is a typical point source, and a highway is a common line source. ….. Chambers, L. A. 1976. Classification and Extent of Air Pollution …
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86.06.04: Where, Oh Where is All the Clean Air?

Have the students bring in some dirty furnace filters in order to demonstrate the … Air pollution can kill. ( ), ( ). 9. When the plume from a smokestack is white, ….. Urban Health in America, Amasa B. Ford, Oxford Press 1976. …
www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1986/…/86.06.04.x.html – Cached – Similar

Environmental lead exposure in a population of children in …

installation of smokestack filters). The plants released …… Van Overschelde J. 1976. Impact of air pollution by lead on the heme biosynthetic pathway in …
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The Environmental Failures of Central Planning

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sumption goods and smokestack filters to abate the air pollution generated in production. ….. Taga, L. S. 1976. Externalities in a command society. …
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Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute

Home

Where, Oh Where is All the Clean Air?

by
Theodore Parker Sr.

Contents of Curriculum Unit 86.06.04:

To Guide Entry

Introduction

Air, like water is essential for life. Air pollution, like water pollution is a problem that threatens us all. We are all aware that air and water are the most precious of all our natural resources. We need clean air and accessible water to carry on normal life functions. In past generations, the amounts of fuels burned in home and industry have greatly increased. This increased burning has also increased the amount of impurities discharged into the air. And since a pollutant is an impurity, we cannot have clean air as long as it is being bombarded with impurities.

History of Air Pollution

Since man discovered how to use fire, he has continuously polluted the atmosphere. The process of combustion or burning provides us with power, but in using this process we pour much waste material into the atmosphere.

a) ancient Romans complained of odor and soot deposits on clothing and crops due to coal burning, wood burning and oil lamp usage.

b) during the middle ages and the colonial period, similar complaints of odors and soot deposits were registered as a result of burning of fuels.

c) the onset of the lndustrial Revolution produced an increase in the number of cities, homes and factories causing an increase in the amounts of fuels burned to run the factories and heat the homes.

Only recently, has air pollution been considered a serious threat to our biophysical environment. This threat has two main causes: 1) the rapid growth of our population 2) the expansion of our technological activities. This same growth has created new waste products harmful to health, detrimental to the growth of living things, negatively aesthetic and expensive in terms of the economy.

Behavioral Objectives

Skills and Abilities

1) to become familiar with the history and facts of pollution and pollutants in our atmosphere.

2) to begin to understand the problems of air pollution and how they affect our environment.

3) to understand through inquiries, investigations and activities the effects of air pollution on living things.

4) to develop suggestions for possible methods of addressing the problems arising from air pollution.

Attitudes and Appreciations

1) to recognize that each person has an affect on the environment.

2) to reach a better understanding of the immediate and long-range dangers of air pollution.

3) to understand that air pollution is a problem that threatens the entire world community.

4) to understand that air is our most important resource and clean air is necessary to maintain a high quality of life.

5) to recognize that modern technology incorporates processes which replace clean, useable air with polluted, potentially harmful air.

Questions to be answered

Why is clean air important?

How did the air become polluted?

What is air pollution?

How does air pollution affect animal life?

How does air pollution affect human beings?

How are the effects of air pollution on human beings studied? How does air pollution affect land-based organisms and aquatic life? What methods are being used for controlling air pollution?

What are some economic considerations for the control of air pollution?

Meteorology of Air Pollution (causes and dispersal; effects on living things)

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is substance in our atmosphere consisting of man-made contaminants that may be harmful to humans, plants, animal life or property. Air pollution consists of gaseous material which makes up more than 90% of the total of air pollution. Air pollution consists of suspended particulates which make up less than 10% of the total of air pollution.

Gaseous Material: Sources and Effects

Carbon Monoxide CO—( over 50% of total of U.S. air pollution) colorless, odorless, tasteless.

Sources:

1) automobile engines account for 50% of world total (three pounds of CO released for each gallon of gasoline burned)

2) Industry 20%

3) Incomplete fossil fuel combustion

Effects:

1) Low concentrations cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and contributes to driver fatigue.

2) 10 parts per million—illness reaction time slowed

3) 50 parts per million—eight hour exposure reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood by 15%.

4) 120 parts per million—one hour exposure can affect driver responses noticeably. (rush hour concentrations often exceed 300 parts per million)

5) 1,300 parts per million—fatal in thirty minutes.

6) persons with heart disease, anemia or respiratory disease are most sensitive to the effects of carbon monoxide.

7) contributes to photochemical smog.

Hydrocarbons—a class of compounds containing carbon and hydrogen in various combinations. Found mainly in oil, natural gas and coal.

Sources:

1) automobiles and other motor driven sources—55% (over 200 different kinds of hydrocarbons are found in auto exhaust)

____2) bacterial decomposition*

____3) forest fires*

____4) combustion processes*

* % variable

Effects:

1) many hydrocarbons are cancer producing (carcinogenic).

2) detrimental to balance of the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

3) contributes to photochemical smog.

Nitrogen Oxides—reddish brown gas with a characteristic odor.

Sources:

1) internal combustion engines—39%

2) residential and commercial burning—47%

3) natural processes—14%

Effects:

1) nitrous oxide, like carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

2) nitrogen dioxide can be fatal in high concentrations.

3) increased respiratory infections in children (mainly bronchitis).

4) nitrogen dioxide and water combine to form nitric acid

5) the oxides of nitrogen combine with water on mucous membranes to

form mild acid solutions. This leads to irritation of the eyes, nose, bronchial tubes and lungs.

Sulfur Dioxide—SO2 a heavy , pungent, colorless gas.

Sources:

1) burning of coal and oil as well as other industrial processes.

2) natural decay and volcanic eruptions.

3) smelting and petroleum refining.

Effects:

1) pulmonary damage

2) irritation to eyes, nose and throat.

3) kills plant life (damages leaves and stems)

4) can injure the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs and the delicate tissues of the lungs themselves.

5) affects the PH balance of water.

6) forms sulfuric acid with water. This acid attacks metal, concrete, granite and other structural materials.

Suspended Particulates: Sources and Effects

Particulates—solid or liquid matter, including dust, smoke fumes, fly ash, mists and sprays.

Sources:

1) incinerators and fossil fuel burning plants, especially coal burning operations.

2) industrial processes.

3) automobile exhaust.

Effects:

1) disturbs the normal cleansing action of the lungs.

2) particles often carry or contain materials that have direct toxic effects on humans (particles often contain bacteria, viruses, sulfuric and nitric acids).

3) particles suspended in the air scatter and absorb sunlight, produce haze, reduce visibility and reduce solar energy reaching earth.

Photochemical Smog

Sources: Photochemical smog is secondary air pollutant produced by the chemical reaction due to the combining of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates. The smog making process begins when the sun’s ultra-violet rays trigger a photochemical reaction between hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, forming a number of secondary pollutants or smog products such as ozone, aldehydes and peroxy-acynitrate (PAN).

Effects:

1) ozone can cause coughing, choking, headaches and severe fatigue.

2) ozone can damage the leaves of plants.

3) PAN causes eye irritation and damages the leaves of plants.

4) aldehydes, with their suffocating, pungent odor, cause severe respiratory irritation.

5) photochemical smog with its brownish haze causes discomfort and decreases visibility.

Lead Aerosol

Sources: tetra-ethyl lead is the anti-knock compound in leaded gasolines that is responsible for 95% of the lead aerosol in the air.

Effects:

1) exposure to high levels of lead aerosols causes scarring and shrinking of kidney and liver tissue.

2) over-exposure to lead can result in peripheral nerve system damage affecting primarily motor nerves.

Major Diseases Related To Air Pollution

Asthma—An attack consists of the narrowing of the bronchioles, which is caused by a muscle spasm, an enlargement of the mucous membrane and by abundant mucous secretions. Asthma can be caused by allergins of natural origin such as pollen as well as manmade pollutants.

Bronchitis and Emphysema—These two diseases are discussed together because they either occur simultaneously or emphysema may be the follow-up to bronchitis. In emphysema, the victim’s air sacs or alveoli become enlarged and eventually break down or burst. Both bronchitis and emphysema induce shortness of breath in victims. In advanced cases victims are unable to blow out a lighted match only a few inches away from their mouths.

Lung Cancer—Cancer is produced by uncontrolled cell growth. Lung cancer is the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells which usually originates in the bronchial mucous membranes. A multitude of carcinogenic substances are known . The best known are the hydrocarbons which are present in the air in cities and industrial areas.

Impacts of Air Pollution

In all the major acute air pollution incidences recorded, effects on animals, primarily zoo or domestic animals have been reported. Dogs seem to exhibit the same symptoms of respiratory disease as do humans. The major contaminants such as the oxides and fluorides are known to be highly toxic to animals. Animals appear to be tougher than man When exposed to air borne contaminants, but there is evidence of the deterioration of livestock When exposed to photochemical smog. Studies conducted in large urban zoos demonstrate that wolves and lions developed a susceptibility to lung cancer. Fluorides have been attributed to crippling skeletal defects in cattle. Numerous instances of fluoride poisoning of livestock have been not only reported, but documented.

Impacts On Aquatic Life

Water is considered polluted if it is not suitable for its intended utilization such as agricultural and industrial uses, recreation, propagation of fish and wildlife and domestic water supply. The natural purification process utilizes oxygen in the decomposing or breaking down of natural contaminants. Excessive amounts of organic matter will cause a decomposition process which will be absent of oxygen. This anaerobic (absence of oxygen) decomposition produces hydrogen sulfide, an offensive smelling gas.

There are generally eight categories of pollutants that can affect the aquatic life of a community. They are heat, sediments, radioactive substances, synthetic organic chemicals, plant nutrients, sewage and disease causing organisms and inorganic substances. Heat can reduce the capacity of water to absorb oxygen. Increased water temperature, caused by the introduction of water from a power generating plant or other industries can upset the ecological balance. When heated water is returned to a stream, it can raise the temperature of the cooler water a few degrees. This slight temperature change is enough to be lethal to many forms of aquatic life accustomed to a specific temperature range. Increasing water temperature also makes aquatic plants and animals grow at a faster rate. It also speeds up the use of food, rate of gas exchange and heartbeat in animals. The organisms grow faster, but do not grow as large or live as long as normally in cooler water. Many aquatic animals will not reproduce if the temperature is raised even a few degrees. Studies show that water temperature above 30°C decreases the number of diatoms and increases the number of blue-green algae. Besides the blue-green algae producing an unpleasant odor and unpleasant taste, they seem not to be a good source of food for algae-eating organisms. This type of pollution; dumping hot water into streams, lakes or rivers is called THERMAL POLLUTION.

EXCESSIVE SEDIMENT will reduce the amount of sunlight penetrating the water and will affect the photosynthesis process of green aquatic plants. These plants are necessary for oxygen production which will maintain a normal balance in the water. Many of these green plants are a necessary food source for the animal life found in the water body.

RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES can accumulate in living organisms, aquatic life as well as in humans when the exposure is sufficiently severe.

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICALS include such things as detergents and cleansing agents used in the home, synthetic organic pesticides and the residue from synthetic chemicals utilized in industrial processes. These chemicals are extremely toxic to fish and other forms of aquatic life as well as causing serious taste and odor problems.

INORGANIC SUBSTANCES include a wide variety of acids, metal salts, solId matter and various other chemical compounds. Among these materials are ammonia, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chloride, chromium, copper, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrates, nitrites, phosphorus, selenium, silver, sulfates and zinc. Pollution by these substances is a result of oil field activities, mining processes, manufacturing processes and agriculture.

Impacts On Plant Life

Plants are the means by which the sun’s energy can serve all animals, especially man. The plants maintain the oxygen content of the air and provide the basic habitat and food for man and animals. In any ecosystem, the plants, animals and microorganisms exist in a state of interaction and coexistence. This interaction is subject to physical and chemical inputs as well as climate. Plant life is much more sensitive to air pollution than animal life. And many times plants are used to gather new data about air contaminants because of this sensitivity. Among the pollutants that can harm plants are sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, and ethylene. Some plant damage is caused by the contaminants in photochemical smog as well as by ozone.

Air pollution determines where certain types of vegetable crops can be raised. Every urban area in the United States experiences vegetative damages from air pollution, especially the farming industry in New Jersey, California and parts of Florida. Substances generated by combustion often react with sunlight and moisture to form the oxidant called PAN, which has been identified as the cause of death of plants and trees along California highways. PAN is extremely toxic to many forms of farm produce. Damage to vegetation as a result of air contaminants is so severe that commercial and non-commercial production of crops and forests in many areas has been jeopardized and in some areas discontinued.

Methods of Controlling Air Pollution vs Economic Considerations

The principal reason for controlling pollution is to protect human health and the ecological balance of man’s life-support systems. Innumerable other benefits can result from clean-up measures, i.e., financial savings, more efficient productivity and aesthetic effect. All arguments against pollution controls are reduced to the money factor. WE CANNOT AFFORD CLEAN AIR; IT COSTS TOO MUCH. Electric utility spokespersons maintain that the cost of adequate filtration of smokestacks is too high. They claim the public won’t stand for the additional cost of electricity. Yet this same public pays regular increases of its utilities bills, for whatever reasons. The auto makers argue that the car-buying public won’t accept the cost of too many emission control devices on new car prices. Yet, the consumer pays time and time again for yearly model changes and frivolous gadgets like hidden headlights, vinyl tops and recessed windshield wipers. We all pay for air pollution. We pay in human life and the destruction of all other life on the earth. Even though we know that air pollution shortens the life span of every living thing that requires air to breathe, these facts seem to have little impact as compared to the money cost factor. For example, life insurance companies have statistics comparing the life expectancies of urban and rural dwellers. The individual who lives and works away from urban centers has a longer life expectancy. One primary reason being the urban dweller s poorer quality of air. The total cost to the nation is billions and billions of dollars.

Steps Toward Control

We find many different kinds of processes being studied, experimented with or employed in attempts to clean up air pollution caused by industry, power generating plants, space heating and refuse disposal activities. The four major types of control devices are filter bag systems, cyclone treatment, electrostatic precipitators and scrubber systems. Other processes are being studied and tested for the removal of sulfur oxides from smokestack emissions. Tall smokestacks do not reduce the emission of pollutants, but they do reduce the concentration of pollutants at ground level. During the 1960’s, the average height of smokestacks for power generating plants was about 240 feet. Today, the average height of these stacks is well over 600 feet with many as high as 1,000 feet or more. Still, this sort of measure, at the most, can only be considered as a sort of interim step or partial solution.

Some cities, like Los Angeles, have banned all backyard incinerators and have laws that require apartment house incinerators to include wet scrubbers on their smokestacks for reduction of particulate emission. Many big cities still dispose of garbage by burning it in huge incinerators. Incinerators can be built that will completely burn the garbage and emit little, if any, contaminants into the air. However, most cities lack such units.

Considerations

Many considerations must be investigated and implemented if quality air is to become a reality again. Among these considerations are the following:

1) more research and development should be undertaken for alternative processes that are non-polluting.

2) development of new pollution control equipment and technological information for industrial emissions should be encouraged and supported.

3) low cost pollution control equipment should be developed for small industries.

4) research and development on new methods of removing sulfur oxides from smokestacks should be undertaken and/or increased.

5) continued study of the use of alternative fuels that will reduce emissions should be encouraged, while modifying existing power plants whenever feasible.

6) new effective and more efficient combustion processes with minimal pollutant emissions should be promoted.

7) research and development of energy sources such as hot water, hot air, solar power or steam for space heating needs.

Summary

All of the major cities of the United States and most of the major cities worldwide have serious air quality problems. The air pollution problem arises from rapidly increasing auto,truck and bus traffic as well as burgeoning industrial development. many valleys, small towns and suburban communities are made vulnerable to such pollution because of natural air inversion. There is abundant evidence that the levels of air pollution in these major cities present serious health problems as evidenced by the increasing rates of emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and respiratory disorders in city dwellers and from experimental data on laboratory animals exposed to ambient air pollution.

Update

Solar and geothermal energy are being studied and experimented with as non-polluting energy sources for the future because it has become apparent that attaching soot precipitators to industrial chimneys or exhaust converters to gasoline engines is not enough. Researchers must think in terms of new kinds of fuels, new methods of producing energy and possibly a system of rationing the use of energy and natural resources. Industrial giants geared to petroleum production, the manufacture of automobiles and the building of highways offer tremendous resistance to such changes. They persist in wasteful practices.

Activities For Classroom Discussion

1) Distribute copies of The Parable of Malengo. Read the parable aloud with the students having each student, having each student read a paragraph. This activity can serve as an introduction to the subject of air pollution. Introductory activity I.

2) Introductory Activity II. Magazine pictures showing temperature inversions, smog, smokestacks belching smoke, cars jamming highways emitting toxic gases, etc., may be posted on a bulletin board or distributed after reading and discussing The Parable of Malengo.

3) Sample Dust Particles and Particulate Matter. Cover microscope slides with a thin layer of vaseline, which will act as a non-drying adhesive. Place the slides in different locations around the room; near air vents, on the window sills, on the floor, suspended from the ceiling at graduated heights. Make charts as to the areas of greatest concentration of dust and other particular matter. Place sheets of white paper under each slide for better viewing.

4) Monitor Smokestacks. Have the students bring in kite from home. Attach to each kite a strip of paper or gauze covered lightly with vaseline. Find a major source of pollution such as a smokestack of an industrial plant, school, apartment or hospital. Instruct the students to fly their kites nearby. Each student should be assigned a specific spot from which to fly his kite. Students should fly their kites at different heights and at different distances from the source of pollution. Amounts of pollution should be determined and compared from spot to spot. This will enable students to learn whether or not weight of particulates has any bearing on distribution.

5) Monitor Home Furnaces. Have the students bring in some dirty furnace filters in order to demonstrate the presence of dust and particulates found in the air of the home. Instruct the students to prepare glass slides covered with vaseline. Shake the filters over the slides. Under the hand lens or microscope, have the students classify particulates according to size, shape and color.

6) Study Pollution From Coal Combustion. This activity can be done using a piece of soft coal, a piece of hard coal, or both. Have the students pulverize the coal to facilitate burning. Hold a vaseline coated slide over the burning coal. The coated slide will be able to pick up any particles emitted by the combustion. This is an excellent activity to illustrate the fact that combustion is the basic source of pollution.

7) Show Damage to Plants. Certain particulate matter can clog up the openings or stomata of leaves of green plants. This clogging will impair or restrain water vapor and other gases from moving in and out of the leaf, particularly carbon dioxide and oxygen. Use vaseline to coat some of the leaves in order to demonstrate the clogging of the leaf pores. Coat both the topside and the underside of the leaf with vaseline. Have the students compare the coated leaves with the uncoated leaves of the same plant over a period of time. A variation of this activity would be to coat all the leaves of a plant and then compare it to a similar plant with uncoated leaves over a period of time.

8) Study The Effects of Sulfur Dioxide On Plants. Using one plant per student, have half the group place their plants in plastic bags, one plant per bag. Have the other half of the group place their plants on a shelf or ledge in the room. Measure out 2 grams of sodium sulfite for each plant placed in the plastic bags. Put the sodium sulfite into a small container. Then place the container in the bag with the plant. One container per bag. The sulfur dioxide can now be made by adding some sulfuric acid to the sodium sulfite. CAUTION: THESE TWO CHEMICALS SHOULD BE MIXED ONLY ON A CLOSED CONTAINER. DO NOT BREATHE THE SULFUR DIOXIDE FUMES.

________After the acid is added, Quickly seal the bag with tape or a wire tie. Use the non-bagged plants to control the experiment. Observe and record the appearance of each plant for two or three days. Exchange data with students who used the same types of plants. Then Compare data with students who used different types of plants. Compare differences in plants with thick, waxy leaves and those with long, thin leaves. Compare young plants with older plants. Record and discuss differences.

9) Study The Pollutants We Inhale. Have students construct a mini-lung model to determine the types and amounts of pollutants inhaled from our immediate surroundings. To construct a minilung model, students will each require the following materials:. one empty half-gallon carton, vaseline, one single edge blade, a medium-sized nail, two plastic soda straws, two small balloons (1-1 1/2 in. diam.), string, plastic wrap, contact cement. To construct the model, open the spout end of the carton wide so as to allow for working inside. Cut a window in one side of the carton (3”x3”). Using the nail, punch two holes side-by-side in the bottom of the carton and push a soda straw through each hole. Working through the window and/or the open end of the carton tie a balloon around the end of each straw. Be sure to coat the in- side of each balloon lightly with vaseline. This can be done-by turning the balloon inside out to coat it then reverse it to place it on the end of the straw. Adjust the straws so the balloons appear in the window. Glue plastic wrap over the window and reinforce with masking tape. Glue the spout end closed and reinforce with masking tape also. For additional sealing to insure an airtight unit, put glue around the holes in the carton where the straws protrude. Allow the mini-lung to dry thoroughly. To operate, squeeze the sides in. The balloons deflate with pressure and inflate when released. Have students activate their models in the classroom, in the hallways and in the teacher’s lounge, if there is smoking allowed in the lounge. After activating the model at various sites, have the students remove the balloons. After removing the balloons, have the students cut them open and examine the inner walls of the balloons with a hand lens or under the microscope to determine the types, size and amounts of particulates that would be inhaled by them during an average school day.

Air Pollution Pre-Test

WHAT’S YOUR AIR POLLUTION I.Q.?

True

False

1. Air pollution is harmful only in cities.	( )	( )
2. Air pollution is worse in big cities than small ones.	( )	( )
3. Nationwide, automobiles are the major source of air pollution.	( )	( )
4. Smog is a problem only in Los Angeles.	( )	( )
5. Inversions—in which air at ground level is trapped by warmer air above—come from air pollution.	( )	( )
6. Chronic respiratory diseases are aggravated by air pollution.	( )	( )
7. Air pollution affects only the respiratory system.	( )	( )
8. Air pollution can kill.	( )	( )
9. When the plume from a smokestack is white, no pollution is coming out.	( )	( )
10. Air pollution is expensive.	( )	( )

Answers and Comments To Air Pollution Pre-Test

COUNT 10	YOU’RE WELL INFORMED	100
FOR EACH CORRECT	GOOD, BUT TRY AGAIN	80-90
ANSWER	WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW	under
		MAY HURT YOU	80

False	True
(X)	( )	1. The air carries pollution far beyond the city. So do automobiles and out-of-city factories.
( )		(X)	2. Although special circumstances cause exceptions, pollution generally increases with population.
( )		(X)	3. Industry, power plants, space heating, and refuse disposal follow far behind, in that order.
(X )	( )	4. Los Angeles-type smog forms in many places— wherever automobile exhaust is acted upon by sunlight.
(X )	( )	5. Inversions occur naturally. They do keep pollution from being dispersed, however.
( )		(X)	6. Studies indicate that pollution worsens these diseases and brings more deaths from them.
(X )	( )	7. Among other things, air pollution can aggravate existing heart conditions.
( )		(X)	8. In a number of famous long-lasting inversions, pollution brought death to many people.
(X )	( )	9. Many polluting gases are colorless and many polluting particles are white.
( )		(X)	10. The government estimates that air pollution damage to animals, crops, paper, cloth, rubber, leather, and stone costs each man, woman, and child in the U.S. $65 a year. That’s a lot to pay for something you don’t even want, isn’t it?

The Air we Breathe: A Parable

(Use this parable as an introduction to the subject of air pollution.)

Once there was a beautiful little country named Malengo. On one side of Malengo, the sea spread out, providing white sandy beaches for children to run on and white-capped blue waves for children to laugh in and a wide expanse of ever-moving blue that quieted restlessness.

On the other side of Malengo, the mountains reached the sky. Their blue sides stood tall, capped by snow hats so beautiful that women copies them, making white knit hats for the children.

Malengo was a country of farmers, and the farms spread out in the valley and along the foothills, making beautiful checkered patterns of brown and yellow and green. Every farmhouse was surrounded by trees—shade trees and flowering trees and fruit trees of every kind. In between the fields and along the roads, more trees grew.

And the flowers, such beautiful flowers you have never seen. Dainty wild flowers strewed themselves

“But other people do. You could sell them to other countries and get rich.’’

“Get rich? What is rich? Why should we get it’’

The man snorted again. “You are clods,’’ he said. “Dull, backward clods. I’ll not waste any more time in such a backward country.’’ He rode off through the mountains and was never seen again.

But people were no longer happy. “We need factories. We need cities,’’ they said to each other. “We need to get rich, whatever that is.’’ So they sent a delegation through the mountains to their neighboring country to find out about cities and factories and getting rich. The delegation brought back experts, who immediately started bossing.

The experts took the farmers from their fields and se them to work building a city along the beach. House after house was built, then factory after factory. Then the experts made everyone move into the city. The children cried, for there were no trees to climb in the city. The women cried, for there were no flowers in the city. The men even cried, for they could no longer work their own fields and watch their own crops grow.

But the experts reassured them. “You will like the city. You can work in the factories. You can plant new trees and new flowers.’’ And so they did, but there weren’t as many trees and flowers.

The experts divided up the work. Some men still farmed, but now they farmed much more land. At the bidding of the experts, they cut down trees to make bigger fields to grow more crops.

The trees were used in the factories and homes for heat and energy, and black smoke began to fill the sky. The factories started turning out shoes by the thousands, and dumping leftover leather and chemicals into a river that flowed to the sea.

Other factories started making clothes, and the air soon had a perpetually sour smell.

Delegations of salesmen took the shoes and clothes through the mountains and sold them. They brought back automobiles, which were then the newest fad in the neighboring country.

Soon every family had an automobile. And every Sunday, every family got in its automobile and rove, bumper to bumper, up into the mountains over a new road the experts had said they needed, in order to get some fresh air.

Soon the trees were all gone and there was no wood to burn. “We need coal,’’ said the experts, and they began looking for coal. They found it in the foothills. They brought in huge machines that tore up the earth and took out the coal. They took the coal in the city, and as it burned in all the factories and homes, the air got blacker and blacker.

“Let’s start using electricity,’’ said the experts. So a power plant was built and power lines were stretched everywhere in the city. And air got blacker and blacker.

“Let’s build our own automobiles,’’ said the experts. So another factory was built. And the air got blacker and blacker across the shady places, and bold wild flowers captured the sunny meadows. And the people were happy, very happy, in their beautiful little country.

But one day, a stranger came to Malengo. He wore a fancy vest and a high top hat, and he rode a prancing steed.

“What a dull, backward country you have,’’ he mocked. “All you do is farm. Where are your cities and factories? Don’t you make anything?’’

“We make our own clothes and our shoes. We make butter and cheese. We make delectable pies and cakes and soups. We make our own houses.’’

“No, no! That’s not what I mean. Don’t you make buggies to go riding in?’’

“Why should we?’’ We have good strong legs. We can walk.’’

He merely snorted. “In a factory you could make hundreds of shoes in a day, or hundreds of dresses, or 50 buggies.’’

“Why should we? Everyone already has shoes and clothes, and we don’t need buggies.’’

Some days, the wind blew in from the sea, instead of out to the sea. On those days, the black air just hung over the city. People coughed and their eyes watered, but no one paid any attention.

People began coming in from the neighboring country, because Malengo was now such a prosperous country. They brought more automobiles. They built more houses and more factories.

So many people came that all the farmland was bought so people could build houses and factories on it. Now the people of Malengo had to buy all their food from the neighboring country. Food became very expensive. The air got blacker and blacker. But no one paid any attention.

Then, for three weeks straight, the wind blew in from the sea. The black air hung over the city. People wheezed and coughed, and their eyes watered. The black air got thick with grime. Dogs began to die. Old people died , too, and sick people. No one knew why. No one tried to find out why.

Finally, the wind shifted. The black air blew away. Everyone breathed deeply and smiled. A few more old people died, and a few more sick people. But no one paid any attention.

More houses were built, and more factories. The power plant had to expand. Trains were built to cross the mountains, and they made the journey many times a day. Then an airport was built and jets began flying in and out.

Again, the wind blew in from the sea, this time for 48 days. The people coughed and wheezed, and their eyes watered. Dogs died. Old people died, and sick people. Then the children began to die. But no one knew why. The black air hung like a pall, poisoning everything. Trees and flowers died, even weeds, and finally everyone died, every single person in Malengo.

Then the wind changed, blowing the black death away. But now people were afraid to go to Malengo. No one even went in to bury the dead. And so the country sat there, silent. The factories had stopped. The homes were silent. Nothing moved.

In the silence, the thick, thick silence, thing began to grow—grass and weeds and tree seeds. Once more dainty wild flowers strewed themselves across the shady places and bold wild flowers captured the sunny places. Threes burst up through cracks in the concrete. Vines began growing up walls. Bodies decayed and enriched the earth. Rabbits came, and birds, and many other animals. But still, people were afraid to go to Malengo. They didn’t know why the black death had come or when it would come again. To them Malengo was a cursed place, a place of mystery and doom, a monument of death.

* * *

It could happen, you know. Part of it has already happened. Old people and sick people have died. Dogs and cats have died. So have flowers. Someday, all of us could die. The only difference is, we know what causes the black smoke. But, do we care?

Average air pollution levels

State	City	Micrograms of	Micrograms of
		particles/cubic	sulfur dioxide
		metre of air	cubic metre of air
Alabama	Montgomery	61	5
Arizona	Phoenix	135	10
California	Los Angeles	133	14
	San Francisco	52	8
Colorado	Denver	152	28
Connecticut	New Haven	89	40
Florida	Miami	68	5
	St. Petersburg	43	16
Georgia	Atlanta	79	22
	Savannah	65	7
Hawaii	Honolulu	41	12
Illinois	Chicago	144	73
Indiana	Evansville	70	19
	Indianapolis	86	11
Iowa	Des Moines	95	7
Kansas	Kansas City	133	8
	Wichita	76	7
Kentucky	Covington	90	19
Louisiana	Baton Rouge	68	10
Massachusetts	Worcester	138	45
Michigan	Detroit	121	12
Minnesota	Minneapolis	61	23
Missouri	St. Louis	109	28
Nebraska	Omaha	112	13
New Mexico	Albuquerque	90	5
New York	Rochester	82	22
North Carolina	Winston-Salem	115	12
Ohio	Akron	104	31
Oklahoma	Tulsa	52	5
Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	115	54
	Scranton	211	30
	York	92	12
Tennessee	Memphis	89	7
Texas	Forth Worth	73	5
	Pasadena	83	5
Virginia	Norfolk	75	30
Washington	Seattle	58	24
West Virginia	Charlestown	130	7
Wisconsin	Madison	64	12

*Microgram is one-millionth of a gram.

AIR POLLUTION EMERGENCIES

What is the New Index?

It’s a report of the level of certain air pollutants (in winter, average levels of sulfur oxides and particulates; in summer, particulares and peak levels of oxidants) measured during the preceding 24 hours, plus an air pollution “forecast’’ for the following day. The index was developed by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in cooperation with the state’s news media and the Christmas Seal/Lung Association to provide a uniform method for reporting air pollution levels.

How Do Your Read the New Index?

The index is based on the Federal Health Standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It reports micrograms of pollution per cubic meter of air in four stages:

(figure available in print form)

What to do if heavy air pollution is forecast

If there’s danger of an air pollution episode, the following precautions ar recommended:

	1.	Curtail physical activity, both indoors and outdoors. (The most active you are, the more breaths you take—and the more pollutants you breathe in.)
	2.	Stay indoors as much as possible and keep windows closed. (Pollution levels are usually lower indoors than out. And buildings themselves act as filters of sorts, blocking or absorbing some pollutants.)
	3.	Avoid smoke filled rooms. If you are a smoker, stop or cut down smoking.
	4.	Don’t use your fireplace.
	5.	Don’t use your incinerator.
	6.	Don’t drive if possible. If you must travel, use a public transportation. If you must drive, form car pools, avoid busy streets and expressways. If you have a choice, take a bridge instead of a tunnel. If you must use a tunnel, keep car windows and ventilator closed.
	7.	If you’re on the street and a bus or truck emits a cloud of exhaust, hold your breath.
	8.	Do not wear contact lens.
	9.	In the winter months, use a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to your home. (Moisture helps you breathe easier:)

10. Cut down on water use. (Electricity is needed to pump water and sewage systems, and to run sewage treatment plants.)

11. Cut down on use of electricity. Keep nonessential lights off. Postpone running washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, other non-essential appliances.

12. Lower room temperature in your home if health considerations permit.

13. Postpone indoor cleaning jobs that circulate dust, such as sweeping, vacuuming.

14. Postpone outdoor jobs that raise dust, such as raking leaves, sweeping sidewalks, excavating land, etc.

15. Don’t use the phone unless it’s essential. (Telephone circuits can be overburdened in emergencies.)

Special precautions

(For the elderly, chronically ill, heart and lung patients, bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema sufferers, post-operative patients, and newborn infants)

Stay indoors, keep windows closed, and follow the other appropriate suggestions listed above. In addition:

1. If you have an air filtering system or air conditioner, turn it on.

2. If you’re, on medication, take it at the first sign of worsening symptoms and call your physician.

HOW A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WORKS

(figure available in print form)

THE CHEAPEST WAY TO GET RID OF WASTE HEAT FROM A POWER PLANT IS TO PUMP LAKE WATER THROUGH THE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS METHOD IS CALLED THE DIRECT-FLOW METHOD. ALL THE HEATED WATER GOES INTO THE LAKE.. THIS IS HOW THERMAL POLLUTION IS CAUSED.

A thermal pollution index

Temperature, °C	Water conditions
21	Normal river temperature. Water is clear. Many kinds of fish, other animals, and plants thrive.
24	No obvious change in water quality or organisms living in it.
26	Almost no fish can reproduce.
26.5	Many desirable kinds of fish, such as trout, have been killed.
29	No swimming is allowed.
32	Most kinds of game fish and most animals that live on the river bottom have been killed.
33.5	Only carp and catfish survive.
35	Unpleasant odors and tastes produced by increasing numbers of blue-green algae. Water not fit for drinking.
40.5	Water can no longer be used by industry for cooling, unless it is first cooled.
43	The river is dead, except for some algae, bacteria and molds.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT AIR POLLUTION

A. You can reduce auto air pollution:

1. Walk when you can. Use busses and trains. Shop with others. Join a car pool. Ride a bike.

2. Buy gasoline with the least amount of lead and the lowest octane level that your car can take.

3. See that the pollution controls on your car are doing their job. Give your engine regular tune-ups.

4. Switch off the motor when you park, even if it is only for a few minutes.

5. Work with others for a good public transit system so you won’t need your car so much. Work for the development of cars that won’t pollute.

B. You can reduce power plant pollution:

1. Turn off the lights, radio, and TV when not using them.

2. Run your dishwasher only when it is full.

3. Use the air conditioner only when someone is home and only when it is very hot.

4. Dry your clothes outside when possible, instead of using the clothes dryer.

5. Work for adequate air pollution control equipment on polluting power plants.

C. You can reduce air pollution caused by burning:

1. Don’t burn leaves or trash.

2. Buy unpacked food and liquids in returnable containers whenever possible.

3. If you live in an apartment house with an incinerator, observe regulations for its use and see that it is pollution-controlled.

4. Reuse and recycle whatever you can.

5.Work for the installation of modern municipal incinerators that can produce heat and electricity instead of pollution.

6. Conserve irreplaceable fuel and help clean the air by keeping windows closed when the heat is on. Set the thermostat at 68 or 70 and wear a sweater if you are chilly. Turn down the heat at night or when you are away for more than a few hours.

7. Work for pollution controlled central heating when possible.

GLOSSARY

AEROSOL: a dispersion of solid or liquid particles of microscopic size in gaseous media, such as smoke, fog or mist.

AIR: a colorless odorless, tasteless gaseous mixture; mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium and other gases.

AIR MONITORING: the sampling for and measuring of pollutants present in the ambient air.

AIR POLLUTION: the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more man-made contaminants in quantities characteristics, and of duration such as to be injurious to human, plant or animal life or to property or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property.

AIR QUALITY CRITERIA: data showing the range of effects that may be associated with exposure to various concentrations of pollutants in the air for various time periods.

AIR QUALITY STANDARD: air quality goals established for the purpose of protecting public health and welfare.

AMBIENT AIR: the air around you.

AREA SOURCE: small diffused individual pollutant sources such as automobiles, homes or commercial heating units, small home incinerators.

ATMOSPHERE: the envelope of air surrounding the earth.

CARBON DIOXIDE: a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas formed during respiration, combustion and organic decomposition.

CARBON MONOXIDE: a colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon or any carbonaceous material.

CARCINOGENIC: cancer producing.

CHRONIC: having a long duration or frequent occurrence.

COH: abbreviation for coefficient of haze; unit of measurement of soiling index.

COMBUSTION: burning; a chemical change accompanied by the production of heat and light; one of the three basic contributing processes of air pollution.

COMMUNITY AIR: the air representative of an entire community.

DUST: solid particles capable of temporary suspension in the air or other gases; usually derived from larger masses through the application of physical force.

ECOLOGY: the science of the relationships between organisms and their environment.

EFFLUENT: a discharge or emission of a liquid or gas.

EMISSION FACTOR:an average of the rate at which pollutants are emitted from a given source.

EMISSION INVENTORY: a compilation of the estimates of emissions from all sources in a community.

EMISSION STANDARD: the maximum amount of a pollutant that is permitted to be discharged from a polluting source.

ENVIRONMENT: the combination of all the external conditions and influences affecting the life, development, and the survival of an organism.

EPIDEMIOLOGY: the study of epidemics and epidemic diseases as they affect populations.

EVAPORATION: the physical transformation of a liquid to a gas at any temperature below its boiling point.

FLY ASH: finely divided particles of ash entrained in gases arising from the combination of fuel.

FOG: condensed water vapor in cloudlike masses close to the ground and limiting visibility.

FOSSIL FUEL: coal, oil and natural gas; so-called because they are the remains of ancient plant and animal life

GAS: one of the three states of matter, having neither independent shape nor volume and tending to expand indefinitely.

HYDROCARBONS: any of numerous organic compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen in various combinations.

INCINERATION: burning of waste material.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE: an engine in which fuel is burned within the engine proper.

INVERSION: a state in which the air temperature increases with increasing altitude, holding surface air down along with its’ pollutants.

MICRO: a prefix meaning one-millionth; abbreviated by the greek letter.

MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER: unit used to express concentration of many air pollutants; abbreviated µ/m3

MICRON: a unit of measurement equal to one-millionth of a meter; symbol µ

MIST: a mass of fine droplets of water in the atmosphere.

MIXING DEPTH: the depth in which air rises from the earth and mixes with the air above it until it meets air equal or warmer in temperature.

NITROGEN OXIDES: gases formed from nitrogen and oxygen when combustion takes place under conditions of high temperature and pressure.

ORGANIC: of, pertaining to, or derived from living organisms; in chemistry, a carbon-containing compound.

OXYGEN: a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas which makes up 21% of the atmosphere by volume.

OZONE: an unstable, poisonous, oxidizing agent with a pungent, irritating odor.

PARTICULATE: a particle of solid or liquid matter.

PARTS PER MILLION: unit sometimes used to express volumetric concentration of gaseous pollutants; abbreviated ppm.

PHOTOCHEMICAL: chemical reaction initiated by sunlight.

PRIMARY STANDARD: the levels of air quality necessary, with an adequate margin of safety to protect human health.

RINGELMANN: a chart used for measuring the capacity of black smoke.

SCRUBBER: a type of control device using a liquid spray to remove solid and gaseous pollutants from an air stream.

SECONDARY STANDARD: the levels of air quality necessary to protect the public welfare from any known or anticipated adverse effects of pollutants. Public welfare is considered to include among other things vegetation and property.

SMOG: irritating haze resulting from the sun’s effect on certain pollutants in the air, notably those from automobile exhaust; also a mixture of smoke and fog.

STABILITY: a term used to describe the ability of the air to diffuse pollution vertically; stable air results in little or no vertical diffusion, causing a buildup of pollution; unstable air has much vertical diffusion of pollution and air of neutral stability has “average’’ vertical diffusion.

STACK: a smokestack; a vertical pipe or flue designed to exhaust gases and any particulate matter suspended therein.

STATIONARY SOURCE: a source of air pollution found in a fixed location such as power plants, factories, municipal incinerators, and refineries.

SULFUR OXIDES: compounds formed from sulfur and oxygen primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels.

THRESHOLD: the minimum level of a pollutant that causes an effect on human health, vegetation or property.

TURBULENCE: air movement and mixing.

VAPOR: the gaseous state of any substance which normally exists in a liquid or solid state.

VAPORIZATION: the change of a substance from the liquid to the gaseous state; one of the three basic contributing processes of air pollution.

VOLATILE: evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures.

WIND: the natural, horizontal movement of air.

SELECTED READINGS ON AIR POLLUTION

———. Automobile Fuels and Air Pollution: Report of the Panel on Automotive Fuels and Air Pollution. Washington D.C., Dept. of Commerce. 1971.

Bach, Wilfrid. >I>ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION. New York, McGraw-Hill. 1972.

Battan, L.J. The Unclean Sky: A Meteorologist Looks at Air Pollution Garden City, N.Y. Doubleday. 1966.

Brodine, V. Episode 104. Environment. 13(1): 2-27 (1971).

Cassell, Eric J. “The Health Effects of Air Pollution and Their Implications for Control.’’ Law and Contemporary Problems, XXXIII, pp 197-216, (Spring 1968).

Cole. L.C. Playing Russian roulette with biochemical cycles. In the Environmental Crisis, Helfrich, H.W. Jr. (ed), New Haven, Yale Press, 1970, pp. 1-14.

Craig, P., and E. Berlin. The Air of Poverty, Environment 13 (5); 2-9 (1971).

Esposito, J.C. Vanishing Air. (Ralph Nader’s Study Report on Air Pollution), Crossman Publishers, 1970.

Goldsmith, J.R. and S.A. Landow. Carbon Monoxide and human health, Science, 162: 1352-1369 (1968).

Haagen-Snit, The control of air pollution. Scientific American, 1969.

Lansford, H. The supercivilized weather and sky show. Natural History, 79(7): 92-113 (1970).

Leinwand, G. Air and Water Pollution. New York: Washington Square Press, 1969.

Newell, R.E. The global circulation of atmospheric pollutants. Scientific American, 224: 32-42 (1971).

———. The Economic of Clean Air: Report of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to Congress. Washington, D.C., Govt. Printing Office, 1971.

Waggoner, P.E. Plants and polluted air. Bioscience, 21: 455-459. (1971).

Young, G., and J.P. Blair, Our ecological crisis: Pollution, threat to man’s only home. National Geographic, 138: 737-781 (1970).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

AIR, Irving and Ruth Adler, John Day Co. 1962.

The Only Earth We Have, L. Pringle, Mac Millan, 1969

Environmental Pollution, Laurent Hodges, Holt, Rinehart, Winston

Vanishing Air, Ralph Nader’s Study Group Report on Air Pollution, John Esposito

You and The Environment: An Investigative Report, Gary Day, Houghton Mifflin, 1976.

Urban Health in America, Amasa B. Ford, Oxford Press 1976.

Cost of Air Pollution Damage, L.B. Barrett & T.F.Waddell, U.S. FPA

The World’s Exhaust, Vivian Sorvall, Pendulum Press

TEACHER RESOURCES

Award Winning Energy Education Activities for Elementary and High School Teachers

This 38 page booklet contains brief description of prize-winning entries in the National Science Teachers Assoc. avail: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Mathematics in Energy, 1978. 72 pages. This packet is designed to infuse energy into junior and senior high math classes. The unit deals with a wide range of energy math including conversions, statistics, and the manipulation of energy units (BTU, watts, calories, etc). avail: U.S. Dept of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

An Energy History of the United States, 1978. 117 pages. Charts the growth of American energy use and traces the history of the major sources of energy in the United States. avail: U.S.Dept of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

FILMS/FILMSTRIPS

The Roots of Urban Problem

The Air Pollution Menace

Solid Waste A New Pollutant

Air Pollution: What Is It?

Contents of 1986 Volume VI | Directory of Volumes | Index | Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute

© 2010 by the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
Terms of Use		Contact YNHTI

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1986/6/86.06.04.x.html

Surprise! Greens praise a coal plant – Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 | 2 …

Feb 10, 2008 … In the distance are the four smokestacks of the infamous Reid … 1968 and 1976 — with giant air filters that remove dust and ash particles from smokestack emissions. A fourth unit, built in 1983, already has one of the filters. … Mike Elges, chief of the Air Pollution Control Bureau for the state …
www.lasvegassun.com/…/surprise-greens-praise-coal-plant/ – Cached – Similar

Infrared gas-filter correlation instrument for in situ measurement …

by WF Herget – 1976 – Cited by 11 – Related articles – All 6 versions
Received 26 January 1976. dertaken to design, construct, and evaluate a gas-fil- ter correlation (GFC) instrument for ….. smoke stack, the CaF2 windows were inserted into …. troscopy,” in Analytical Methods Applied to Air Pollution …
www.opticsinfobase.org/ao/ViewMedia.cfm?id=20199&seq=0

air pollution: West’s Encyclopedia of American Law (Full Article …

air pollution ( ¦er pə′lüshən ) ( ecology ) The presence in the outdoor … of smokestack scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, and other filters. …
www.answers.com/topic/air-pollution – Cached – Similar

Smoke stack air washer – Patent 4168958

by EW Hartman – 1979 – Cited by 3 – Related articles
3972697, Air pollution control system, August, 1976, Short, Jr. 55/242 … A smoke stack condenser, air washer and filter system for connection to the …
www.freepatentsonline.com/4168958.html – Similar

Energy Citations Database (ECD) – - Document #5270269

by DA Gryvnak – 1976 – Cited by 1 – Related articles – All 4 versions
Dec 8, 2009 … Publication Date, 1976 Jan 01. OSTI Identifier, OSTI ID: 5270269 … EXHAUST GASES; AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT; AIR POLLUTION MONITORS; AIRCRAFT; … Description/Abstract, An infrared instrument using a gas-filter correlation … gases in smokestack exhausts, was modified for use on the combustor. …
www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=5270269 – Cached

Why Negative Ions and Ozone

… hydrocarbon level (pollution from industrial smokestacks, vehicle emissions, etc. … In fact, the EPA advises us that indoor air pollution is the nation’s worst … This allows them to remove pollutants that air filters cannot, … endocrinal, and metabolic effects throughout the body (Kreuger 1976) and plays …
www.peakpureair.com/saionsozone.htm – Cached – Similar

Lockheed reports new way to cut Burbank emissions. – Free Online …

… with a 50-foot-high smokestack emiting some chemicals into the air. … Also, the carbon filters will be changed more often than previously planned, he said. … formed in 1976, is the air pollution agency responsible mainly for … He wouldn’t name the company, and an AQMD AQMD Air Quality Management District …
www.thefreelibrary.com › … › December 19, 1994 – Cached

[PDF]

Air Quality

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat – Quick View
smoke stack, is called point source because the pollution can be traced to a …. and micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3). 1976-1980. 1988-1991 … air, requires the use of filters, scrubbers, and other methods that help remove …
www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/NALBOH/NALBOH-2.pdf

Other pollutants can cause organ disease, cancer, and reproductive problems. The

health effects of specific pollutants can be found in The Health Effects Notebook for

Hazardous Air Pollutants at the USEPA Unified Air Toxics website,

<www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hapindex.html>.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/NALBOH/NALBOH-2.pdf

*Regulatory Classes of Air Pollutants

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), set by the USEPA, are healthbased

standards for air pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment.

These standards are divided into two categories: primary and secondary standards. Primary

standards protect public health, including the health of “susceptible” groups, such as the

young, old, and ill. Secondary standards preserve public welfare issues, such as maintaining

visibility and decreasing plant, animal, and structural damage.

Six common pollutants make up the NAAQS. Also known as criteria pollutants,

these six air pollutants (Table 2) are used to characterize the air quality of an area. They are

measured in parts per million (ppm) by volume, milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3),

and micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3).*

TABLE 2

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Pollutant (abbreviation) Allowed concentration Over (averaging time)

Ozone (O3) 0.12 ppm (235: μg/m3)b 1 hour b

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 9 ppm (10 mg/m3)a

35 ppm (40 mg/m3)a

8 hour a

1 hour a

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) 0.053 ppm, (100: μg/m3)b Annual b

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 0.03 ppm (80: μg/m3)a

0.14 ppm (365: μg/m3)a

0.50 ppm (1300: μg/m3)c

Annual a

24 hour a

3 hourc

Particulate matter < 10

microns in size (PM10)

50: μg/m3 b

150: μg/m3 b

Annual b

24 hour b

Lead (Pb) 1.5: μg/m3 Quarterly b

aprimary standard, bprimary and secondary standard, csecondary standard.

For areas not in compliance with the NAAQS, the USEPA requires a state

implementation plan (SIP) detailing how the state will return to compliance. While the

NAAQS characterize regional patterns of air quality, local patterns from specific sources

may be independent of broader geographical air quality issues. For local air quality, the

USEPA developed the Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) list of air pollutants that are

associated with serious health effects, such as cancer, organ disease, and reproductive effects,

and that are regulated at the emission level.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/NALBOH/NALBOH-2.pdf

Some air pollutants are not emitted directly from a source. Rather, they are formed in

the atmosphere as a result of chemical reactions. Many of these reactions take time, and as a

result, these pollutants, sometimes called secondary pollutants, have impacts far downwind

of the initial precursor release. Two examples of this are ozone, a main component of smog,

and acid particles that contribute to acid rain. For example, high ozone levels in the

Appalachian Mountains are the result of emissions many miles away. These situations

present unique problems to local boards of health since the poor air quality is caused by

sources far outside their jurisdiction. Managing air pollution resulting from long-range

transport requires regional cooperation.

Engineering controls use technology to either reduce the amount of pollution created during a

process or to reduce the amount of pollution emitted into the air. The first control, changing

the amount of pollution made, can be accomplished by changing the way a chemical is used,

reducing the amount of a chemical used, or using a different chemical that does not cause

pollution. The second engineering control, to reduce the amount of pollution released into the

air, requires the use of filters, scrubbers, and other methods that help remove the pollution

from the emission. The cyclone filter is an example of this second kind of engineering

control (Figure 4). The difference between the two engineering controls is that the first

reduces the entire amount of pollution created, and the second reduces only the amount of

pollution that is released into the air.

The other way to control air quality is through the use of laws to regulate the

allowable levels of emission. The regulations for air pollution are found in the Clean Air Act

(CAA) of 1990. The CAA targeted the key issues of urban air pollution problems, hazardous

air pollutants, and acid rain. In addition, the CAA created an Air Pollution Operating Permit

Program that significantly changed the way states issue permits for air pollution. The

program established minimal federal regulations for air emissions, which means that as long

as state and local governments meet these requirements, they have the flexibility to create a

permit program that works best for their location. As part of the program, the USEPA

continues to improve the program by simplifying the permit application, streamlining permit

revisions, and involving citizens in the permit review process.

The CAA lists the regulations for the entire country, but states and local or regional

agencies are often responsible for implementing the law.

The USEPA Office of Air and Radiation has a variety of publications

available from their Indoor Air Quality website, <www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/>, including The

Air Quality A-11

Inside Story: A Guide for Indoor Air Quality, <www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html>, and

Indoor Air Quality Basics for Schools, <www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/scholkit.html>.

Local boards of health can be instrumental in protecting indoor and outdoor air

quality. They should partner with other local, state, and possibly federal agencies to assist in

monitoring air quality. In addition, local boards can work with their local health agency to

plan responses to events that threaten air quality, such as forest fires, or to provide the

necessary warnings or advisory against pollution or high levels of ozone. Finally, local

boards can help provide information to homeowners, schools, businesses, and others on

indoor air quality.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/NALBOH/NALBOH-2.pdf

Resources for Additional Information

American Lung Association. Air Quality. <www.lungusa.org/air>.

Godish, Thad. 1997. Air Quality. 3rd ed. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC/Lewis Publishers.

United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Indoor Air Quality Division.

<www.epa.gov/iaq>.

—. Office of Air and Radiation. <www.epa.gov/oar>.

—. Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. <www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps>.

—. EPA Operating Permits Program. <www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/permits/index.html>.

—. AIRNOW. <www.epa.gov/airnow>.

—. National Ambient Air Quality Standards. <www.epa.gov/airs/criteria.html>.

—. TTN Web, Unified Air Toxics Website. <www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hapindex.html>.

Walsh, Phillip, Charles Dudney, and Emily Copenhaver. 1984. Indoor Air Quality.

Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press.

pp. A-12

Food and Drug Administration

Center for Food Safety and Nutrition

Center for Veterinary Medicine

Joint Institute for Food Safety

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Council on Food Safety

Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Agriculture Research Service

Food Safety and Inspection Service

National Academy of Sciences

National Alliance for Food Safety

FIGURE 1. Federal Food Safety Network

(from above cdc document – probably 1999 doc)

(comment from article below)

1. Submitted by Bronzedude
Posted February 04, 2010 08:59 AM

Lead poisoning has also been linked to serious reproductive problems in both men and women. Abnormal menstrual cycles and sterility are possible effects in people with high levels of lead exposure. Furthermore, lead poisoning is particularly harmful to pregnant women. Risk of stillbirth or miscarriage increases in women with high levels of lead in their bloodstream. Additionally, lead poisoning in pregnant women can be transferred to their newborns, leading to developmental delays, kidney disorders and nervous system impairments. For more on see this link – http://www.onlinelawyersource.com/lead_exposure/effects.html

Health risk after lead plant reopens

By ANTHONY KITIMO Posted Wednesday, February 3 2010 at 22:56

Residents of Owino Huru in Mikindani, Mombasa have raised concern over the increasing cases of diseases suspected to be linked to a lead smelting factory that was recently reopened.

The residents have accused public health officials of not taking action against the factory which they accuse of polluting the environment.

Many people, mostly children have been diagnosed with various diseases associated with the toxic fumes from Metal Refinery EPZ Ltd factory.

In a report obtained by the Nation, and signed by a government chemist official, Mr George Kakuta, several children aged below 15 years have been found to be suffering from lead poisoning.

Some of the medical reports indicate one of the children was found with 23 micrograms per decilitre (mcg/dL) of lead in his blood, which is 13 mcg/dL more than the required lead content.

Area chief Nassir Kipepembe confirmed in the report that the children affected live near the factory. Mr Jackson Oseya, a resident, said since the factory was opened three years ago, he has been suffering from chest diseases and abdominal pains.

Green Belt Movement officer Njoroge Karanja said his organisation would hire a lawyer to help residents seek legal redress and to ensure the factory paid medical expenses for all the affected children.

Factory director Irshad Sumra had earlier said the factory had complied with health regulations and blamed business rivals for inciting the residents to tarnish his company’s name.

National Environment Management Authority director of compliance, Coast region, Mr Martin Shimba said they were still investigating the claims by residents

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/-/1070/855292/-/8phkel/-/

Wel Come to Metal Refinery Group

The company of the MREL Group, has congealed the pace for changing global customer demands for Lead and Lead Alloy Products. All our business processes are targeted at maintaining the highest level of environmental integrity, cost competitiveness and best quality product. We believe that eco-friendly business practices as the preservation and protection of our natural resources with efficient operations. We are committed to providing the Clients with a competitive advantage through a continuous process of quality advancement in all areas of our performance.

Is owned and managed by a forward-looking team of professionals, with an experience in Battery Processing & Lead Recycling Technology of more than 27 years.

Metal Refinery Group was started in 2006. The company boasts of an indigenously developed manufacturing plant and an air pollution control plant which is an essential part of lead smelting plant.

The company has an in-house laboratory for better quality control and can detect impurities level on the lower side up to 0.001%. The quality is checked with help of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).

http://www.metalrefineryepz.com/

Metal Refinery Group is the leading forward in lead smelter in the African Zone. The operation produces high quality lead and lead alloys which are supplied to the producers of all types of Lead Batteries and to the manufacturers of many other types of lead products which include, extrusions, castings and sheet.

Seventy percent (70%) of our production is exported to our numerous foreign customers. The company has built up a strong reputation within the lead sector for its high quality and for its unquestionable high level of efficiency, reliability, technical support k for its well established workforce and to protect the general environment as far as is reasonably practicable and Guide Line by our sister concern New metal Refinery (I) PV. LTD. Mumbai INDIA – 27 year old organization is owned and managed by a forward-looking team of professionals, with an experience in Battery Processing & Lead Recycling Technology of more than 27 years.

Metal Refinery Group has made significant investments in recent years and this will continue as they make every positive effort to comply with current and future environmental requirements.

The companies’ aim is to maintain a safe place of work for its well established workforce and to protect the general environment as far as is reasonably practicable.

http://www.metalrefineryepz.com/About-Us.html

EPZ: EPZs in Kenya – Enterprises

Kenya Metal Refineries EPZ Ltd. P. O. Box 92076 – 80102, Mombasa Tel. +254-718-962352. Email: savioalves@hotmail.com. Contact Person: Savio Alves …
www.epzakenya.com/epzsinkenya.php?cat=3&sub=10 – Cached – Similar

Sunil Goda |director at metal refinery epz ltd | | Sunil Goda …

Sunil Goda director at metal refinery epz ltd of .View Sunil Goda Profile ,Sunil Goda blog, news feed.
www.siliconindia.com/…/sunil_Goda_director_at_metal_refinery_epz_ltd.html – India – Cached

Business & Human Rights : Metal refinery ordered to close [Kenya]

Metal Refinery EPZ to cease operations after failing to take measures to safeguard public health and the environment…[C]omplaints were received from …
www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/984630 – Cached

Title: Metal refinery ordered to close [Kenya]

link status: ok (opens outside this page)
Visit: Metal refinery ordered to close [Kenya]

Author: Mazera Ndurya, Daily Nation [Kenya]
Dated: 18 Jun 2008

The Municipal Council of Mombasa has ordered…Metal Refinery EPZ to cease operations after failing to take measures to safeguard public health and the environment…[C]omplaints were received from residents about smelters spewing lead particles into the air and open surface water drainage…About 500 residents of Ashton village in Jomvu complained of deteriorating health following the opening of a battery manufacturing factory in the neighbourhood…”Several primary school children have been experiencing persistent coughs while some residents have been having problems with their eyesight and experiencing general body weakness” [chairman of the council’s Public Health Committee, Dr Jamada Swaleh Chidagaya] said.

http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/984630

Kenya: Metal Refinery Ordered to Close

Mazera Ndurya

18 June 2008

Nairobi — The Municipal Council of Mombasa has ordered a company closed over public health concerns.

A letter from the council’s medical officer of health dated June 12, 2008, ordered Metal Refinery EPZ to cease operations after failing to take measures to safeguard public health and the environment.

According to an inspection report, complaints were received from residents about smelters spewing lead particles into the air and open surface water drainage.

The inspection team, led by the chairman of the council’s Public Health Committee, Dr Jamada Swaleh Chidagaya noted lack of a well protected place for processing and melting lead materials.

Other areas of concern included lack of proper drainage for the premises, lack of pre-treatment of waste to remove lead elements before disposal and lack of approved plans, occupation permit and drainage certificate.

Complained

The company has to meet all the requirements set by the inspection team before it can resume operations.

Dr Chidagaya said the council would also close another company this week for a similar reason.

About 500 residents of Ashton village in Jomvu complained of deteriorating health following the opening of a battery manufacturing factory in the neighbourhood.

Relevant Links

They said since the factory started operations, several birds had died after drinking water seeping through a wall. Some food crops had also started turning yellow.

According to one of the residents, Ms Saumu Nyakodondo, the problem started following the onset of the rains.

Eyesight

“Several primary school children have been experiencing persistent coughs while some residents have been having problems with their eyesight and experiencing general body weakness.

“We reported the matter to the management who took the dead birds and some soil for tests,” she said.

The National Environmental Management Authority had also sent a team of inspectors to assess the situation.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200806180531.html

Breaking News, Kenya, Africa, Politics, Business, Sports, Blogs …

Feb 3, 2010 … Many people, mostly children have been diagnosed with various diseases associated with the toxic fumes from Metal Refinery EPZ Ltd factory. …
www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/-/1070/855292/-/…/-/index.html – Cached

[PDF]

Residents of Owino

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat – Quick View
from Metal Refinery EPZ Ltd factory. In a report obtained by the. Nation, and signed by a gov- ernment chemist official, Mr. George Kakuta, several chil- …
dn.nationmedia.com/DN/DN/2010/02/04/…/04_02_2010_033.pdf

Oil profits

http://italy.usembassy.gov/pdf/other/RL33021.pdf

Microscope –

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Plastic rubbish blights Atlantic Ocean

By Victoria Gill
Science reporter, BBC News, Portland

The SSV Corwith Cramer is involved in the plastics research

Scientists have discovered an area of the North Atlantic Ocean where plastic debris accumulates.

The region is said to compare with the well-documented “great Pacific garbage patch”.

Karen Lavender Law of the Sea Education Association told the BBC that the issue of plastics had been “largely ignored” in the Atlantic.

She announced the findings of a two-decade-long study at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, US.

The work is the conclusion of the longest and most extensive record of plastic marine debris in any ocean basin.

Scientists and students from the SEA collected plastic and marine debris in fine mesh nets that were towed behind a research vessel.

We know that many marine organisms are consuming these plastics and we know this has a bad effect on seabirds in particular

Dr Karen Lavender Law, Sea Education Association

The nets dragged along were half-in and half-out of the water, picking up debris and small marine organisms from the sea surface.

The researchers carried out 6,100 tows in areas of the Caribbean and the North Atlantic – off the coast of the US. More than half of these expeditions revealed floating pieces of plastic on the water surface.

These were pieces of low-density plastic that are used to make many consumer products, including plastic bags.

Dr Lavender Law said that the pieces of plastic she and her team picked up in the nets were generally very small – up to 1cm across.

“We found a region fairly far north in the Atlantic Ocean where this debris appears to be concentrated and remains over long periods of time,” she explained.

“More than 80% of the plastic pieces we collected in the tows were found between 22 and 38 degrees north. So we have a latitude for [where this] rubbish seems to accumulate,” she said.

The maximum “plastic density” was 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre.

“That’s a maximum that is comparable with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” said Dr Lavender Law.

But she pointed out that there was not yet a clear estimate of the size of the patches in either the Pacific or the Atlantic.

“You can think of it in a similar way [to the Pacific Garbage Patch], but I think the word ‘patch’ can be misleading. This is widely dispersed and it’s small pieces of plastic,” she said.

The impacts on the marine environment of the plastics were still unknown, added the researcher.

“But we know that many marine organisms are consuming these plastics and we know this has a bad effect on seabirds in particular,” she told BBC News.

Nets are dragged half-in and half-out of the water

Nikolai Maximenko from University of Hawaii, who was not involved in the study, said that it was very important to continue the research to find out the impacts of plastic on the marine ecosystem.

He told BBC News: “We don’t know how much is consumed by living organisms; we don’t have enough data.

“I think this is a big target for the next decade – a global network to observe plastics in the ocean.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8534052.stm

_47364047_neustonnettow_sea

_47366789_bermuda466x260

_47364046_petridish_creditrichardking_sea

_47364049_cramer700

Nifty but Scary Stuff that we all need to fix yesterday sometime – earthquakes disintegrate columns holding concrete slab buildings, 3D models of earthquakes in Southern California and elsewhere, climate temperature land and sea maps, air pollutants from vehicle emissions – it isn’t just CO2 causing the problems -

Posted by cricketdiane on February 25, 2010

(from quakewrap site)

http://www.quakewrap.com/Seismic-Repair-and-Strengthening-of-Concrete-Columns-with-Glass-or-Carbon-FRP.php

Seismic Repair and Strengthening of Concrete Columns with Glass or Carbon FRP

Reinforced Concrete columns or bridge piers can be efficiently strengthened with Glass FRP (GFRP) or Carbon FRP (CFRP). Older (pre-1970s) columns have two major shortcomings; they are inadequately confined (usually a No. 3 or 4 tie placed at a spacing of 12 inches) and the ends of the ties are not properly anchored in the core region. During an earthquake, the ties open and allow the longitudinal steel to buckle, leading to failure of the column.

the 3D information below requires -

http://www.ivs3d.com/

The viewer is available for free download currently – here (and a package to create these 3D and 4D dynamic maps are available for purchase there also which is probably way more than I will ever have, but its good to know that it exists . . . That’s like the ASTM files that are available for only $10,000 a year that I would love to have – maybe by next lifetime, my note).

http://www.ivs3d.com/download/

As it explains on that page -

Please note, due to an increase in unauthorized downloads, Fledermaus and it’s patches are now available only to customers who hold a valid license. To gain access to the software, please enter the Host ID associated with your Fledermaus license in the field below (Your Host ID is your Ethernet (Mac) address or your dongle Flex-ID. You could check for your Host-ID or Flex-ID in your license file, License.dat.). If you wish to obtain a license to the software, please contact IVS3D.

Download iView4DDownload iView4D, the free viewer for Fledermaus files. (By the way, make sure and check for the 32-or 64 versions for Windows 7.)

Some of the information that can be viewed from Scripps Oceanographic – the Library also has presentation materials, movies, tutorials, and online tools on this page:

http://www.siovizcenter.ucsd.edu/library.php

- very nifty stuff, my note

LIBRARY / VISUAL OBJECTS from Scripps found here -

http://www.siovizcenter.ucsd.edu/library/objects/index.php?category=Scenes

Scenes

There are a total of 114 scenes currently available for download. You can also search for a visual object using the form on the right side of the page.

Global Earthquakes

DOWNLOAD

Scene file ( 23.2 MB )

Southern California Earthquakes

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Scene file ( 10.1 MB )

Parkfield California

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Scene file ( 9.7 MB )

Earthquake Offshore Baja California, Mexico

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Scene file ( 4.2 MB )

Haiti Earthquake (12 January 2010)

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Scene file ( 88.4 MB )

Earthquake Swarm near Lone Pine, California

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Scene file ( 3.8 MB )

Samoa Islands Region Magnitude 8.0 Earthquake

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Scene file ( 48.9 MB )

Large Earthquake Pair: September 29-30, 2009

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Scene file ( 49.3 MB )

Bombay Beach Swarm March 2009

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Scene file ( 180.8 MB )

Magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Palomar California 17 November 2008

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Scene file ( 19.0 MB )

Magnitude 5.6 earthquake Near Chino California 29 July 2008

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Scene file ( 39.7 MB )

Mogul Swarm, Nevada

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Scene file ( 37.4 MB )

Magnitude 7.9 Earthquake near Eastern Sichuan, China

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Scene file ( 136.3 MB )

Yellowstone Hotspot Project

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Scene file ( 181.6 MB )

Basin & Range

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Scene file ( 129.5 MB )

Magnitude 6 earthquake near Wells, Nevada, USA

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Scene file ( 56.4 MB )

A Swarm of Magnitude ~5 Earthquakes Southeast of Calexico

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Scene file ( 50.1 MB )

Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake South of the Fiji Islands

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Scene file ( 57.6 MB )

Rio Grande Rift Project (EarthScope)

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Scene file ( 193.7 MB )

Magnitude 8.0 Earthquake off the Coast of Central Peru

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Scene file ( 57.6 MB )

Series of relatively large earthquakes (M~4) in Southern California, Aug-Sep, 2007

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Scene file ( 50.7 MB )

Large Earthquakes in Sumatra, Indonesia, 2000-2007

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Scene file ( 545.2 MB )

Magnitude 4 earthquake off shore San Diego 4 September 2007

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Scene file ( 42.7 MB )

01 September 2007: magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Lake Elsinore

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Scene file ( 44.0 MB )

Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake near Java in Indonesia, 8 August 2007(UTC)

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Scene file ( 57.6 MB )

Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake in the Sea of Japan, 16 July 2007(UTC)

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Scene file ( 57.6 MB )

OOI Network Global Nodes

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Scene file ( 34.9 MB )

Southern California Earthquakes recorded by the ANZA Seismic Network

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Scene file ( 18.0 MB )

Seismic Activity in the Day compared to the Night

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Scene file ( 24.0 MB )

Utah Earthquakes

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Scene file ( 13.6 MB )

Tectonic Plates (a global perspective)

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Scene file ( 135.0 MB )

Earthquakes in Turkey

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Scene file ( 37.7 MB )

Seismic Activity in Alaska

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Scene file ( 15.9 MB )

Seismic Activity in Switzerland

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Scene file ( 3.4 MB )

Seismic Activity in New Zealand

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Scene file ( 23.9 MB )

Southern California Earthquakes

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Scene file ( 20.3 MB )

Monitoring the Hilina slump on the south flank of Kilauea

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Scene file ( 211.5 MB )

15 June 2004: magnitude 5.4 Earthquake off the coast of Mexico/Southern California

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Scene file ( 17.3 MB )

Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake in Alaska on 28 June 2004

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Scene file ( 14.6 MB )

Surface topography of Mars (Planer view)

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Scene file ( 96.0 MB )

Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO): Northwestern USA

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Scene file ( 42.4 MB )

Plate Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones & Ridges

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Scene file ( 86.1 MB )

Earthquakes in Canada (British Colombia)

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Scene file ( 2.0 MB )

2006 USArray Earthquakes

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Scene file ( 59.1 MB )

Magnitude 8.1 Earthquake in Soloman Islands, 1 April 2007(UTC)

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Scene file ( 57.6 MB )

Seafloor Eruption 2006

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Scene file ( 78.1 MB )

Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake in Argentina, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

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Scene file ( 110.0 MB )

Magnitude 8.3 Earthquake in the Kuril Islands, 15 November 2006

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Scene file ( 57.6 MB )

Earthquake in Southern California (Magnitude 4.5; 03 November 2006)

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Scene file ( 40.8 MB )

Magnitude 6.7 earthquake near Hawaii (15 October 2006)

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Scene file ( 35.9 MB )

Earthquake in Southern California (09 October 2006)

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Scene file ( 40.7 MB )

Seismic Networks (SIO operated)

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Scene file ( 35.9 MB )

Global Seismic Network

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Scene file ( 34.9 MB )

Seismic Network (USA)

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Scene file ( 35.0 MB )

Lake Tahoe

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Scene file ( 331.1 MB )

Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake in South Sandwich Islands, Scotia Sea, 19 August 2006

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Scene file ( 177.0 MB )

Gulf of Mexico Earthquake

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Scene file ( 46.8 MB )

8.0 Mw Earthquake in Tonga

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Scene file ( 331.2 MB )

Grand Lau Basin scene

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Scene file ( 557.7 MB )

Central Lau Spreading Center scene

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Scene file ( 65.7 MB )

Valu Fa Ridge scene

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Scene file ( 145.3 MB )

Lau Basin/Tonga Trench Regional scene

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Scene file ( 109.4 MB )

Huntington Beach

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Scene file ( 1,135.2 MB )

Global Shakes

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Scene file ( 20.3 MB )

Southern California Earthquake Timeline

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Scene file ( 27.8 MB )

Southern California Magnitudes

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Scene file ( 27.8 MB )

Parkfield Earthquakes: 2004-2006

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Scene file ( 41.6 MB )

The 2004 Parkfield M6 Earthquake and Aftershocks

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Scene file ( 42.0 MB )

Large Earthquakes in Indonesia (2004-2006)

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Scene file ( 544.2 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 299.7 MB )

Parkfield, California, 2004 Magnitude 6 Earthquake

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Scene file ( 47.3 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 12.2 MB )

USArray Deployment Progress and Recorded Seismicity

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Scene file ( 302.5 MB )

USArray Station Deployment and Recorded Seismicity

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Scene file ( 1.5 MB )

Major World Earthquakes (Magnitude > 8)

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Scene file ( 74.1 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 24.9 MB )

Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake in Java Indonesia, 26 May 2006

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Scene file ( 101.3 MB )

California Seismicity & Fault Planes

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Scene file ( 41.5 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 14.1 MB )

Magnitude 3.6 Earthquake Off Shore San Diego

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Scene file ( 44.1 MB )

Eastern Lau Spreading Center

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Scene file ( 147.8 MB )

Closer view on Magnitude 8 Tonga earthquake

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Scene file ( 109.4 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 52.8 MB )

Event (non-earthquake) on April 4, 2006, ~9AM PST

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Scene file ( 12.2 MB )

Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake in Africa

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Scene file ( 26.2 MB )

New Map of East Pacific Rise at Ridge 2000 Integrated Studies

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Scene file ( 16.7 MB )

The Great Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake and Tsunami: Science and Policy

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Scene file ( 568.3 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 363.0 MB )

Blue whales off Antarctic Peninsula

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Scene file ( 36.0 MB )

Bam Earthquake (Magnitude 6.5, 26 December 2003)

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Scene file ( 13.3 MB )

Collaborators

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Scene file ( 251.2 MB )

Japan Earthquake (11/14/05)

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Scene file ( 2.2 MB )

Offshore San Diego Earthquake (10/16/2005)

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Scene file ( 17.9 MB )

Pakistan Earthquake (10/08/05)

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Scene file ( 30.4 MB )

Salton Sea Swarm

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Compressed scene file ( 12.3 MB )

Magma chamber geometry of Sierra Negra volcano, Galapagos Islands

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Scene file ( 68.7 MB )

Noteworthy California Earthquakes (June 2005)

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Scene file ( 31.1 MB )

The Great 2004 Sumatra Earthquake: Evidence from hydroacoustic signals

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Scene file ( 572.5 MB )

New Zealand Seismicity

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Scene file ( 23.6 MB )

Marianas Trench Explorer

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Scene file ( 33.0 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 21.6 MB )

Magnetotelluric (MT) Surveys

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Scene file ( 3.1 MB )

Mars Virtual Explorer

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Scene file ( 379.7 MB )

The San Simeon, California, earthquake with topography

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Scene file ( 301.0 MB )

The San Simeon, California, earthquake without topography

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Scene file ( 4.2 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 1.3 MB )

La Jolla, California

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Scene file ( 193.5 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 67.9 MB )

Hawai’i bathymetry – Hilo rift ridge zone

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Scene file ( 84.0 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 34.5 MB )

Hawai’i bathymetry – Haleakala rift zone

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Scene file ( 25.9 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 11.5 MB )

Hawai’i bathymetry – Polulu landslide

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Scene file ( 62.9 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 31.4 MB )

Hawai’i bathymetry – Loihi seamount

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Scene file ( 6.0 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 2.1 MB )

Hawai’i bathymetry – Mahukona submarine volcano

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Scene file ( 99.4 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 43.8 MB )

Hawai’i bathymetry – Wailau landslide, Moloka’i

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Scene file ( 21.8 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 11.0 MB )

Hawai’i bathymetry – lava flows and volcanic cones

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Scene file ( 44.3 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 13.0 MB )

Hawai’i bathymetry – Puna ridge and rift zone.

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Scene file ( 18.5 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 7.4 MB )

Monterey Bay Virtual Explorer

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Scene file ( 180.6 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 88.8 MB )

Engdahl catalog

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Scene file ( 3.6 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 1.0 MB )

Southern California Earthquake Relocations

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Scene file ( 26.6 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 13.4 MB )

Juan de Fuca/Axial Seamount

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Scene file ( 45.7 MB )

Lake Tahoe Virtual Explorer

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Scene file ( 188.8 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 34.7 MB )

Southern California Earthquakes and Sensor Networks

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Scene file ( 175.7 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 96.9 MB )

Earthquakes in Japan

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Scene file ( 14.8 MB )

Compressed scene file ( 5.7 MB )

Search Visual Objects Archive

Enter multiple keywords separated by a space.

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: you MUST read this before you download and use any of the visual objects on this website. By downloading you agree to all the terms and conditions outlined in the file that this link downloads.

(from Scripps Institution of Oceanography Library found here – )

http://www.siovizcenter.ucsd.edu/library.php

http://www.iris.washington.edu/HTM/year.html

Earthquakes Map - Last 365 days from IRIS

***

Using Seismic-Eruption to Explore Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Seismic-Eruption is a wonderful program conceived and written by Alan L. Jones at SUNY Binghamton. This program as well as his Seismic Waves program are part of the new Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC which opened September 20, 1997. We use Seismic-Eruption in Show-Me-Geology to demonstrate basic characteristics of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and to engage kids in thought provoking questions.

If you have a Windows machine you can download these programs from http://www.geol.binghamton.edu/faculty/jones/jones.html and use them in activities with your students.

Below is an example lesson using Seismic-Eruption that was developed for pre-service teachers at SDSU in the Natural Sciences 412D class. There are all kinds of fun informative exercises you can have kids work on with this program. Have fun!

To Start Program:

Go to the Start menu in Windows and select Programs, then Seismology and then “Seismic Eruption” which will launch the program. Press “Go” to begin.

To make choices of views: select a group. The Red Box that says “Back, leads you to previous menus. Most menu options are self explanatory, so when you need to do something look for the options under the various pull down menus. You can turn off the audio using these menus – or turn down the audio volume on your computer monitor if you wish.

Investigations of the World View

Select the “World View”. The program with start running – illustrating where and when earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have occurred around the world. Notice the following:

the time scale bar at the bottom left that shows the dates. How many years is represented in this time sequence? _________
earthquake and eruption counters keep track of the number of quakes and eruptions over time.
How many quakes in this time interval worldwide? _________

How many earthquakes on average each day? __________

How many volcanic eruptions over the entire time interval? _____________

Once the World View sequence has displayed all the quakes and eruptions up to the present time – click on the “Information” button in the lower right of the map window. Use the information there to answer the following questions:

At any particular moment, about how many volcanoes on Earth might be actually erupting lava, pumice or ash? _____________________
Remote sea-floor volcanic eruptions at the mid-oceanic ridges are in most cases difficult or impossible to detect. However, what advanced technology is starting to bring sea-floor eruption sites into the realm of study? _____________________

Investigations of the January 1994 Northridge earthquake

From the “World View” above, select the “Back” button to return to the “World Menu”.

Select “North American Group” from the World Menu.

Select “California Group” from the North American Group.

Select “Northridge 1995 Group” from the California menu.

Select “Northridge California 1995″. The program will start running.

What is the time interval run for the Northridge quake? __________________

How many quakes occurred in this interval of time? ________________

Note that the default speed of the program runs at 5 hours/sec. Adjust this speed so that the program runs at 1 hour/sec and hit the “Repeat” button. Watch carefully as the time of the quake (Jan 17 04:31) approaches. Were there any foreshocks that might have helped seismologists that a major earthquake was imminent? ____________

In the map view, major earthquake faults in Southern California are shown by the blue lines. Does the main shock of the Northridge quake occur on any of these mapped faults?

Where are almost all of the aftershocks of the Northridge 1995 earthquake located relative to the main shock? ______________

Northridge Cross-Section

From the screen above, select the “Back” button followed by “Northridge Cross-Section”. The program will begin – let it run through. This program is showing a cross-sectional view through the Earth which displays the depth distribution of quakes associated with the Northridge event. The default speed is 4 days/sec. Slow this all the way down to 1 hour/sec and play it again – this time examining more closely the pattern produced by the Northridge quake and its aftershock sequence.

At what depth did the main shock occur? ______________

Draw a simple sketch below showing the likely geometry of the fault (note that the shallowest earthquakes DO NOT fall directly on the fault – these are distributed in a group above the fault).

Can you guess what kinds of structures may be associated with the shallowest group of earthquakes?

(etc.)

http://www.showmegeology.org/seismic-eruption_1.htm

***

Feb 24, 2010

Senators grill NASA chief on President Obama’s space plan

06:05 PM

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) urged President Barack Obama and NASA to set a goal of getting to Mars as senators lashed the agency chief Wednesday for proposing to end the Constellation rocket program that aimed to return to the moon and to Mars.NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr. said told a Senate Science subcommittee that he and the White House agreed with the goal of reaching Mars is “the ultimate destination.” But Bolden said he couldn’t set a date for that goal because research funded in the budget needs to find better propulsion and research longer-term space travel on people.

“We want to go to Mars,” Bolden said. “We can’t get there because we don’t have the technology.”

The clash occurred at the first hearing on Obama’s NASA budget released Feb. 1. The budget canceled the Constellation program, which NASA officials said was unrealistic after being underfunded for years.

(etc.) [my note, - and why aren't they making the new generation of space shuttle system that is needed - what happened to America and our abilities in the space program being first and foremost to national security, to domestic opportunities and to our willingness to pursue science? How do they expect any of us to be inspired to be involved in math, science and technology when every thing that utilizes these things are being discarded and thrown away with nothing short of contempt?]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2010/02/senators-grill-nasa-chief-on-president-obamas-space-plan/1

***

Temperature Trackers Watch Our Watery World

02.23.10

Satellite image of El Niño This image depicting the current El Niño condition in the Pacific Ocean was created with data collected by the U.S./European Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2 satellite during a 10-day period centered on Jan. 30, 2010. Image credit: NASA/JPL Ocean Surface Topography Team
› Larger view
Climatologists have long known that human-produced greenhouse gases have been the dominant drivers of Earth’s observed warming since the start of the Industrial Revolution. But other factors also affect our planet’s temperature. Of these, the ocean plays a dominant role. Its effects helped nudge global temperatures slightly higher in 2009, and, according to NASA scientists, could well contribute to making 2010 the warmest year on record.

Covering 71 percent of our planet’s surface, the ocean acts as a global thermostat, storing energy from the sun, keeping Earth’s temperature changes moderate and keeping climate change gradual. In fact, the ocean can store as much heat in its top three meters (10 feet) as the entire atmosphere does.

“The vast amount of heat stored in the ocean regulates Earth’s temperature, much as a flywheel regulates the speed of an engine,” said Bill Patzert, an oceanographer and climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. “The ocean has a long history of capturing and giving up heat generated by both human activities and natural cycles; it is the thermal memory of the climate system.”

Heat and moisture from the ocean are constantly exchanged with Earth’s atmosphere in a process that drives our weather and climate. Scientists at NASA and elsewhere use a variety of direct and satellite-based measurements to study the interactions between the ocean and atmosphere.

“These interactions result in large-scale global climate effects, the largest of which is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation,” explained Josh Willis, a JPL oceanographer and climate scientist. This climate pattern appears in the tropical Pacific Ocean roughly every four to 12 years and has a powerful impact on the ocean and the atmosphere. It can disrupt global weather and influence hurricanes, droughts and floods. It can also raise or lower global temperatures by up to 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

The oscillation pattern is made up of linked atmospheric and oceanic components. The atmospheric component is called the Southern Oscillation, a pattern of reversing surface air pressure that see-saws between the eastern and western tropical Pacific. The ocean’s response to this atmospheric shift is known as either “El Niño” or “La Niña” (Spanish for “the little boy” and “the little girl,” respectively).

Where the wind blows

During El Niño, the normally strong easterly trade winds in the tropical eastern Pacific weaken, allowing warm water to shift toward the Americas and occupy the entire tropical Pacific. Heavy rains tied to this warm water move into the central and eastern Pacific. El Niño can cause drought in Indonesia and Australia and disrupt the path of the atmospheric jet streams over North and South America, changing winter climate.

Large El Niños, such as the most powerful El Niño of the past century in 1997 to 1998, tend to force Earth’s average temperatures temporarily higher for up to a year or more. Large areas of the Pacific can be one to two degrees Celsius (around two to four degrees Fahrenheit) above normal, and the average temperature of the ocean surface tends to increase. The current El Niño began last October and is expected to continue into mid-2010. Scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies in New York estimate that if this pattern persists, 2010 may well go down as the warmest year on record.

El Niño’s cold counterpart is La Niña. During La Niña, trade winds are stronger than normal, and cold water that usually sits along the coast of South America gets pushed to the mid-equatorial region of the Pacific. La Niñas are typically associated with less moisture in the air and less rain along the coasts of the Americas, and they tend to cause average global surface temperatures to drop. The last La Niña from 2007 to 2009 helped make 2008 the coolest year of the last decade. The end of that La Niña last year and subsequent transition into an El Niño helped contribute to last year’s return to near-record global temperatures.

All the ocean’s a stage

Both El Niño and La Niña play out on a larger stage that operates on decade-long timescales. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation, or PDO for short, describes a long-term pattern of change in the Pacific Ocean that alternates between cool and warm periods about every five to 20 years. The PDO can intensify the impacts of La Niña or diminish the impacts of El Niño. In its “cool, negative phase,” warm water, which causes higher-than-normal sea-surface heights (because warmer water expands and takes up more space), forms a horseshoe pattern that connects the north, west and south Pacific with cool water in the middle. In its “warm, positive phase,” these warm and cool regions are reversed, and warm water forms in the middle of the horseshoe.

Such phase shifts of the PDO result in widespread changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures and have significant global climate implications. During the 1950s and 1960s, the PDO was strongly negative, or cool, and global temperatures seemed to level off. During most of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, the Pacific was locked in a strong positive, or warm, PDO phase and there were many El Niños. We are currently in the early stages of a cool PDO phase that began around 2006. Cool, negative phases tend to dampen the effects of El Niños.

Willis said the PDO, El Niño and La Niña can strongly affect global warming due to increased greenhouse gases. “These natural climate phenomena can sometimes hide global warming caused by human activities, or they can have the opposite effect of accentuating it,” he explained.

Wild ride

“These natural signals — El Niños, La Niñas and PDOs — can modulate the global record for a decade or two, giving us a wild ride with major climate and societal impacts,” said Patzert. “They can have a powerful short-term influence on global temperatures in any particular year or decade. This can make it appear as if global warming has leveled off or become global cooling. But when you look at the long-term trend over the past 130 years, our world is definitely getting warmer. And that’s the human-produced greenhouse gas signal.”

Patzert said the recent climate record is like making a drive from the coast to the mountains. “As you rise slowly to higher and higher elevations, occasionally you hit a major speed bump, such as the 1997 to 1998 El Niño, and temperatures spike; or you hit potholes, such as cooler phases of the PDO, and temperatures dip,” he said. “In the end, though, we still tend toward the top of the mountain, and the trend upwards is clear. We are driving ourselves into a warmer world.”

Alan Buis
818-354-0880
alan.buis@jpl.nasa.gov

2010-060

(from)

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/elnino20100223.html

***

In-Depth: Earth Topics

Global Climate Change

Latest climate data from NASA.

›View Site→

Carbon Monoxide Concentration at 18,000 feet over United States from California Wildfires Sept. 2009 - NASA

September 03, 2009

Beginning August 26, 2009, and continuing into September 2009, a large wildfire in the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles known as the Station Fire burned more than 140,000 acres through September 3. Carbon monoxide in the smoke from this large fire was lofted as high as 8.3 kilometers (27,000 feet) into the atmosphere, where it was observed by JPL’s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument onboard NASA’s Aqua satellite.

This movie, created using continuously updated data from NASA’s “Eyes on the Earth 3-D” feature on NASA’s global climate change website, shows three-day running averages of daily AIRS retrievals of the abundance of carbon monoxide present at 5.5 kilometers (18,000 feet). AIRS is most sensitive to carbon monoxide at this altitude, which is a region conducive to long-range transport of the smoke. As the carbon monoxide is lifted by the fire’s heat and blows downwind, it appears in the August 30 AIRS map north and east of the fire as a yellow to red plume that stretches from Southern California across Nevada and Utah.

(etc.)

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features.cfm?feature=2303

***

Fires Around Lake Malawi in Africa

Fires continued to burn around eastern Africa’s Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) on October 13, 2009. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this true-color image the same day. The fires were likely set for purposes of agriculture, a common occurrence at this time of year.

Red dots indicate hotspots associated with actively burning . . .

(Slide number 10 in the series found on this page of World fires – South America is generally pretty interesting for burn off fires, too)

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/fires/main/index.html

Number 10 slide in series of world fires - NASA - eastern Africa’s Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) on October 13, 2009

CALIPSO Sees Through the Haze

04.22.09 – New research shows that the warming effect of aerosols, or small particles in the air, increases with the amount of cloud cover below the aerosols.

NASA Study: Climate Fuels Asian Wildfire Emissions

04.30.09 – Fires in equatorial Asia are growing more frequent and having a serious impact on the air as well as the land.

(found here -)

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/fires/main/index.html

Cars Emerge as Key Atmospheric Warming Force

A new NASA study indicates that motor vehicles are the greatest contributor to atmospheric warming: They release greenhouse gases that promote warming, while emitting few aerosols that counteract it.

NASA Adds Extensive Data to Open Government Initiative Web Site

01.22.10

Learn more about Open Government at WhiteHouse.gov
An Earth dataset showing topography

An Earth dataset visualization showing topography with the data overlaid on the Earth found within the The Global Change Master Directory. This catalog of data was created to enable users to access datasets and services relevant to global change and Earth science research. Image Credit: NASA. NASA has contributed a wide range of scientific data to the new publicly accessible Web site “Data.gov” in accordance with the administration’s Open Government Directive issued in Dec. 2009.

The purpose of Data.gov is to increase public access to high value datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the federal government. Public users may search for information by topic or by accessing the data contributed by any of the 24 participating major government departments and agencies.

NASA’s input includes timely, extensive, accurate and relevant data about, Earth science and observation research, global change, agency missions, projects and instruments. Data.gov is a searchable Web site providing access to government information through the Raw Data, Tool and GeoData Catalogs.

The data may be read on line or downloaded to improve public knowledge of the agency and its operations; potentially create economic opportunities; or respond to need and demand as identified through public or industry consultation.

NASA products are in the Tool and GeoData Catalogs. Tool Catalog products include planet counter and climate change widgets and various Earth observation and other analysis utilities. In the GeoData Catalog, the agency posted more than 600 datasets across a wide range of imagery, maps, atmospheric, climate, geological and geophysical data. NASA will continuously update and add new data sets as they become available.

NASA’s submission of an additional 18 catalogs released today is the first milestone within the Open Government Directive. Over the coming weeks, NASA will release a new Web site and provide a platform for public participation and engagement becoming a more transparent, participatory and collaborative agency.

For information about and access to Data.gov, visit: www.data.gov .

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/datagov.html

***

Super Nifty Stuff – found here -

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/

(including – )

March 2000

Land Surface Temperature Anomaly

March 2000 January 2010

An anomaly is when the conditions depart from average conditions for a particular place at a given time of year. The maps show daytime land surface temperature anomalies for a given month compared to the average conditions during that period between 2000-2008. Places that were warmer than average are red, places that were near normal are white, and places that were cooler than average are blue. The observations were collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.

Some land surface temperature anomalies are simply random weather phenomena, not part of a specific pattern or trend. Others anomalies are more meaningful. Widespread cold anomalies may be an indication of a harsh winter with lots of snow on the ground. Small, patchy warm anomalies that appear in forests or other natural ecosystems may indicate deforestation or insect damage. Many urban areas also show up as hot spots in these maps because developed areas are often hotter in the daytime than surrounding natural ecosystems or farmland. Warm anomalies that persist over large parts of the globe for many years can be signs of global warming.

Download a Quicktime animation of this dataset (4 MB)

View, download, or analyze more of these data from NASA Earth Observations (NEO):: Land Surface Temperature Anomaly

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/view.php?d1=MOD_LSTAD_M#

***

January 2010

Land Surface Temperature Anomaly

Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly

June 2002 January 2010

Land Surface Temperature Anomaly

Land surface temperature is how hot the “surface” of the Earth would feel to the touch in a particular location. From a satellite’s point of view, the “surface” is whatever it sees when it looks through the atmosphere to the ground. It could be snow and ice, the grass on a lawn, or the roof of a building. These maps compare daytime land surface temperatures in a particular month to the average temperatures for that month from 2000-2008. Places that were warmer than average are red, places that were near normal are white, and places that were cooler than average are blue. The observations were collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.

Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly

Sea surface temperature refers to the temperature of the top millimeter of the ocean. An anomaly is a departure from average conditions. These maps compare temperatures in a given month to the long-term average temperature of that month from 1985 through 1997. Blue shows temperatures that were cooler than average, white shows near-average temperatures, and red shows where temperatures were warmer than average. Regions for which no data were available are gray. The maps are made from data collected by the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-EOS (AMSR-E) compared to historical data collected by a series of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites.

Download a Quicktime animation of this comparison (6 MB)

View, download, or analyze more of these data from NASA Earth Observations (NEO):

Land Surface Temperature Anomaly

Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/view.php?d1=MOD_LSTAD_M&d2=AMSRE_SSTAn_M#

***

My Note – this is the crap coming from our cars, jets, trucks, trains and ships into the air we are breathing and across every city and county in America . . . And, that is the problem that is creating the climate change, air and water pollution, mucky brown air over our cities and rural communities where industrial areas are now located, and why walking to the store is as bad as sticking our lungs into the exhaust stream from a car only more so because of the number of cars and concentration of the pollutants on our streets – cricketdiane

The Master List of Compounds Emitted by Mobile Sources – 2006

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/toxics/420b06002.pdf

(1,1-dimethylethyl)-benzene
00098-06-6

(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-benzene
02049-95-8

(1,2-dimethylpropyl)-benzene
04481-30-5

(1-methylethyl)-benzene
00098-82-8

(1-methylethyl)-cyclohexane
00696-29-7

(1-methylpropyl)-benzene
00135-98-8

(1a,2a,3b)-1,2,3-trimethylcyclopent
15890-40-1

(2-methylbutyl)-benzene
03968-85-2

(2-methylpropyl)-benzene
00538-93-2

(E)-1,3-nonadiene
56700-77-7

(E)-2-butene
00624-64-6

(E)-2-heptene
14686-13-6

(E)-2-hexene
04050-45-7

(E)-2-methyl-3-heptene
00692-96-6

(E)-2-methyl-3-hexene
00692-24-0

(E)-2-nonene
06434-78-2

(E)-2-octene
13389-42-9

(E)-2-pentene
00646-04-8

(E)-3-heptene
14686-14-7

(E)-3-hexene
13269-52-8

(E)-3-methyl-2-pentene
00616-12-6

(E)-3-methyl-3-hexene
03899-36-3

(E)-4-methyl-2-hexene
03683-22-5

(E)-4-methyl-2-pentene
00674-76-0

(E)-4-nonene
10405-85-3

(Z)-2-butene
00590-18-1

(Z)-2-heptene
06443-92-1

(Z)-2-hexene
07688-21-3

(Z)-2-octene
07642-04-8

(Z)-2-pentene
00627-20-3

(Z)-3-heptene
07642-10-6

(Z)-3-hexene
07642-09-3

(Z)-3-methyl-2-hexene
10574-36-4

(Z)-3-methyl-2-pentene
00922-62-3

(Z)-3-methyl-3-hexene
04914-89-0

(Z)-4-methyl-2-pentene
00691-38-3

(Z)-4-nonene
10405-84-2

(Z)-4-octene
7642-15-1

(e,e)-2,4-hexadienal
00142-83-6

1,1′-bicyclopentyl
01636-39-1

1,1,1-trichloroethane
00071-55-6

1,1,2-trichloroethane
00079-00-5

1,1,2-trimethylcyclopentane
04259-00-1

1,1,3-trimethylcyclohexane
03073-66-3

1,1,3-trimethylcyclopentane
04516-69-2

1,1-biphenyl
00092-52-4

1,1-dimethylcyclohexane
00590-66-9

1,1-dimethylcyclopentane
01638-26-2

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-
35822-46-9

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofur
67562-39-4

1,2,3,4,7,8,9-heptachlorodibenzofur
55673-89-7

1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-di
39227-28-6

1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran
70648-26-9

1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene
00488-23-3

1,2,3,5-tetramethylbenzene
00527-53-7

1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-di
57653-85-7

1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran
57117-44-9

1,2,3,7,8,9-hexachlorodibenzo-p-di
19408-74-3

1,2,3,7,8,9-hexachlorodibenzofuran
72918-21-9

(from )

EPA420-B-06-002 1 February 2006

The Master List of Compounds Emitted by Mobile Sources – 2006

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/toxics/420b06002.pdf

***

What Are Mobile Source Air Toxics?

Mobile source air toxics are compounds emitted from highway vehicles and nonroad equipment which are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health and environmental effects.

Fact Sheet: Air Toxics from Motor Vehicles (PDF) (5 pp, 13K, EPA400-F-92-004, August 1994)
EPA has conducted an extensive review of the literature to produce a list of the compounds identified in the exhaust or evaporative emissions from onroad and nonroad equipment, using baseline as well as alternative fuels (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas). This list, the Master List of Compounds Emitted by Mobile Sources, and the documentation for the development of the list are available here:
- Master List of Compounds Emitted by Mobile Sources (Excel, 725K)| PDF Version (16 pp, 1.5MB, EPA420-B-06-002)
- Final Report Master List prepared by ENVIRON International Corporation (PDF) (58 pp, 717K, EPA420-R-06-005, February 2006)
Air Quality Planning and Standards: EPA maintains a valuable online resource center for information regarding air quality, toxic air pollutants, health effects, technical reports, assessment data, regulations, and air quality programs. Particular areas of interest are:
- About Air Toxics, Health, and Ecological Effects provides a wealth of information on health and ecological effects of air toxic pollutants.
- Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants provides detailed information about the health effects of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) available in separate fact sheets, for nearly every HAP specified in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

top of page

What is EPA Doing About Mobile Source Air Toxics?

In February 2007, EPA finalized a rule to reduce hazardous air pollutants from mobile sources (Control of Hazardous Air Pollutants from Mobile Sources, February 9, 2007). The rule will limit the benzene content of gasoline and reduce toxic emissions from passenger vehicles and gas cans. EPA estimates that in 2030 this rule would reduce total emissions of mobile source air toxics by 330,000 tons and VOC emissions (precursors to ozone and PM2.5) by over 1 million tons.

By 2010, EPA’s existing programs will reduce mobile source air toxics by over one million tons from 1999 levels. In addition to controlling pollutants such as hydrocarbons, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides, EPA’s recent regulations controlling emissions from highway vehicles and nonroad equipment also result in large air toxic reductions. Furthermore, EPA has programs under development that would provide additional benefits from further controls for small nonroad gasoline engines and diesel locomotive and marine engines. Finally, EPA has developed a variety of programs to reduce risk in communities, such as Clean School Bus USA, the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program, and National Clean Diesel Campaign.

(from – )

http://www.epa.gov/OMS/toxics.htm

Assessment

Risk

National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment for 1999 includes 177 air toxics, a subset of the air toxics on the Clean Air Act’s list of 187 air toxics, as well as diesel particulate matter, an indicator of diesel exhaust.
Philadelphia Toxic Air Pollutants Risk Reduction Project: EPA and Philadelphia Air Management Services are conducting a joint project called the “Philadelphia Toxic Air Pollutants Risk Reduction Project” to help reduce the threat to their health which Philadelphia’s residents face from exposure to air toxics.
Portland, Oregon Air Toxics Assessment: EPA is helping to support this refined local scale assessment led by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

top of page

Emissions

National Toxics Inventory Data and Documentation provides county level inventory data for on-highway vehicles, nonroad sources, aircraft, commercial marine vessels, and locomotives.

Air Quality and Exposure Monitoring

Air Toxics Monitoring centers around the exchange of air toxics monitoring-related information.
California Air Resources Board School Bus Study was conducted to characterize the range of children’s exposures to air toxics during their school bus commute.

top of page

Health Effects

Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) features a database of human health effects that may result from exposure to various substances found in the environment.
Health Assessment Document for Diesel Exhaust includes the final health assessment document that examines information regarding the possible health hazards associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust.
- Fact Sheet: Diesel Exhaust and School Bus Idling (PDF) (2 pp, 442K, EPA420-F-03-005, April 2003) looks at school bus diesel exhaust and school children

***

Even while screaming about people who smoke – and how much our government in the US cares about our health – look what every county school system in America is subjecting our children and our communities to breathing knowing what they do –

- Fact Sheet: Diesel Exhaust and School Bus Idling (PDF) (2 pp, 442K, EPA420-F-03-005, April 2003) looks at school bus diesel exhaust and school children.
Discussion Paper on diesel health assessment issues.
Fact Sheet: Diesel Exhaust in the United States (PDF) (4 pp, 412K, EPA420-F-03-022, June 2003) with overview of diesel exhaust health effects and options for reducing pollution from diesel vehicles.
Clean School Bus USA: Human Health provides general information on health effects of diesel exhaust and who is at risk.
These pages contain cancer and non-cancer inhalation risk assessment documents. Mobile sources account for the majority of nationwide emissions of these hazardous air pollutants.
- Health Assessment of 1,3-Butadiene
- Carcinogenic Effects of Benzene
- Benzene (Noncarcinogenic) (PDF) (180 pp, 1.5MB, EPA635-R-02-001, October 2002)
- Acrolein (PDF) (106 pp, 329K, EPA635-R-03-003, May 2003)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that conducts assessments of health risks from a variety of substances.
- ATSDR Toxic Frequently Asked Questions is a series of summaries about hazardous substances.
Health Effects Institute is an independent, nonprofit corporation chartered in 1980 to provide high-quality, impartial, and relevant science on the health effects of pollutants from motor vehicles and from other sources in the environment.
Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP) is a comprehensive toxicology and environmental health web site that includes access to resources produced by TEHIP and by other government agencies and organizations.

http://www.epa.gov/OMS/toxics.htm

http://www.epa.gov/OMS/retrofit/documents/420f03022.pdf

Some items from this simplified document –

“Engines within the existing fleet will not be subject to the new regulations, yet may remain in operation for another 25 – 30 years.” (despite the knowledge that health damages do occur and particularly more so in “children that breathe 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than do adults.” – from same document.)

(and)

Diesel exhaust contains tiny particles known as fine particulate matter. Diesel engines are one of the largest sources of fine particulate matter, other than natural causes such as forest fires. Diesel exhaust also contains ozone-forming nitrogen oxides and toxic air pollutants. Exposure to these pollutants causes lung damage and aggravates existing respiratory disease. (note – a look at the health effects of the individual toxic pollutants in diesel exhaust fumes which are commonly found in concentration within the school buses reveal a long list of other sicknesses, physical damages, diseases, difficulties and harms that these exhaust fume chemicals are known to cause – which are not listed here on this document, my note.)

Clean School Bus USA is EPA’s national partnership to minimize pollution from school buses. Leaders from corporate America, children’s health, environmental and governmental organizations gather to design a plan to reduce children’s exposure to diesel exhaust by eliminating unnecessary school bus idling, installing effective emission control systems on newer buses and replacing the oldest buses in the fleet with newer ones. For more information contact the Clean School Bus USA Team at (734) 214-4780 or email: CleanSchoolBusUSA@epa.gov.
EPA’s Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program works to reduce pollution, including air toxics, resulting from existing diesel vehicles and equipment by encouraging fleet owners to install pollution-reducing devices on the vehicles and to use cleaner-burning diesel fuel.
Best Workplaces for Commuters is a voluntary program, now administered by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTER), offering innovative solutions to commuting challenges faced by employers and employees. Reducing vehicle miles traveled is an effective way to reduce air toxics risk in communities.
State and Local Transportation Resources Grants and Funding provides links to federal funding sources available to state and local agencies for projects relating to transportation and air quality. Funding sources both within and outside EPA are included.

***

Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants

The fact sheets available on this Web page describe the effects on human health of substances that are defined as hazardous by the 1990 amendments of the Clean Air Act. These substances include certain volatile organic chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and radionuclides that present tangible hazard, based on scientific studies of exposure to humans and other mammals. There is uncertainty in the precise degree of hazard, and readers are cautioned that the fact sheets may be revised as additional data become available.

About the Health Effects Fact Sheets

List of Health Effects Fact Sheets

The available fact sheets are listed below, alphabetically by chemical name. The list includes the Chemical Abstract Service Number (CAS No.) for each chemical, and the name of an HTML file containing the health effects fact sheet.

Chemical or Trade Name	CAS No.
Acetaldehyde	75-07-0
Acetamide	60-35-5
Acetonitrile	75-05-8
Acetophenone	98-86-2
2-Acetylaminofluorene	53-96-3
Acrolein	107-02-8
Acrylamide	79-06-1
Acrylic acid	79-10-7
Acrylonitrile	107-13-1
Allyl Chloride	107-05-1
4-Aminobiphenyl	92-67-1
Aniline	62-53-3
o-Anisidine (2-Methoxyaniline)	90-04-0
Antimony compounds	Not available
Arsenic compounds (inorganic including arsine)	Not available
Asbestos	1332-21-4
Benzene	71-43-2
Benzidine	92-87-5
Benzotrichloride	98-07-7
Benzyl chloride	100-44-7
Beryllium compounds	Not available
Biphenyl	92-52-4
Bromoform	75-25-2
1,3-Butadiene	106-99-0
Cadmium compounds	Not available
Calcium cyanamide	156-62-7
Caprolactam	105-60-2
Captan	133-06-2
Carbaryl	63-25-2
Carbon disulfide	75-15-0
Carbon tetrachloride	56-23-5
Carbonyl sulfide	463-58-1
Catechol (Pyrocatechol)	120-80-9
Chloramben	133-90-4
Chlordane	57-74-9
Chlorine	7782-50-5
Chloroacetic acid	79-11-8
2-Chloroacetophenone	532-27-4
Chlorobenzene	108-90-7
Chlorobenzilate	510-15-6
Chloroform	67-66-3
Chloromethyl methyl ether	107-30-2
bis(Chloromethyl)ether	542-88-1
Chloroprene	126-99-8
Chromium compounds	Not available
Cobalt compounds	Not available
Coke oven emissions	Not available
Cresol (Cresylic acid, o-cresol, m-cresol, p-cresol)	1319-77-3
Cumene	98-82-8
Cyanide compounds	74-90-8
2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid)	Not available
DDE (1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene)	72-55-9
Diazomethane	334-88-3
Dibenzofuran	132-64-9
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane	96-12-8
Dibutyl phthalate	84-74-9
1,4-Dichlorobenzene	106-46-7
3,3-Dichlorobenzidine	91-94-1
Dichloroethyl ether (bis(2-chloroethyl)ether)	111-44-4
1,3-Dichloropropene	542-75-6
Dichlorvos	62-73-7
Diethanolamine	111-42-2
Diethyl sulfate	64-67-5
3,3-Dimethoxybenzidine	119-90-4
Dimethyl phthalate	131-11-3
Dimethyl sulfate	77-78-1
4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene	60-11-7
N,N-Dimethylaniline	121-69-7
3,3-Dimethylbenzidine	119-93-7
Dimethylcarbomoyl chloride	79-44-7
N,N-Dimethylformamide	68-12-2
1,1-Dimethylhydrazine	57-14-7
4,6-Dinitro-o-cresol (includes salts)	Not available
2,4-Dinitrophenol	51-28-5
2,4-Dinitrotoluene	121-14-2
1,4-Dioxane (1,4-Diethylene oxide)	123-91-1
1,2-Diphenylhydrazine	122-66-7
Epichlorohydrin (1-Chloro-2,3-epoxypropane)	106-89-8
1,2-Epoxybutane	106-88-7
Ethyl acrylate	140-88-5
Ethyl carbamate (Urethane)	51-79-6
Ethyl chloride (Chloroethane)	75-00-3
Ethylbenzene	100-41-4
Ethylene dibromide (Dibromoethane)	106-93-4
Ethylene dichloride (1,2-Dichloroethane)	107-06-2
Ethylene glycol	107-21-1
Ethylene oxide	75-21-8
Ethylene thiourea	96-45-7
Ethyleneimine (Aziridine)	151-56-4
Ethylidine dichloride (1,1-Dichloroethane)	75-34-3
bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)	117-81-7
Fine Mineral Fibers	Not available
Formaldehyde	50-00-0
Glycol ethers	Not available
Heptachlor	76-44-8
Hexachlorobenzene	118-74-1
Hexachlorobutadiene	87-68-3
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene	77-47-4
Hexachloroethane	67-72-1
Hexamethylene diisocyanate	822-06-0
Hexamethylphosphoramide	680-31-9
Hexane	110-54-3
Hydrazine	302-01-2
Hydrochloric acid (Hydrogen chloride)	7647-01-0
Hydrogen fluoride (Hydrofluoric acid)	7664-39-3
Hydroquinone	123-31-9
Isophorone	78-59-1
Lead compounds	Not available
Lindane (all stereo isomers) (1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexachlorocyclohexane)	Not available
Maleic anhydride	108-31-6
Manganese compounds	Not available
Mercury compounds	Not available
Methanol	67-56-1
Methoxychlor	72-43-5
Methyl bromide (Bromomethane)	74-83-9
Methyl chloride (Chloromethane)	74-87-3
Methyl chloroform (1,1,1-Trichloroethane)	71-55-6
Methyl tert-butyl ether	1634-04-4
Methyl ethyl ketone (2-Butanone)	78-93-3
Methyl iodide (Iodomethane)	74-88-4
Methyl isobutyl ketone (Hexone)	108-10-1
Methyl isocyanate	624-83-9
Methyl methacrylate	80-62-6
Methylene chloride (Dichloromethane)	75-09-2
4,4-Methylenebis(2-chloroaniline)	101-14-4
4,4-Methylenedianiline	101-77-9
4,4-Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)	101-68-8
Methylhydrazine	60-34-4
Naphthalene	91-20-3
Nickel compounds	Not available
Nitrobenzene	98-95-3
4-Nitrobiphenyl	92-93-3
4-Nitrophenol	100-02-7
2-Nitropropane	79-46-9
N-Nitroso-n-methylurea	684-93-5
N-Nitrosodimethylamine	62-75-9
N-Nitrosomorpholine	59-89-2
Parathion	56-38-2
Pentachloronitrobenzene (Quintobenzene or quintozene)	82-68-8
Pentachlorophenol	87-86-5
Phenol	108-95-2
p-Phenylendiamine	106-50-3
Phosgene	75-44-5
Phosphine	7803-51-2
Phosphorus	7723-14-0
Phthalic anhydride	85-44-9
Polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclors)	1336-36-3
Polycyclic organic matter	Not available
1,3-Propane sultone	1120-71-4
ß-Propiolactone	57-57-8
Propionaldehyde	123-38-6
Propoxur (Baygon)	114-26-1
Propylene dichloride (1,2-Dichloropropane)	78-87-5
Propylene oxide	75-56-9
1,2-Propyleneimine (2-Methylaziridine)	75-55-8
Quinoline	91-22-5
Quinone (p-Benzoquinone)	106-51-4
Radionuclides (including radon)	Not available
Selenium compounds	Not available
Styrene	100-42-5
Styrene oxide	96-09-3
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD)	1746-01-6
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane	79-34-5
Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene)	127-18-4
Titanium tetrachloride	7550-45-0
Toluene	108-88-3
Toluene-2,4-diamine (2,4-Diaminotoluene)	95-80-7
2,4-Toluene diisocyanate	584-84-9
o-Toluidine (2-Methylaniline)	95-53-4
Toxaphene (chlorinated camphene)	8001-35-2
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	120-82-1
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	79-00-5
Trichloroethylene	79-01-6
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol	95-95-4
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol	88-06-2
Triethylamine	121-44-8
Trifluralin	1582-09-8
2,2,4-Trimethylpentane	540-84-1
Vinyl acetate	108-05-4
Vinyl bromide	593-60-2
Vinyl chloride	75-01-4
Vinylidene chloride (1,1-Dichloroethylene)	75-35-4
Xylenes (mixed isomers, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene)	1330-20-7

Local Navigation

TTN Home

http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html

***

My Note –

The extraordinary available information here about earthquakes, about why columns in concrete slab buildings disintegrate during earthquakes, sometimes during floods and hurricanes as well as from fatigue within the structure, about sources of fires from clear burning the land around the world and community air pollution from and within school buses, temperature charts from the land and the sea provided by NASA and those beautifully conscientiously created 3d graphs of earthquakes probably don’t all seem to go together. But, it seems to me that they do all fit, not only for the things they can teach me about the bigger picture, but also that the problems created by the way we have done things for the past 130 years are more dramatic and pervasive than some simple explanation about CO2 in the atmosphere. To fix these things through geoengineering, geotech, extreme engineering possibilities and with a real confrontation of the actual elements that have been created, is going to take a genuine change in attitude about what is most important – and to change the idea that it must have to be either economics or people? Why can’t it conscionably be both?

- cricketdiane, 02-24-10

***

// <![CDATA[//

Haiti earthquake – collapsing buildings – structure integrity repairing and earthquake resistant polymer fibre reinforcement systems – data about recent California earthquakes around Riverside – polymer fibre reinforcement for bridge columns and structures plus drawbacks from adhesive laminations – stuff I’m studying right now

Posted by cricketdiane on February 24, 2010

Monday, February 01, 2010Last Update: 9:43 AM PT

Formaldehyde-Laden FEMA Trailers May Be Headed to Haiti

By SABRINA CANFIELD

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/02/01/24241.htm

From my notes – 08 – 21 – 09

National Geographic

“The Science of Brick”

Broadcast 08-21-09, (Atlanta 2 – 4 am)

Has shown at end about – earthquake resistant polymer and polymer/fiberglass fabrics to retrofit on brick to prevent earthquake damage to them.

Science of Brick | National Geographic Channel

Science of Brick. Explore one of the world’s first building materials. See how brick is made and how is was used to form such time-tested structures as the …
channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/science-of-brick…/Overview – Cached -

Science of Brick | Video | | National Geographic Channel
Science of Brick , Science of Brick , No other building material is so …
channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/science-of-brick-2665/Videos

Science of Brick | Photos | Image: A mason builds a wall in a …
Science of Brick,The Markets of Trajan in the Roman Forum is a brick …
channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/science-of-brick-2665/Photos

More results from channel.nationalgeographic.com »

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/science-of-brick-2665/Overview#tab-Videos/02325_00

Near the end of the show – Science of Brick by Nat Geo – there was a segment about earthquake resistant brick retrofit fabrics made of polymers and polymer / fiberglass which were wrapped or incorporated into the building structure. Good explanation of what happens to a building during an earthquake or other extreme event. - cricketdiane (facebook note)

Link –

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/science-of-brick-2665/Videos/02325_00

Embed –

Science of Brick

Producer/Director
RON MARANS
ADAM STEPAN

Writer
KEVIN FITZPATRICK

Editor
DEB LUCHINI
JESSICA LUCAS

Cinematographer/Videographer
JERRY RISIUS
DAN WALWORTH

Original Music
DEWOLFE MUSIC LIBRARY

Narrator
BILL GRAVES

Sound Recordist
SHEILA O’NEAL

Associate Producer
JEFF MELTZ
MARIAH WILSON

Production Manager
JEROME F. CALIMERI

Research
JEFF MELTZ
ADAM STEPAN
LAURIE VAZQUEZ

Special Thanks
BRICK INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
JAMES CAMPBELL
ROGER MCCARTHY
ROBERT MURRAY
NYC DEPT. OF BUILDINGS
RD MASONRY
SIKA CORPORATION
WALSH CONSTRUCTION

Stock Footage
CCTV
CORBIS MOTION
GETTY IMAGES
ITN
KPI ARCHIVE
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
NATIONAL ARCHIVES
STREAMLINE FILMS
VITA DIGITAL PRODUCTIONS

For National Geographic Channel

Executive Producer
JOHN BOWMAN

Executive in Charge of Production
JOHN B. FORD

Produced by KRALYEVICH PRODUCTIONS INC. (KPI) for National Geographic Channel

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/tout/2665-show-credits

http://books.google.com/books?id=FN-C9ns0rQcC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&dq=polymer+earthquake+retrofit+brick+structures&source=bl&ots=3tqk-ltHNs&sig=WJQ1r3Jbelz3excPqW6Q2RNvYog&hl=en&ei=IMmCS6u3IY60tgfHnYDWBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CDIQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

pp, 54 and pp.57

Developments in mechanics of structures and materials: proceedings …, Volume 2

edited by Andrew Deeks, Hong Hao

2005

pp. 71

Comparative study of failure mechanisms in steel and concrete members strengthened with CFRP composites

S. Fawzia, R. Al-Mahaidi & X.L. Zhao

Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

S. Rizkalla

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

ABSTRACT: Over the last decade, advanced composite materials, like carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP), have increasingly been used in civil engineering infrastructure. The benefits of advanced composites are rapidly becoming evident. This paper focuses on the comparative performance of steel and concrete members retrofitted by carbon reinforced polymers. The objective of this work is a systematic assessment and evaluation of the performance of CFRP for both the concrete and steel members available in the technical literature. Existing empirical and analytical models were studied. Comparison is made with respect to failure mode, bond characteristics, fatigue behavior, durability, corrosion, load carrying capacity and force transfer. It is concluded that empirical expressions for the concrete-CFRP composite are not readily suited for direct use in the steel-CFRP composite. The paper identifies some of the major issues that need further investigation.

I INTRODUCTION

Modern advanced composites have been in use since World War II. The ability to design the materials, coupled with high strength-to-weight ratio, allow engineers to maximize material usage for specific applications. While many studies have been conducted on the repair and strengthening of concrete structures using advance composites [Teng et al. 2002, Hollaway & Lemming 1999], only a very limited amount of research has been conducted on the application of these materials to steel structures [Moy 2001, Hollaway & Caidei 2002]. This paper evaluates the performance differences of CFRP for the concrete and steel members which have been reported in the technical literature. Further, the paper discusses the non-applicability of the existing knowledge of the CFRP-concrete systems to the CFRP-steel systems.

2 COMPOSITES IN STEEL AND CONCRETE STRENGTHENING

The common FRP composites, namely GFRP, CFRP, and Aramid composites, have been used for strengthening RC structures in both practical application and research. These three FRP materials have comparable stress-strain behavior: linear elastic up to final brittle rupture when subjected to tension. This is a very important property in terms of structural use of FRP composites. Typical stress strain curves for CFRP, GFRP, concrete and steel show the brittle behavior of FRP composites and concrete and the ductile behavior of steel. This has two major structural consequences. First, these materials do not possess the ductility of steel, and second, owing to this lack of ductility, the redistribution of stresses in FRP composite is restricted. Consequently, the methods used to strengthen steel structures with CFRP composite cannot be the same as existing methods for strengthening RC structures.

The upgrading or retrofitting of steel structures is not as widespread as the upgrading or retrofitting of RC structures, as it poses a different and more complex set of problems [Mertz & Gillespie 1996, Mertz et al. 2001]. First, the likelihood of lateral buckling makes it necessary to fabricate composite steel sections where the compression flange is continuously supported by a reinforced concrete slab. Second, the high strength and stiffness of steel make it a more difficult material to strengthen, especially with high-strength carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP). For a given allowable strain, CFRP reinforcement will work at a lower stress than steel, unless the steel is allowed to yield under certain load and geometry conditions. Finally, the CFRP/adhesive bond is generally the weakest link and is likely to control the mode of failure. Epoxy adhesive is much weaker than steel, and nonlinear finite element analyses have indicated [Sen et al. 2001], that the epoxy adhesive may fail at the ends of the CFRP plates, owing to high peeling stresses.

3 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONCRETE AND STEEL STRUCTURES STRENGTHENED WITH CFRP

Technically it is possible to compare CFRP strengthened concrete structures with CFRP strengthened steel structures, as some of the aspects are common to both although there are many differences. However, CFRP with steel bonding should not be thought of as simple as CFRP with concrete bonding since the two materials, concrete and steel, are completely different, their strengthening process with CFRP is somewhat different. A brief comparison is made below.

3.1 Material properties

The Young’s modulus of CFRP is about 6 times that of concrete whereas the Young’s modulus of CFRP is up to 2 or 3 times that of steel. Ohelers (2000) compared the material properties of steel with FRPs. It is evident that the peeling mechanism of RC structures strengthened by FRP plates and by steel plates is the same but the load at which peeling occurs differs due to the difference in the material properties.

For the same reason, the composite action between CFRP and steel would be different compared to that of CFRP and concrete structures. In concrete structures, the CFRP can be kept thin because of the very favorable stiffness of CFRP compared to concrete and also because the bond strength between CFRP and concrete is limited by the concrete rather than the adhesive.

In steel structures, the CFRP strips have to be thicker because the stiffness of CFRP will be high and the stiffness has to be transmitted across the adhesive. Another concern is in regard to Poisson’s ratio. Poisson’s ratio for the CFRP and the steel structures are different which can cause edge failures [Mertz & Gillespie 1996].

3.2 Surface preparation

Previous studies have shown that for an effective adhesive bonding process either with a concrete or steel surface, a fresh, chemically active surface is essential [Laura et al. 2001, Hollaway & Caidei 2002]. Surface preparation may be achieved chemically by etching or by abrasion. There are three types of abrasion, namely hand abrasion, grinding with stone and mechanical abrading. Hand abrasion is less efficient than other abrasion. In the case of concrete structures, usually abrasion pad is used which can trap contaminants and moisture. However, in case of steel tubes, mechanical abrasion is used and found to be more effective [Fawzia et al. 2004], because of the non-contact process.

Surface preparation of the steel substrate is very important if a good bond is to be achieved between the steel and the CFRP. The choice of bonding method is also important. The obvious approach is to use a suitable adhesive applied to the bonding surfaces. The choice of glue is more critical for steel structures than for the concrete structures.

3.3 Force transfer

It is evident from the literature that how the force transfer takes place between adhesive and adherends is a very wide subject. It is important because the rate of force transfer and the corresponding development length affect the length and position of the CFRP.

Many investigations have been carried out to evaluate the bond force transfer in the case of the concrete structure strengthened with CFRP [Chajes et al. 1996]. The test results concluded that strain distribution in the composite plate along the bonded length decreases at a fairly linear rate, which means that the force transfer is largely uniform. This leads to a constant value of bond resistance.

In the case of bond force transfer in steel members, Miller (2000) have discussed experimental and analytical studies to quantify force transfer. The test result concluded that 98% or more of the force transfer between the steel and CFRP plates occurs within 100 mm. They also showed that the force transfer across bonded plate-to-plate interface may reduce the required force transfer distance.

An analytical model of the bonded joint was also used to investigate the adhesive shear stress and CFRP strain distribution. This research only focused on the sustained loads. More research is needed under varying environmental conditions subjected to static and cyclic loads.

3.4 Environmental effects

The effect of environmental conditions on debonding failure is different for CFRP-steel system [Stehn & Hedman 2001], compared to that for CFRP-concrete system [Malvar et al. 2003, Karbhari 2002]. Concrete tends to creep and shrink, while steel does not.

CFRP is the largest class of materials with mechanical properties that have characteristics of both elastic solids and viscous fluids, and hence they are classified as viscoelastic materials. For this reason, creep becomes a significant consideration in assessing their long-term carrying capacity. Thus, when CFRP is used to strengthen a concrete structure, it is easier to design the bonding process because creep is the common characteristic of both of these materials.

The incompatibility of thermal coefficients for CFRP and concrete may cause significant stresses to develop at the bond line during large swings in temperature [Hamilton & Dolan 2000]. The thermal coefficient for concrete is 1.0 x 10^-5⁰C while that of CFRP is near zero.

The difference in thermal coefficients is even larger between steel and CFRP. There is a potential galvanic corrosion problem associated with the strengthening of steel members using CFRP [Karbhari & Shulley 1995, Tavakkolizadeh & Saadatmanesh 2001, Torres-Acosta 2002]. Corrosion is more likely to happen in steel structures than in concrete structures. However, in the case of direct contact between carbon fibers and steel in the presence of an electrolyte, the wet corrosion cell could accelerate the corrosion of steel and create possible blistering and subsequent delamination or debonding.

In order to prevent the formation of such and electric circuit, it is necessary to insulate the two materials from one another. In theory, the adhesive alone should be sufficient to isolate the two constituents. However, material discontinuities or installation defects could result in local galvanic couples. In order to safeguard against this possibility, a fiberglass scrim may be used in the bond line [West 2001]. It was demonstrated that the current flow through the composite was eliminated through the presence of the fiberglass scrim and that the corrosion resistance was significantly improved,

Thermal exposure may be an advantage up to a certain temperature, as it can result in a post-cure for the CFRP composite and adhesive. However, at an elevated temperature, adhesive can soften and cause an increase in viscoelastic response, a reduction in mechanical performance and an increase in the susceptibility to moisture absorption.

The effect of elevated temperatures on bond strength is different for the CFRP-concrete system and for the CFRP-steel system. Concrete and steel behave differently at elevated temperatures because they have very different thermal conductivity and thermal expansion properties. Tests indicated that at 350⁰C CFRP retains 35% of its normal temperature breaking load and 40% of its normal temperature tensile elastic modulus [Alsayed et al. 2000]. Research work on CFRP strengthened concrete beams at elevated temperatures [Sakashita et al. 1997], found that the capacity and ductility of such beams depend on the types of CFRP used.

Recent fire resistance tests at EMPA – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research [Busel & Barno 1996], conducted on reinforced concrete beams show that CFRP has demonstrated excellent fire resistance when a protective coating is applied to the composite layer. Vermitex, a Vermiculite-Cement blend plus trace chemical additives and lightweight polymer beads, is now available to provide passive fire protection to CFRP strips used to reinforce concrete beams, slabs and columns [LAF group 2003]. The impact of Vermitex on the debonding failure of CFRP strengthened steel members is unknown.

Concrete itself is more susceptible to the effects of moisture than steel [Hollaway & Leeming 1999]. Of greater significance at this stage is that the properties of the matrix resin in CFRP materials, together with the properties of adhesives, are susceptible to the effects of heat and moisture. The result of moisture absorption, which is reversible, is to lower the glass transition temperature of these materials, leading to a change in their mechanical properties. If water is trapped behind the CFRP bonding, the insulating properties of the composite materials reduce the risk of disruption of the concrete due to freeze/thaw [Hamilton & Dolan 2000]. However, this problem would be more difficult to detect with steel structures.

The effect of cyclic loading on bond strength is different for the CFRP-concrete system and for the CFRP-steel system. There are two types of cyclic loads, namely low-amplitude cyclic load related to fatigue and high-amplitude cyclic load related to earthquakes. Research has been conducted on CFRP strengthened RC bridges [Barnes & Mays 1999, Shahawy & Beitelman 1999, Masoud et al. 2001, Tavakkolizadeh & Saadatmanesh 2003a, Bassetti et al. 2000, Sean & Scott 2003], under low-amplitude fatigue load.

For CFRP-strengthened RC beams, fatigue fracture of the internal reinforcement steel bar was found to be the dominant failure mode, whereas for CFRP-strengthened steel girders, fatigue crack initiates in the steel followed by debonding failure. The CFRP reduces the crack growth rate in the steel.

On the other hand, the performance of the CFRP strengthened concrete or a steel system under high-amplitude cyclic load is almost unknown as pointed out in the latest review article on this topic [Buyukozturk et al. 2004]. The Precast Seismic Structural Systems (PRESS) program has taken the lead on research and design recommendations for precast concrete structures in areas of high seismicity [Priestly 1996].

One of the vulnerable structural elements observed in an earthquake [Earthquake 1995], is the connection between precast concrete shear wall panels. The lack of available repair techniques for these welded connections led to the investigation by Volnyy & Pantelides (1999). It is well known that steel and concrete behave very differently under high-amplitude cyclic loads. A completely new debonding model is expected for CFRP-steel system under such loading.

4 BOND CHARACTERISTICS AND FAILURE MODES OF CFRP LAMINATES

The bond of the CFRP reinforcement to the concrete and steel is of critical importance since it is the means for the transfer of stresses between the CFRP composite and the substrates. Many studies were carried out to investigate CFRP bonding. The findings of these studies are presented in the following sections.

4.1 Concrete structures

Chajes et al. (1996) conducted tests investigating bond strength and force transfer. Their results show that the use of ductile adhesives (i.e. those having a low stiffness and a large strain to failure) leads to a less effective bond. Concrete itself does not have ductile behaviour like steel. Two types of failure mechanisms were observed: direct concrete shearing beneath the bond surface and cohesive type failure. The results presented are based on single lap shear tests. The effect of double lap shear test as well as the plate width is unknown.

Brosens & Van Gemert (1997) showed that an increase in bonded length increases the failure load. This is contrary to the findings of other researchers. However, they found that the influence of bonded length decreased beyond a certain threshold.

In another study by Lee and Al-Mahaidi (2003), advanced photogrammetry measurement technique was used to study the deformation mechanism of shear deficient reinforce concrete T-beams post strengthened with web bonded L-shaped CFRP laminate strips. (the pdf I saw on the T-beams with CFRP, my note). A maximum increase in the shear capacity of 81% was achieved in one of the T-beams strengthened with the external CFRP reinforcement.

The study conducted by Horiguchi and Saeki (1997) showed that there is high correlation between the bond strength and the compressive strength. The bond strength decreases with the decrease of the compressive strength. The combined effect of varying compressive strength, adhesive ductility and composite-material properties is still unknown. Four types of failure mechanism were observed in this study. They are concrete fracture, delamination of CFRP, CFRP rupture, and concrete Aggregate/matrix interfacial fracture.

(My Note – in the concrete slab construction that has been pan-caking the slabs one on top of the other, how is it possible if the steel reinforcing re-bar was embedded and extended from the columns to the slab for some length and the rebar within the concrete slab was extended into the columns for some length? Wouldn’t the failure of that system leave the areas surrounding the columns with the embedded rebar and the columns in place with only the middle sections of the slab dropping in chunks, maybe pulling over the columns or leaving them standing? How is it possible that these slab constructions have dropped like pancake layers into more or less unbroken or partially broken slabs of concrete with rebar sticking out sheared off at some point? Why would the columns and reinforcement in use at that point of support, have served no vertical support purpose whatsoever and consistently, in all these building collapses appeared to have behaved identically regardless of extreme or fatigue event that caused them? How is that possible?)

An analytical model based on shear lag theory has been developed by Bizindavyi & Neale (1999). This theory is valid only in the elastic range. There is a significant difference between the analytical model for determining shear stress distribution of the CFRP bonded concrete member and the CFRP bonded steel member [Miller 2000]. The observed modes of failure were shearing of the concrete beneath the glue line and rupture of the composite coupon. With regard to transfer lengths, empirical expressions by Bizindavyi & Neale (1999), are not readily suited for direct use for composite-to-steel joints, unless appropriate correction factors based on experimental investigations are applied.

Karbhari and Engineer (1996) developed a peel test for bond and also developed a methodology for understanding the different mechanisms and modes of interfacial fracture.

The investigation by Pham and Al-Mahaidi (2004) attempted to assess all available theoretical models. Their assessment is based on failure mechanisms and verification against a database comprised of 154 simply supported retrofitted RC beams. They found that for simple and conservative design, midspan debond can be avoided by limiting FRP stress level. End debond (or anchorage failure) can be avoided by limiting the interfacial bond stress between FRP and concrete to a concrete shear stress of 0.4f_ct.

It has been shown in the literature [Hassan and Rizkala 2003, Pham and Al-Mahaidi 2001], that the debonding failure in CFRP-concrete system depends on many factors such as concrete properties (strength, modulus and thermal conductivity), quality of surface preparation, creep and shrinkage of concrete, CFRP modulus and types of resins or adhesives, stiffness, bonded length, number of plies, CFRP width.

4.2 Steel structures

Unlike RC structures, the bond characteristics of steel structures strengthened by CFRP has not been widely reported in the literature. The principles of CFRP bonding to steel structures are not similar to those used for CFRP reinforced concrete structures because of the more complex nature of the steel with CFRP strengthening, particularly with aging steel structures [Miller 2000]. Some of the problems have already been discussed in this paper. In addition, researchers have verified the durability of the CFRP-steel bond under few environmental conditions. However, there is a need to understand bond characteristics and durability of the bond between steel CFRP bonded structure under varying environmental conditions subjected to static, cyclic and sustained loads.

From the study by Miller (2000), it is evident that effective parameters for CFRP bonded steel member are the geometric and material properties of the steel substrate, CFRP reinforcement, and adhesive. More experimental and analytical research is needed for steel CFRP bonded structure to find an effective parameter for the debonding failure.

Jiao and Zhao (2004) investigated the behaviour of CFRP strengthened butt-welded very high strength circular steel tubes. A significant strength increase was achieved using the CFRP-epoxy strengthening technique. Failure modes observed were the adhesive failure mode, fiber-tear failure mode, and mixed failure mode (combination of fiber-tear and adhesive failure). This research was restricted to very high strength steel tube, so that behaviour of normal strength steel tube bonded with CFRP needs to be investigated.

pp. 74

Sen et al. (2001) conducted experiments on damaged specimens repaired by using CFRP laminates bonded to the tension flange and tested to failure. Test results showed significant increases in ultimate capacity of steel composite bridge members strengthened by CFRP laminates. The failure mode of the strengthened sections was generally ductile and accompanied by considerable deformation.

Tavakkolizadeh and Saadatmanesh (2003b) found that the stress in the CFRP laminate for the one-layer system was 75% of its ultimate strength while in the five-layer system, it dropped to 42%. This indicates that a balanced design should be considered to effectively utilize the strength of CFRP laminates. Several distinct failure modes observed in this test, namely: concrete crushing; CFRP debonding; CFRP rupture; web crippling; and shear stud failure.

Brent et al. (2003) tested two existing, structurally deficient steel girder bridges strengthened utilizing CFRP composite materials. They concluded that there is a significant increase of live load carrying capacity of these bridges.

Nikouka et al. (2002) establish the effects on bond strength of the adhesive during the curing period when it is subjected to cyclic loading similar to that experience in real bridges not closed to rail traffic during the strengthening process. It has concluded that adhesive cure under cyclic loading can affect the bending stiffness and failure load of the reinforced beam.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The existing knowledge of CFRP-concrete debonding may not be applicable to CFRP-steel system because of the reasons stated in section 3. There is a distinct difference between the debonding mechanism of the CFRP-steel system and the CFRP-concrete system even under normal conditions, i.e. without the effects of environment, elevated temperature and cyclic loading. It is well known that concrete tends to fracture under tension or shear force while steel tends to yield under tension and buckle under shear force. The debonding in CFRP-concrete is mainly caused by concrete fracture whereas the debonding in CFRP-steel tends to be an interface one.

Empirical expressions for the concrete-CFRP composite are not readily suited for direct use for the steel-CFRP composite. Less research work has been conducted on the steel CFRP composite structures. Although they provide good results, some test methods seem to be completely dedicated to one type of material or to one bonded surface per specimen. CFRP steel composite members require many more tests in order to obtain more definite information regarding the behaviour at the interface.

pp. 75

REFERENCES

Alsayed, S.H., Al-Salloum, Y.A. & Almusallam, T.H. 2000. Fibre-reinforced polymer repair materials – some facts. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Civil Engineering, 138(3): 131– 134.

Barnes, R.A. & Mays, G.C. 1999. Fatigue performance of concrete beams strengthened with CFRP plates. Journal of Composites for Construction. ASCE, 3 (2): 63 – 72.

Bassetti, A., Nussbaumer, A. & Hirt, M.A. 2000. Crack repair and fatigue extension of riveted bridge members using composite materials, Bridge Engineering Conference, ESE-IABSE-FIB, 26 – 30 March, Sharm El Sheikh: Egypt. 227 – 238.

Bizindavyi, L. & Neale, K.W. 1999. Transfer lengths and bond strengths for composites bonded to concrete, Journal of Composites for Construction. ASCE, 3 (4): 153 – 160.

Brent, M.P., Terry, J.W., Wayne, F.K., Hawash, A.A. & Lee, Y.S. 2003. Strengthening of steel girder bridges using FRP. Proceedings of the 2003 Mid-Continent Transportation Research Symposium. Iowa State University, August.

Brosens, K. & Van Gemert, D. 1997. Anchoring stresses between concrete and carbon fiber reinforced laminates. Non-Metallic (FRP) Reinforcement for Concrete Structures, Japan Concrete Institutes, Japan, 1: 271 – 278.

Busel, J.P. & Barno, D. 1996. Composites extend the life of concrete structures, Composites Design & Application. Winter, 12 – 14.

Buyukozturk, O., Gunes, O. & Karaca, E. 2004. Progress on understanding debonding problems in reinforced concrete and steel members strengthened using FRP composites, Construction and Building Materials, 18: 9 – 19.

Chajes, M.J., Finch, W.W. Jr., Januszha, T.F. & Thomson, T.A. 1996. Bond and force transfer of composite material plates bonded to concrete. ACI Structural Journal, 93(2): 295 – 303.

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, 1995. Guam earthquake reconnaissance report. Earthquake Spectra, Supplement to volume 11, 95(20: 63 – 137.

El-Tawil., Ognuc, S., Okeil, C.A. & Shahawy, M. 2001. Static and Fatigue analysis of RC beams strengthened with CFRP laminates, Journal of Composites for Construction, ASCE, 5(4): 258 – 267.

Fawzia, S., Zhao, X.L., Al-Mahaidi, R. & Rizkalla, S. 2004. Investigation into the bond between CFRP and steel tubes. The Second International Conference on FRP Composites in Civil Engineering, December, Adelaide, submitted.

Hamilton, H.R. & Dolan, C.W. 2000. Durability of FRP reinforcements for concrete. Prog. Struct Eng Mat., 2: 139 – 145.

Hassan, T. & Rizkalla, S. 2003. Investigation of bond in concrete structures strengthened with near surface mounted carbon fiber reinforced polymer strips. J. of Comp. for Construction, August 1.7(3): 248 – 257.

Hollaway, L.C. & Caidei, J. 2002. Progress in the technique of upgrading metallic structures with advanced polymer composites. Progress in Structural Engineering, 131 – 148.

Hollaway, L.C. & Leeming, M.B. 1999. Strengthening of reinforced concrete structures. Woodhead Publishing Limited. Cambridge, England.

Horiguchi, T. & Saeki, N. 1997. Effect of test methods and quality of concrete on bond strength of CFRP sheet. (incomplete entry – lookup on internet elsewhere.)

(incomplete references because of google book preview exclusion of pp,s 76 – 77)

From -

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research-centre/cipar/research/earthquake-protection.html

Centre for Infrastructure and Reliability – Australia

Project – Earthquake Protection of Masonry Buildings Using Fibre Reinforced Polymer Strengthening

Investigators
Michael Griffith, Mark Masia, Adrian Page and Jason Ingham

Project Description
Unreinforced masonry construction is vulnerable to damage during earthquake loading as a result of its high mass and relatively low tensile strength and ductility. Much of the built infrastructure in Australia and other parts of the world uses unreinforced masonry construction. The overall aim of this project is to develop new methods for earthquake protection of brick masonry buildings using fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) strips and other forms of reinforcement which can be applied (retrofitted) to existing construction. The methods developed in this project will be able to be applied so that the aesthetic appearance of the masonry construction is not destroyed while still providing the additional strength and ductility needed to safely withstand earthquake shaking. In order to accomplish this, the fundamental bond-slip behaviour between reinforcement and brickwork under cyclic loading must first be fully understood and quantified. Design methodology based on this cyclic bond behaviour will be validated with full scale tests on actual buildings. The project involves collaboration between researchers at The University of Newcastle, The University of Adelaide and Auckland University. In addition to the investigators named above, The project involves numerous RHD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Above Left: Pull test specimen used to quantify the bond behaviour between FRP reinforcement and masonry
Above Right: FRP retrofitted masonry panel subjected to large displacement under shear loading

Selected Publications

Petersen, R.B., M.J. Masia and R. Seracino. Bond behavior of NSM FRP strips bonded to modern clay brick masonry prisms: Influence of strip orientation and compression perpendicular to the strip. Journal of Composites for Construction (ASCE), Submitted April 2008. Reviewed and resubmitted Oct 2008. Accepted 23 Oct 2008.
Petersen, R.B., M.J. Masia and R. Seracino (2008). Experimental verification of finite element model to predict the shear behaviour of NSM FRP strengthened masonry walls. Proceedings of the 14th International Brick and Block Masonry Conference, Sydney, Australia, February 17-20, 2008.
Petersen, R.B., M.J. Masia and R. Seracino (2007). Influence of plate orientation and amount of precompression on the bond strength between NSM CFRP strips and masonry. Proceedings of the 10th North American Masonry Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, June 3-6, 2007, pp. 62-73.
Petersen, R. B., Seracino, R., and Masia, M. J. (2007). Development of a finite element model to simulate near-surface mounted fiber reinforced polymer strengthened unreinforced masonry walls. In Ninth U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics, San Francisco, California, U.S.A. July 2007.
(extended abstract and presentation only – no paper)
Shrive, N.G., M.M. Reda Taha and M.J. Masia (2004). Restoration and Strengthening with Fibre Reinforced Polymers: Issues to Consider. Proceedings of The Fourth International Seminar On Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions, Padova, Italy, Nov 10 – 13, 2004, pp. 829-835.
Masia, M.J. and N.G. Shrive (2003). Carbon fibre reinforced polymer wrapping for the rehabilitation of masonry columns. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering Vol. 30, No. 4, Aug 2003, pp. 734-744.
Shrive, N.G., M.J. Masia and S.L. Lissel (2001). Strengthening rehabilitation of masonry using fibre reinforced polymers. Proc. 3rd International Seminar on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions, Guimaraes, Portugal, November 7-9, 2001, pp. 1047-1056.
Masia, M.J., N.G. Shrive and D. Tilleman (2001). Rehabilitation of masonry columns using carbon fibre wraps. Proc. 9th Canadian Masonry Symposium, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, 4-6 June, 2001.

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Reinforced concrete column burst

Jacketed and grouted column on left, unmodified on right

Reinforced concrete columns typically contain large diameter vertical rebar (reinforcing bars) arranged in a ring, surrounded by lighter-gauge hoops of rebar. Upon analysis of failures due to earthquakes, it has been realized that the weakness was not in the vertical bars, but rather in inadequate strength and quantity of hoops. Once the integrity of the hoops is breached, the vertical rebar can flex outward, stressing the central column of concrete. The concrete then simply crumbles into small pieces, now unconstrained by the surrounding rebar. In new construction a greater amount of hoop-like structures is used.

One simple retrofit is to surround the column with a jacket of steel plates formed and welded into a single cylinder. The space between the jacket and the column is then filled with concrete, a process called grouting. Where soil or structure conditions require such additional modification, additional pilings may be driven near the column base and concrete pads linking the pilings to the pylon are fabricated at or below ground level. In the example shown not all columns needed to be modified to gain sufficient seismic resistance for the conditions expected. (This location is about a mile from the Hayward Fault Zone.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_retrofit

Lift

Where moist or poorly consolidated alluvial soil interfaces in a “beach like” structure against underlying firm material, seismic waves traveling through the alluvium can be amplified, just as are water waves against a sloping beach. In these special conditions, vertical accelerations up to twice the force of gravity have been measured. If a building is not secured to a well-embedded foundation it is possible for the building to be thrust from (or with) its foundations into the air, usually with severe damage upon landing. Even if it is well-founded, higher portions such as upper stories or roof structures or attached structures such as canopies and porches may become detached from the primary structure.

Good practices in modern, earthquake-resistant structures dictate that there be good vertical connections throughout every component of the building, from undisturbed or engineered earth to foundation to sill plate to vertical studs to plate cap through each floor and continuing to the roof structure. Above the foundation and sill plate the connections are typically made using steel strap or sheet stampings, nailed to wood members using special hardened high-shear strength nails, and heavy angle stampings secured with through bolts, using large washers to prevent pull-through. Where inadequate bolts are provided between the sill plates and a foundation in existing construction (or are not trusted due to possible corrosion), special clamp plates may be added, each of which is secured to the foundation using expansion bolts inserted into holes drilled in an exposed face of concrete. Other members must then be secured to the sill plates with additional fittings.

[edit] Soil

One of the most difficult retrofits is that required to prevent damage due to soil failure. Soil failure can occur on a slope, a slope failure or landslide, or in a flat area due to liquefaction of water-saturated sand and/or mud. Generally, deep pilings must be driven into stable soil (typically hard mud or sand) or to underlying bedrock or the slope must be stabilized. For buildings built atop previous landslides the practicality of retrofit may be limited by economic factors, as it is not practical to stabilize a large, deep landslide. The likelihood of landslide or soil failure may also depend upon seasonal factors, as the soil may be more stable at the beginning of a wet season than at the beginning of the dry season. Such a “two season” Mediterranean climate is seen throughout California.

In some cases, the best that can be done is to reduce the entrance of water runoff from higher, stable elevations by capturing and bypassing through channels or pipes, and to drain water infiltrated directly and from subsurface springs by inserting horizontal perforated tubes. There are numerous locations in California where extensive developments have been built atop archaic landslides, which have not moved in historic times but which (if both water-saturated and shaken by an earthquake) have a high probability of moving en masse, carrying entire sections of suburban development to new locations. While the most modern of house structures (well tied to monolithic concrete foundation slabs reinforced with post tensioning cables) may survive such movement largely intact, the building will no longer be in its proper location.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_retrofit

Utility pipes and cables: risks

Natural gas and propane supply pipes to structures often prove especially dangerous during and after earthquakes. Should a building move from its foundation or fall due to cripple wall collapse, the ductile iron pipes transporting the gas within the structure may be broken, typically at the location of threaded joints. The gas may then still be provided to the pressure regulator from higher pressure lines and so continue to flow in substantial quantities; it may then be ignited by a nearby source such as a lit pilot light or arcing electrical connection.

There are two primary methods of automatically restraining the flow of gas after an earthquake, installed on the low pressure side of the regulator, and usually downstream of the gas meter.

A caged metal ball may be arranged at the edge of an orifice. Upon seismic shock, the ball will roll into the orifice, sealing it to prevent gas flow. The ball may later be reset by the use of an external magnet. This device will respond only to ground motion.
A flow-sensitive device may be used to close a valve if the flow of gas exceeds a set threshold (very much like an electrical circuit breaker). This device will operate independently of seismic motion, but will not respond to minor leaks which may be caused by an earthquake.

It appears that the most secure configuration would be to use one of each of these devices in series.

BART tube

For current BART information concerning various seismic retrofits see[10].

A tube of particular structural, seismic, economic, and political interest is the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) trans-bay tube. This tube was constructed at the bottom of San Francisco Bay through an innovative process. Rather than pushing a shield through the soft bay mud, the tube was constructed on land in sections. Each section consisted of two inner train tunnels of circular cross section, a central access tunnel of rectangular cross section, and an outer oval shell encompassing the three inner tubes. The intervening space was filled with concrete. At the bottom of the bay a trench was excavated and a flat bed of crushed stone prepared to receive the tube sections. The sections were then floated into place and sunk, then joined with bolted connections to previously-placed sections. An overfill was then placed atop the tube to hold it down. Once completed from San Francisco to Oakland, the tracks and electrical components were installed. The predicted response of the tube during a major earthquake was likened to be as that of a string of (cooked) spaghetti in a bowl of gelatin dessert. To avoid overstressing the tube due to differential movements at each end, a sliding slip joint was included at the San Francisco terminus under the landmark Ferry Building.

The engineers of the construction consortium PBTB (Parsons-Brinkerhoff-Tudor-Bechtel) used the best estimates of ground motion available at the time, now known to be insufficient given modern computational analysis methods and geotechnical knowledge. Unexpected settlement of the tube has reduced the amount of slip that can be accommodated without failure. These factors have resulted in the slip joint being designed too short to ensure survival of the tube under possible (perhaps even likely) large earthquakes in the region. To correct this deficiency the slip joint must be extended to allow for additional movement, a modification expected to be both expensive and technically and logistically difficult. Other retrofits to the BART tube include vibratory consolidation of the tube’s overfill to avoid potential liquefying of the overfill, which has now been completed. (Should the overfill fail there is a danger of portions of the tube rising from the bottom, an event which could potentially cause failure of the section connections.)

022srUSGSCyprusVia

022srUSGSCyprusVia.jpg

USGS photo from 1989 en:Loma Prieta earthquake.

Caption: Side view of support-column failure and collapsed upper deck, en:Cypress Viaduct. [H.G. Wilshire, U.S. Geological Survey]

Original image: USGS page – Oakland

A related image

Date

Not dated. Probably late 1989.

Source

USGS page – Oakland

Author

H.G. Wilshire, U.S. Geological Survey

Permission
(Reusing this file)

PD-USGOV-INTERIOR-USGS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:022srUSGSCyprusVia.jpg

800px-Cypress_structure

	Cypress structure.jpeg USGS photo from 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Caption: Aerial view of collapsed sections of the en:Cypress Viaduct of en:Interstate 880. [H.G. Wilshire, U.S. Geological Survey]
Date	1989(1989)
Source	Photo by H. G. Wilshire for U.S. Geological Survey. High res version on line at : [1] Lower resolution version: Original image here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/dds/dds-29/web_pages/oakland.html
Author	H.G. Wilshire, U.S. Geological Survey
Permission (Reusing this file)	PD-USGOV-INTERIOR-USGS.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cypress_structure.jpeg

Seismic retrofit

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Main article: Earthquake engineering

Seismic retrofitting is the modification of existing structures to make them more resistant to seismic activity, ground motion, or soil failure due to earthquakes. With better understanding of seismic demand on structures and with our recent experiences with large earthquakes near urban centers, the need of seismic retrofitting is well acknowledged. Prior to the introduction of modern seismic codes in the late 1960s for developed countries (US, Japan etc) and late 1970s for many other parts of the world (Turkey, China etc), ^[1], many structures were designed without adequate detailing and reinforcement for seismic protection. In view of the imminent problem, various research work has been carried out. Furthermore, state-of-the-art technical guidelines for seismic assessment, retrofit and rehabilitation have been published around the world – such as the ASCE-SEI 41 ^[2] and the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE)’s guidelines ^[3].

The retrofit techniques outlined here are also applicable for other natural hazards such as tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and severe winds from thunderstorms. Whilst current practice of seismic retrofitting is predominantly concerned with structural improvements to reduce the seismic hazard of using the structures, it is similarly essential to reduce the hazards and losses from non-structural elements. It is also important to keep in mind that there is no such thing as an earthquake-proof structure, although seismic performance can be greatly enhanced through proper initial design or subsequent modifications.

Infill shear trusses — University of California dormitory, Berkeley, California

External bracing of an existing reinforced concrete parking garage (Berkeley) Note the pleasing use of detail with “waist” effect and integrated bench in base. Pedestrians exiting shops are protected from collision with bench by railings behind original footing

[hide]

[edit] Strategies

Many seismic retrofit (or rehabilitation) strategies have been developed in the past few decades following the introduction of new seismic provisions and the availability of advanced materials (e.g. fiber-reinforced polymers, FRP, fiber reinforced concrete and high strength steel)^[4]. Retrofit strategies are different from retrofit techniques, where the former is the basic approach to achieve an overall retrofit performance objective, such as increasing strength, increasing deformability, reducing deformation demands while the latter is the technical methods to achieve that strategy, for example FRP jacketing (see Figure 2a).

Increasing the global capacity (strengthening). This is typically done by the addition of cross braces or new structural walls.

Reduction of the seismic demand by means of supplementary damping and/or use of base isolation systems ^[5].

Increasing the local capacity of structural elements. This strategy recognises the inherent capacity within the existing structures, and therefore adopt a more cost-effective approach to selectively upgrade local capacity (deformation/ductility , strength or stiffness) of individual structural components.

Selective weakening retrofit. This is a counter intuitive strategy to change the inelastic mechanism of the structure, whilst recognising the inherent capacity of the structure. ^[6]

[edit] Performance objectives

In the past, seismic retrofit was primarily applied to achieve public safety, with engineering solutions limited by economic and political considerations. However, with the development of Performance based earthquake engineering (PBEE), several levels of performance objectives are gradually recognised:

Public safety only. The goal is to protect human life, ensuring that the structure will not collapse upon its occupants or passersby, and that the structure can be safely exited. Under severe seismic conditions the structure may be a total economic write-off, requiring tear-down and replacement.

Structure survivability. The goal is that the structure, while remaining safe for exit, may require extensive repair (but not replacement) before it is generally useful or considered safe for occupation. This is typically the lowest level of retrofit applied to bridges.

Structure functionality. Primary structure undamaged and the structure is undiminished in utility for its primary application. A high level of retrofit, this ensures that any required repairs are only “cosmetic” – for example, minor cracks in plaster, drywall and stucco. This is the minimum acceptable level of retrofit for hospitals.

Structure unaffected. This level of retrofit is preferred for historic structures of high cultural significance.

[edit] Techniques

Common seismic retrofitting techniques fall into several categories:

One of many “earthquake bolts” found throughout period houses in the city of Charleston subsequent to the Charleston earthquake of 1886. They could be tightened and loosened to support the house without having to otherwise demolish the house due to instability. The bolts were directly loosely connected to the supporting frame of the house.

[edit] External post-tensioning

The use of external post-tensioning for new structural systems have been developed in the past decade. Under the PRESS (Precast Seismic Structural Systems)^[7], a large-scale U.S./Japan joint research program, unbonded post-tensioning high strength steel tendons have been used to achieve a moment-resisting system that has self-centering capacity. An extension of the same idea for seismic retrofitting has been experimentally tested for seismic retrofit of California bridges under a Caltrans research project ^[8] and for seismic retrofit of non-ductile reinforced concrete frames ^[9]. Pre-stressing can increase the capacity of structural elements such as beam, column and beam-column joints. It should be noted that external pre-stressing has been used for structural upgrade for gravity/live loading since 1970s ^[10]

[edit] Base isolators

Base isolation is a collection of structural elements of a building that should substantially decouple the building’s structure from the shaking ground thus protecting the building’s integrity and enhancing its seismic performance. This earthquake engineering technology, which is a kind of seismic vibration control, can be applied both to a newly designed building and to seismic upgrading of existing structures^[11]^[12]. Normally, excavations are made around the building and the building is separated from the foundations. Steel or reinforced concrete beams replace the connections to the foundations, while under these, the isolating pads, or base isolators, replace the material removed. While the base isolation tends to restrict transmission of the ground motion to the building, it also keeps the building positioned properly over the foundation. Careful attention to detail is required where the building interfaces with the ground, especially at entrances, stairways and ramps, to ensure sufficient relative motion of those structural elements.

[edit] Supplementary dampers

Supplementary dampers absorb the energy of motion and convert it to heat, thus “damping” resonant effects in structures that are rigidly attached to the ground. In addition to adding energy dissipation capacity to the structure, supplementary damping can reduce the displacement and acceleration demand within the structures. In some cases, the threat of damage does not come from the initial shock itself, but rather from the periodic resonant motion of the structure that repeated ground motion induces. In partical sense, supplementary dampers act similarly to Shock absorbers used in automotive suspensions.

[edit] Tuned mass dampers

Tuned mass dampers (TMD) employ movable weights on some sort of springs. These are typically employed to reduce wind sway in very tall, light buildings. Similar designs may be employed to impart earthquake resistance in eight to ten story buildings that are prone to destructive earthquake induced resonances ^[13].

[edit] Slosh tank

A slosh tank is a large tank of fluid placed on an upper floor. During a seismic event, the fluid in this tank will slosh back and forth, but is directed by baffles – partitions that prevent the tank itself becoming resonant; through its mass the water may change or counter the resonant period of the building. Additional kinetic energy can be converted to heat by the baffles and is dissipated through the water – any temperature rise will be insignificant.

[edit] Active control system

Very tall buildings (“skyscrapers“), when built using modern lightweight materials, might sway uncomfortably (but not dangerously) in certain wind conditions. A solution to this problem is to include at some upper story a large mass, constrained, but free to move within a limited range, and moving on some sort of bearing system such as an air cushion or hydraulic film. Hydraulic pistons, powered by electric pumps and accumulators, are actively driven to counter the wind forces and natural resonances. These may also, if properly designed, be effective in controlling excessive motion – with or without applied power – in an earthquake. In general, though, modern steel frame high rise buildings are not as subject to dangerous motion as are medium rise (eight to ten story) buildings, as the resonant period of a tall and massive building is longer than the approximately one second shocks applied by an earthquake.

[edit] Adhoc addition of structural support/reinforcement

The most common form of seismic retrofit to lower buildings is adding strength to the existing structure to resist seismic forces. The strengthening may be limited to connections between existing building elements or it may involve adding primary resisting elements such as walls or frames, particularly in the lower stories.

[edit] Connections between buildings and their expansion additions

Frequently, building additions will not be strongly connected to the existing structure, but simply placed adjacent to it, with only minor continuity in flooring, siding, and roofing. As a result, the addition may have a different resonant period than the original structure, and they may easily detach from one another. The relative motion will then cause the two parts to collide, causing severe structural damage. Proper construction will tie the two building components rigidly together so that they behave as a single mass or employ dampers to expend the energy from relative motion, with appropriate allowance for this motion.

[edit] Exterior reinforcement of building

[edit] Exterior concrete columns

Historic buildings, made of unreinforced masonry, may have culturally important interior detailing or murals that should not be disturbed. In this case, the solution may be to add a number of steel, reinforced concrete, or poststressed concrete columns to the exterior. Careful attention must be paid to the connections with other members such as footings, top plates, and roof trusses.

[edit] Infill shear trusses

Shown here is an exterior shear reinforcement of a conventional reinforced concrete dormitory building. In this case, there was sufficient vertical strength in the building columns and sufficient shear strength in the lower stories that only limited shear reinforcement was required to make it earthquake resistant for this location, near the Hayward fault.

[edit] Massive exterior structure

In other circumstances, far greater reinforcement is required. In the structure shown at right — a parking garage over shops — the placement, detailing, and painting of the reinforcement becomes itself an architectural embellishment.

[edit] Typical Retrofit Scenario & Solution

[edit] Soft-story failure

Main article: Soft story building

Partial failure due to inadequate shear structure at garage level. Damage in San Francisco due to the Loma Prieta event.

This collapse mode is known as soft story collapse. In many buildings the ground level is designed for different uses than the upper levels. Low rise residential structures may be built over a parking garage which have large doors on one side. Hotels may have a tall ground floors to allow for a grand entrance or ballrooms. Office buildings may have stores in the ground floor which desire continuous windows for display.

Traditional seismic design assumes that the lower stories of a building are stronger than the upper stories and where this is not the case –if the lower story is less strong than the upper structure–the structure will not respond to earthquakes in the expected fashion. Using modern design methods, it is possible to take a weak story into account. Several failures of this type in one large apartment complex caused most of the fatalities in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Typically, where this type of problem is found, the weak story is reinforced to make it stronger than the floors above by adding shear walls or moment frames. Moment frames consisting of inverted U bents are useful in preserving lower story garage access, while a lower cost solution may be to use shear walls or trusses in several locations, which partially reduce the usefulness for automobile parking but still allow the space to be used for other storage.

[edit] Beam-column joint connections

Corner joint steel reinforcement and high tensile strength rods with grouted anti-burst jacket below

Beam-column joint connections are a common structural weakness in dealing with seismic retrofitting. Prior to the introduction of modern seismic codes in early 1970s, beam-column joints were typically non-engineered or designed. Laboratory testings have confirmed the seismic vulnerability of these poorly detailed and under-designed connections ^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]. Failure of beam-column joint connections can typically lead to catastrophic collapse of a frame-building, as often observed in recent earthquakes ^[18] ^[19]

For reinforced concrete beam-column joints – various retrofit solutions have been proposed and tested in the past 20 years. Philosophically, the various seismic retrofit strategies discussed above can be implemented for reinforced concrete joints. Concrete or steel jacketing have been a popular retrofit technique until the advent of composite materials such as Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP). Composite materials such as carbon FRP and aramic FRP have been extensively tested for use in seismic retrofit with some success ^[20]^[21] ^[22]. One novel technique includes the use of selective weakening of the beam and added external post-tensioning to the joint ^[23] in order to achieve flexural hinging in the beam, which is more desirable in terms of seismic design.

Widespread weld failures at beam-column joints of low-to-medium rise steel buildings during the Northridge 1994 earthquake for example, have shown the structural defiencies of these ‘modern-designed’ post-1970s welded moment-resisting connections ^[24]. A subsequent SAC research project [9] has documented, tested and proposed several retrofit solutions for these welded steel moment-resisting connections. Various retrofit solutions have been developed for these welded joints – such as a) weld strengthening and b) addition of steel haunch or ‘dog-bone’ shape flange ^[25].

[edit] Shear failure within floor diaphragm

Floors in wooden buildings are usually constructed upon relatively deep spans of wood, called joists, covered with a diagonal wood planking or plywood to form a subfloor upon which the finish floor surface is laid. In many structures these are all aligned in the same direction. To prevent the beams from tipping over onto their side, blocking is used at each end, and for additional stiffness, blocking or diagonal wood or metal bracing may be placed between beams at one or more points in their spans. At the outer edge it is typical to use a single depth of blocking and a perimeter beam overall.

If the blocking or nailing is inadequate, each beam can be laid flat by the shear forces applied to the building. In this position they lack most of their original strength and the structure may further collapse. As part of a retrofit the blocking may be doubled, especially at the outer edges of the building. It may be appropriate to add additional nails between the sill plate of the perimeter wall erected upon the floor diaphragm, although this will require exposing the sill plate by removing interior plaster or exterior siding. As the sill plate may be quite old and dry and substantial nails must be used, it may be necessary to pre-drill a hole for the nail in the old wood to avoid splitting. When the wall is opened for this purpose it may also be appropriate to tie vertical wall elements into the foundation using specialty connectors and bolts glued with epoxy cement into holes drilled in the foundation.

[edit] Sliding off foundation and “cripple wall” failure

House slid off of foundation

Low cripple wall collapse and detachment of structure from concrete stairway

Single or two story wood-frame domestic structures built on a perimeter or slab foundation are relatively safe in an earthquake, but in many structures built before 1950 the sill plate that sits between the concrete foundation and the floor diaphragm (perimeter foundation) or studwall (slab foundation) may not be sufficiently bolted in. Additionally, older attachments (without substantial corrosion-proofing) may have corroded to a point of weakness. A sideways shock can slide the building entirely off of the foundations or slab.

Often such buildings, especially if constructed on a moderate slope, are erected on a platform connected to a perimeter foundation through low stud-walls called “cripple wall” or pin-up. This low wall structure itself may fail in shear or in its connections to itself at the corners, leading to the building moving diagonally and collapsing the low walls. The likelihood of failure of the pin-up can be reduced by ensuring that the corners are well reinforced in shear and that the shear panels are well connected to each other through the corner posts. This requires structural grade sheet plywood, often treated for rot resistance. This grade of plywood is made without interior unfilled knots and with more, thinner layers than common plywood. New buildings designed to resist earthquakes will typically use OSB (oriented strand board), sometimes with metal joins between panels, and with well attached stucco covering to enhance its performance. In many modern tract homes, especially those built upon expansive (clay) soil the building is constructed upon a single and relatively thick monolithic slab, kept in one piece by high tensile rods that are stressed after the slab has set. This poststressing places the concrete under compression – a condition under which it is extremely strong in bending and so will not crack under adverse soil conditions.

[edit] Multiple piers in shallow pits

Some older low-cost structures are elevated on tapered concrete pylons set into shallow pits, a method frequently used to attach outdoor decks to existing buildings. This is seen in conditions of damp soil, especially in tropical conditions, as it leaves a dry ventilated space under the house, and in far northern conditions of permafrost (frozen mud) as it keeps the building’s warmth from destabilizing the ground beneath. During an earthquake, the pylons may tip, spilling the building to the ground. This can be overcome by using deep-bored holes to contain cast-in-place reinforced pylons, which are then secured to the floor panel at the corners of the building. Another technique is to add sufficient diagonal bracing or sections of concrete shear wall between pylons.

[edit] Reinforced concrete column burst

Jacketed and grouted column on left, unmodified on right

[edit] Reinforced concrete wall burst

Concrete walls are often used at the transition between elevated road fill and overpass structures. The wall is used both to retain the soil and so enable the use of a shorter span and also to transfer the weight of the span directly downward to footings in undisturbed soil. If these walls are inadequate they may crumble under the stress of an earthquake’s induced ground motion.

One form of retrofit is to drill numerous holes into the surface of the wall, and secure short L-shaped sections of rebar to the surface of each hole with epoxy adhesive. Additional vertical and horizontal rebar is then secured to the new elements, a form is erected, and an additional layer of concrete is poured. This modification may be combined with additional footings in excavated trenches and additional support ledgers and tie-backs to retain the span on the bounding walls.

[edit] Brick wall resin and glass fiber reinforcement

Brick building structures have been reinforced with coatings of glass fiber and appropriate resin (epoxy or polyester). In lower floors these may be applied over entire exposed surfaces, while in upper floors this may be confined to narrow areas around window and door openings. This application provides tensile strength that stiffens the wall against bending away from the side with the application. The efficient protection of an entire building requires extensive analysis and engineering to determine the appropriate locations to be treated.

[edit] Lift

[edit] Soil

[edit] Utility pipes and cables: risks

There are two primary methods of automatically restraining the flow of gas after an earthquake, installed on the low pressure side of the regulator, and usually downstream of the gas meter.

A caged metal ball may be arranged at the edge of an orifice. Upon seismic shock, the ball will roll into the orifice, sealing it to prevent gas flow. The ball may later be reset by the use of an external magnet. This device will respond only to ground motion.
A flow-sensitive device may be used to close a valve if the flow of gas exceeds a set threshold (very much like an electrical circuit breaker). This device will operate independently of seismic motion, but will not respond to minor leaks which may be caused by an earthquake.

It appears that the most secure configuration would be to use one of each of these devices in series.

[edit] Tunnels

Unless the tunnel penetrates a fault likely to slip, the greatest danger to tunnels is a landslide blocking an entrance. Additional protection around the entrance may be applied to divert any falling material (similar as is done to divert snow avalanches) or the slope above the tunnel may be stabilized in some way. Where only small- to medium-sized rocks and boulders are expected to fall, the entire slope may be covered with wire mesh, pinned down to the slope with metal rods. This is also a common modification to highway cuts where appropriate conditions exist.

[edit] Underwater tubes

The safety of underwater tubes is highly dependent upon the soil conditions through which the tunnel was constructed, the materials and reinforcements used, and the maximum predicted earthquake expected, and other factors, some of which may remain unknown under current knowledge.

[edit] BART tube

For current BART information concerning various seismic retrofits see[10].

[edit] Bridge retrofit

Bridges have several failure modes.

[edit] Expansion rockers

Many short bridge spans are statically anchored at one end and attached to rockers at the other. This rocker gives vertical and transverse support while allowing the bridge span to expand and contract with temperature changes. The change in the length of the span is accommodated over a gap in the roadway by comb-like expansion joints. During severe ground motion the rockers may jump from their tracks or be moved beyond their design limits, causing the bridge to unship from its resting point and then either become misaligned or fall completely. Motion can be constrained by adding ductile or high-strength steel restraints that are friction-clamped to beams and designed to slide under extreme stress while still limiting the motion relative to the anchorage.

[edit] Deck rigidity

Additional diagonals were inserted under both decks of this bridge

Suspension bridges may respond to earthquakes with a side-to-side motion exceeding that which was designed for wind gust response. Such motion can cause fragmentation of the road surface, damage to bearings, and plastic deformation or breakage of components. Devices such as hydraulic dampers or clamped sliding connections and additional diagonal reenforcement may be added.

[edit] Lattice girders, beams, and ties

Obsolete riveted lattice members

Lattice girders consist of two “I”-beams connected with a criss-cross lattice of flat strap or angle stock. These can be greatly strengthened by replacing the open lattice with plate members. This is usually done in concert with the replacement of hot rivets with bolts.

Bolted plate lattice replacement, forming box members

[edit] Hot rivets

Many older structures were fabricated by inserting red-hot rivets into pre-drilled holes; the soft rivets are then peened using an air hammer on one side and a bucking bar (an inertial mass) on the head end. As these cool slowly, they are left in an annealed (soft) condition, while the plate, having been hot rolled and quenched during manufacture, remains relatively hard. Under extreme stress the hard plates can shear the soft rivets, resulting in failure of the joint.

The solution is to burn out each rivet with an oxygen torch. The hole is then prepared to a precise diameter with a reamer. A special locator bolt, consisting of a head, a shaft matching the reamed hole, and a threaded end is inserted and retained with a nut, then tightened with a wrench. As the bolt has been formed from an appropriate high-strength alloy and has also been heat-treated, it is not subject to either the plastic shear failure typical of hot rivets nor the brittle fracture of ordinary bolts. Any partial failure will be in the plastic flow of the metal secured by the bolt; with proper engineering any such failure should be non-catastrophic.

[edit] Fill and overpass

Elevated roadways are typically built on sections of elevated earth fill connected with bridge-like segments, often supported with vertical columns.If the soil fails where a bridge terminates, the bridge may become disconnected from the rest of the roadway and break away. The retrofit for this is to add additional reinforcement to any supporting wall, or to add deep caissons adjacent to the edge at each end and connect them with a supporting beam under the bridge.

Another failure occurs when the fill at each end moves (through resonant effects) in bulk, in opposite directions. If there is an insufficient founding shelf for the overpass it may then fall. Additional shelf and ductile stays may be added to attach the overpass to the footings at one or both ends. The stays, rather than being fixed to the beams may instead be clamped to them. Under moderate loading these keep the overpass centered in the gap so that it is less likely to slide off its founding shelf at one end. The ability for the fixed ends to slide, rather than break, will prevent the complete drop of the structure If it should fail to remain on the footings.

[edit] Viaducts

Large sections of roadway may consist entirely of viaduct, sections with no connection to the earth other than through vertical columns. When concrete columns are used, the detailing is critical. Typical failure may be in the toppling of a row of columns due either to soil connection failure or to insufficient cylindrical wrapping with rebar. Both failures were seen in the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake in Kobe, Japan, where an entire viaduct, centrally supported by a single row of large columns, was laid down to one side. Such columns are reinforced by excavating to the foundation pad, driving additional pilings, and adding a new, larger pad, well connected with rebar along side of or into the column. A column with insufficient wrapping bar, which is prone to burst and then hinge at the bursting point, may be completely encased in a circular or elliptical jacket of welded steel sheet and grouted as described above.

Cypress Freeway viaduct collapse. Note failure of inadequate anti-burst wrapping and lack of connection between upper and lower vertical elements.

Sometimes viaducts may fail in the connections between components. This was seen in the failure of the Cypress Freeway in Oakland, California, during the Loma Prieta earthquake. This viaduct was a two-level structure, and the upper portions of the columns were not well connected to the lower portions that supported the lower level; this caused the upper deck to collapse upon the lower deck. Weak connections such as these require additional external jacketing – either through external steel components or by a complete jacket of reinforced concrete, often using stub connections that are glued (using epoxy adhesive) into numerous drilled holes. These stubs are then connected to additional wrappings, external forms (which may be temporary or permanent) are erected, and additional concrete is poured into the space. Large connected structures similar to the Cypress Viaduct must also be properly analyzed in their entirety using dynamic computer simulations.

[edit] Residential retrofit

For detailed information concerning retrofit of certain types common wood frame structures not exceeding two stories, see this web page (Association of Bay Area Governments). For specific “permit ready” details as recommended by a public agency for simple low-rise construction see this PDF document (by the City of San Leandro).

[edit] Wood frame structure

Predominantly residential/dwelling in North America consisted of wood-frame structure. Wood is one of the best materials for anti-seismic construction since it is of low mass and is relatively less brittle than masonry. It is easy to work with and very cheap compared to other modern material as steel and reinforced concrete. This is only resistant if the structure is properly connected to its foundation and has adequate shear resistance, in modern construction obtained by well connected surfacing of panels with plywood or oriented strand board in combination with exterior stucco. Steel strapping and sheet forms are also used to connect elements securely.

Retrofit methods in older woodframe structures may consist of the following, and other methods not described here.

The lowest plate rails of walls are bolted to a continuous foundation, or held down with rigid metal clips bolted to the foundation.
Selected vertical elements, especially at wall junctures and window and door openings are attached securely to the sill plate.
In two story buildings using “western” style construction (walls are progressively erected upon the lower story’s upper diaphragm, unlike “eastern” balloon framing), the upper walls are connected to the lower walls with tension elements. In some case connections may be extended vertically to include retention of certain roof elements.
Low cripple walls are made shear resistant by adding plywood at the corners and by securing corners from opening with metal strapping or fixtures.
Vertical posts may be restrained from jumping off of their footings.

Wooden frame is efficient with masonry if properly designed. In Turkey, the traditional houses (bagdadi) are made with this technology. In El Salvador wood and bamboo are used to build

[edit] Reinforced and unreinforced masonry

In many parts of developing countries such as Pakistan, Iran and China, unreinforced or in some cases reinforced masonry is the predominantly form of structures for rural residential and dwelling. Masonry was also a common construction form in the early part of 20th centuries, which implies significant number of these at-risk masonry structures would have significant heritage value. Masonry walls that are not reinforced are especially hazardous. Such structures may be more appropriate for replacement than retrofit, but if the walls are the principal load bearing elements in structures of modest size they may be appropriately reinforced. It is especially important that floor and ceiling beams be securely attached to the walls. Additional vertical supports in the form of steel or reinforced concrete may be added.

In the western United States, much of what is seen as masonry is actually brick or stone veneer. Current construction rules dictate the amount of tie–back required, which consist of metal straps secured to vertical structural elements. These straps extend into mortar courses, securing the veneer to the primary structure. Older structures may not secure this sufficiently for seismic safety. A weakly secured veneer in a house interior (sometimes used to face a fireplace from floor to ceiling) can be especially dangerous to occupants. Older masonry chimneys are also dangerous if they have substantial vertical extension above the roof. These are prone to breakage at the roofline and may fall into the house in a single large piece. For retrofit, additional supports may be added or it may be better to simply remove the extension and replace it with lighter materials, with special piping replacing the flue tile and a wood structure replacing the masonry. This may be matched against existing brickwork by using very thin veneer (similar to a tile, but with the appearance of a brick).

[edit] See also

Destructive testing
Earthquake construction
Earthquake engineering research
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Earthquake performance evaluation
Earthquake protector
Household seismic safety – the securing of furnishings, appliances, and general household preparedness.
Mitigation of seismic motion
OpenSees – Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation
San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge – An extensive retrofit of the western portion is now complete and construction of large portions of the eastern replacement span is underway.
Seismic hazard
Seismic performance
Vibration control

[edit] Related Journals

Journal of Earthquake Engineering[11]

Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics [12]

Journal of Structural Engineering [13]

Earthquake Spectra [14]

International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics [15]

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering [16]

[edit] External links

Retrofit Solutions for New Zealand – Retrofit Solutions for New Zealand – research group dedicated to seismic retrofit. Contacts and publications are available.
ABAG Home Quake Safety Toolkit From ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments, their web site includes much valuable information and interactive analysis tools. If you know or can reasonably estimate in the worst case the expected shaking index for your area you can still use the included home safety evaluation quiz, even if you are not located within the San Francisco Bay Area. There are other sections generally applicable for any potential level of seismic activity, such as securing furnishings. This is an especially valuable reference for any resident of an area subject to seismic activity
Extensive article including some structural retrofits and a comparison of various natural gas safety shutoffs: The Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety (BYU)
Infrastructure Risk Research Project at The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
How the City of San Leandro can help you strengthen your home … San Leandro, California pamphlet illustrating simple house structural improvements that the homeowner can perform.
Fema Seismic Rehabilitation Handbook
FEMA Seismic Retrofit Cost Calculator
Performance of the Built Environment (Loma Prieta Earthquake), U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1152–A

[edit] References

^ NZSEE Bulletin 39(2)-June 2006
^ ASCE-SEI 41
^ NZSEE 2006
^ Moehle, J. (2000) State of Research on Seismic Retrofit[1]
^ Filiatrault & Cherry (1986) [2]
^ e.g. Kam & Pampanin (2008)- Selective weakening retrofit for RC frames [3]
^ 1994 Building Publications – Status of the U.S. Precast Seismic Structural Systems (PRESSS) Program
^ Lowes & Moehle (1998) – ACI Structural Journal Vol 96(4) – pp 519-532 [4]
^ Experimental testing of external post-tensioning for retrofit of RC beam-column joint [5]
^ VSL Repair/Strengthening Page [6]
^ Clark Construction Group, LLC
^ Projects
^ Slide 2
^ Beres, A., Pessiki, S., White, R., and Gergely, P. (1996).
^ Implications of experimental on the seismic behaviour of gravity load designed RC beam-column connections. Earthquake Spectra, 12(2), 185-198.
^ Calvi, G. M., Moratti, M., and Pampanin, S. (2002). Relevance of beam-column damage and collapse in RC frame assessment. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 6(1), 75-100.
^ Park, R. (2002). A Summary of Result of Simulated Seismic Load Tests on Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Joints, Beams and Columns with Substandard Reinforcing Details. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 6(2), 147-174.
^ Park R, Billings IJ, Clifton GC, Cousins J, Filiatrault A, Jennings DN, et al. The Hyogo-ken Nanbu Earthquake of 17 January 1995. Bull of New Zealand Soc of Earthquake Eng. 1995;28(1):1 -99.
^ Holmes WT, Somers P. Northridge Earthquake Reconnaissance Report. Supplement C, vol. 2.Earthquake Spectra. 1996(11):1-278.
^ Pampanin, S., Bolognini, D., Pavese, A. (2007) Performance-based Seismic Retrofit Strategy for Existing Reinforced Concrete Frame Systems using FRP composites. ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, 11(2), pp. 211-226. [7]
^ A. Ghobarah and A. Said. 2002. Shear strengthening of beam-column joints. Engineering Structures, Vol. 24, No. 7, pp. 881- 888.
^ A. Ghobarah and A. Said 2001 Seismic rehabilitation of beam-column joints using FRP laminates. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 113-129.
^ Selective weakening and post-tensioning for seismic retrofit of RC beam-column joint [8]
^ Bertero VV, Anderson JC & Krawinkler H. Performance of steel building structures during the Northridge earthquake. Report No UCB/EERC-94/09. Berkeley, California: Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California at Berkeley. 1994.
^ Civjan SA, Engelhardt MD and Gross JD (2000). Retrofit of pre-Northridge Moment Resisting Connections. ASCE J.o.Structural Engineering Vol 126(4) 445-452

Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_retrofit“

Categories: Earthquake and seismic risk mitigation | Earthquake engineering | Construction

ategory:Earthquake and seismic risk mitigation

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Main article: Earthquake engineering

Pages in category “Earthquake and seismic risk mitigation”

The following 32 pages are in this category, out of 32 total. This list may not reflect recent changes (learn more).

A

C

C. Allin Cornell

D

Dissipator (building design)

E

E cont.

I

S cont.

U

V

VAN method

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Categories: Seismology | Disaster preparedness | Structural engineering | Earthquake engineering

VAN method

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Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2006)

The VAN method is an experimental method of earthquake prediction, named after the surname initials of each of its inventors, Greek physicists Panayotis Varotsos, Caesar Alexopoulos and Kostas Nomikos.

The method tries to assess electromagnetic emissions that, according to the VAN team, occur several days to hours before the earthquake and can be interpreted as warnings for a forthcoming catastrophe. The method uses a network of metal rods impacted in the ground. Electromagnetic signals picked up by the rods are then processed to filter out noise and the so-called “seismic signals”, thought to result from piezoelectric phenomena as material in the earth’s mantle is subject to changing pressures preceding an earthquake, are identified. One inherent problem of the method is that, in order for any prediction to be useful, it has to predict a forthcoming earthquake with a reasonable accuracy with respect to timeframe, epicenter and magnitude. Otherwise, if the prediction is too vague, no feasible decision (such as to evacuate the population of a certain area for a given period of time) can be made. The VAN team have been arguing that, as the sensor rod network expands and its data processing technique is refined, its predictions will become increasingly useful.

The efficiency of the VAN method in earthquake prediction is a matter of debate, as a number of prominent seismologists have disputed its accuracy. One of the major opponents of VAN is the Greek seismologist Vassilis Papazachos. The debate between Papazachos and the VAN team has repeatedly caused public attention in their home country Greece and has been extensively discussed in the Greek media. As Greece is highly seismogenic and has suffered major disasters by earthquakes, the Greek public is extremely concerned over this debate.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Mitigation of seismic motion

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Main article: Earthquake engineering

Mitigation of seismic motion is an important factor in earthquake engineering and construction in earthquake-prone areas. The destabilizing action of an earthquake on constructions may be direct (seismic motion of the ground) or indirect (earthquake-induced landslides, liquefaction of the foundation soils and waves of tsunami).

Knowledge of local amplification of the seismic motion from the bedrock is very important in order to choose the suitable design solutions. Local amplification can be anticipated from the presence of particular stratigraphic conditions, such as soft soil overlapping the bedrock, or where morphological settings (e.g. crest zones, steep slopes, valleys, or endoreic basins) may produce focalization of the seismic event.

The identification of the areas potentially affected by earthquake-induced landslides and by soil liquefaction can be made by geological survey and by analysis of historical documents. Even quiescent and stabilized landslide areas may be reactivated by severe earthquake. Young soil may be particularly susceptible to liquefaction.

Categories: Construction terminology | Earthquake and seismic risk mitigation

International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology

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International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) is an international earthquake engineering and seismology institute based in Iran. It was established as a result of the 24th UNESCO General Conference Resolution DR/250 under Iranian government approval in 1989. It was founded as an independent institute within the Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.^[1]

On its establishment, the IIEES drew up a seismic code in an attempt to improve the infrastructural response to earthquakes and seismic activity in the country. Its primary objective is to reduce the risk of seismic activity on buildings and roads and provide mitigation measures both in Iran and the region.^[1]

The institute is responsible for much of the research and education in this field by conducting research and providing education and knowledge in seismotectonic studies, seismology and earthquake engineering.^[1] In addition conducts research and educates in risk management and generating possibilities for an effective earthquake response strategy.

The IIEES is composed of the following research Centers: Seismology, Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Structural Earthquake Engineering, Risk Management; National center for Earthquake Prediction, and Graduate School, Public Education and Information Division.^[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d “About Institute”. International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology. http://www.iiees.ac.ir/English/institute/eng_about.html. Retrieved November 23, 2008.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Institute_of_Earthquake_Engineering_and_Seismology“

Categories: Earthquake and seismic risk mitigation | Earthquake engineering | Organisations based in Iran | Science and technology in Iran

220px-Snapshot_of_earthquake-like_crash_testing

Shake-table crash testing of a regular building model (left) and a base-isolated building model (right) [2] at UCSD

The first evidence of earthquake protection by using the principle of base isolation was discovered in Pasargadae, a city in ancient Persia, now Iran: it goes back to VI century BCE. Below, there are some samples of seismic vibration control technologies of today.

Dry-stone walls control

Dry-stone walls of Machu Picchu Temple of the Sun, Peru

People of Inca civilization were masters of the polished dry-stone walls, called ashlar, where blocks of stone were cut to fit together tightly without any mortar. The Incas were among the best stone masons the world has ever seen ^[10], and many junctions in their masonry were so perfect that even blades of grass could not fit between the stones.

Peru is a highly seismic land, and for centuries the mortar-free construction proved to be apparently more earthquake-resistant than using mortar. The stones of the dry-stone walls built by the Incas could move slightly and resettle without the walls collapsing which should be recognized as an ingenious passive structural control technique employing both the principle of energy dissipation and that of suppressing resonant amplifications ^[11].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_construction

7-story reinforced concrete buildings on steep slope collapse due to the following [28]:

Improper construction site on a foothill.

Poor detailing of the reinforcement (lack of concrete confinement in the columns and at the beam-column joints, inadequate splice length).

Seismically weak soft story at the first floor.

Long cantilevers with heavy dead load.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_construction

Earthquake engineering

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Earthquake engineering is the study of the behavior of buildings and structures subject to seismic loading. It is a subset of both structural and civil engineering.

The main objectives of earthquake engineering are:

Understand the interaction between buildings or civil infrastructure and the ground.
Foresee the potential consequences of strong earthquakes on urban areas and civil infrastructure.
Design, construct and maintain structures to perform at earthquake exposure up to the expectations and in compliance with building codes ^[1].

A properly engineered structure does not necessarily have to be extremely strong or expensive.

Shake-table crash testing of a regular building model (left) and a base-isolated building model (right) [2] at UCSD

Taipei 101, equipped with tuned mass damper, is the world’s second tallest skyscraper, after the Burj Khalifa.

The most powerful and budgetary tools of earthquake engineering are vibration control technologies and, in particular, base isolation.

[hide]

[edit] Seismic loading

Seismic loading means application of an earthquake-generated agitation to a structure. It happens at contact surfaces of a structure either with the ground [9], or with adjacent structures [10], or with gravity waves from tsunami. Seismic loading depends, primarily, on:

The Last Day of Pompeii

Anticipated earthquake’s parameters at the site
Geotechnical parameters of the site
Structure‘s parameters
Characteristics of the anticipated gravity waves from tsunami (if applicable).

Ancient builders believed that earthquakes were a result of wrath of gods (in Greek mythology, e.g., the main “Earth-Shaker” was Poseidon) and, therefore, could not be resisted by humans. Nowadays, the people’s attitude has changed dramatically though the seismic loads, sometimes, exceed ability of a structure to resist them without being broken, partially or completely.

Due to their mutual interaction, seismic loading and seismic performance of a structure are intimately related.

[edit] Seismic performance

Main article: Seismic analysis

Earthquake or seismic performance is an execution of a building’s or structure’s ability to sustain their due functions, such as its safety and serviceability, at and after a particular earthquake exposure. A structure is, normally, considered safe if it does not endanger the lives and wellbeing of those in or around it by partially or completely collapsing. A structure may be considered serviceable if it is able to fulfill its operational functions for which it was designed.

Basic concepts of the earthquake engineering, implemented in the major building codes, assume that a building should survive The Big One (the most powerful anticipated earthquake) though with partial destruction ^[2].

[edit] Seismic performance evaluation

Engineers need to know the quantified level of an actual or anticipated seismic performance associated with the direct damage to an individual building subject to a specified ground shaking.

The best way to do it is to put the structure on a shake-table that simulates the earth shaking and watch what may happen next [11]. Such kinds of experiments were performed still more than a century ago^[3]

Snapshot from shake-table video of a 6-story non-ductile concrete building destructive testing

Another way is to evaluate the earthquake performance analytically.

[edit] Seismic performance analysis

Seismic performance analysis or, simply, seismic analysis is a major intellectual tool of earthquake engineering which breaks the complex topic into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of seismic performance of building and non-building structures. The technique as a formal concept is a relatively recent development.

In general, seismic analysis is based on the methods of structural dynamics ^[4]. For decades, the most prominent instrument of seismic analysis has been the earthquake response spectrum method which, also, contributed to the proposed building code’s concept of today^[5].

However, those spectra are good, mostly, for single-degree-of-freedom systems. Numerical step-by-step integration proved to be a more effective method of analysis for multi-degree-of-freedom structural systems with severe non-linearity under a substantially transient process of kinematic excitation ^[6].

[edit] Research for earthquake engineering

Shake-table testing of Friction Pendulum Bearings at EERC

Research for earthquake engineering means both field and analytical investigation or experimentation intended for discovery and scientific explanation of earthquake engineering related facts, revision of conventional concepts in the light of new findings, and practical application of the developed theories. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the main United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all fields of earthquake engineering. In particular, it focuses on experimental, analytical, and computational research on design and performance enhancement of structural systems.

E-Defense Shake Table [3]

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is a leader in dissemination of earthquake engineering research related information both in the U.S. and globally.

A definitive list of earthquake engineering research related shaking tables around the world may be found in Experimental Facilities for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Worldwide. The most prominent of them is now E-Defense Shake Table ^[7] in Japan.

Major earthquake engineering research centers in the United States and worldwide [show]

All earthquake engineering research activities worldwide are mostly associated with the following centers:

[edit] Major U.S. research programs

The NSF Hazard Mitigation and Structural Engineering program (HMSE) supports research on new technologies for improving the behavior and response of structural systems subject to earthquake hazards; fundamental research on safety and reliability of constructed systems; innovative developments in analysis and model based simulation of structural behavior and response including soil-structure interaction; design concepts that improve structure performance and flexibility; and application of new control techniques for structural systems [12].

Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table, UCSD, NEES network

NSF also supports George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) [13] that advances knowledge discovery and innovation for earthquakes and tsunami loss reduction of the nation’s civil infrastructure, and new experimental simulation techniques and instrumentation.

NEES@Buffalo testing facility

NEES [14] comprises a network of 15 earthquake engineering experimental equipment sites available for experimentation on-site or in the field and through telepresence. NEES equipment sites include shake-tables, geotechnical centrifuges, a tsunami wave basin, unique large-scale testing laboratory facilities, and mobile and permanently installed field equipment [15].

NEES Cyberinfrastructure Center (NEESit) connects, via Internet2, the equipment sites as well as provides telepresence, a curated central data repository, simulation tools, and collaborative tools for facilitating on-line planning, execution, and post-processing of experiments.

[edit] Earthquake simulation

The very first earthquake simulations were performed by statically applying some horizontal inertia forces based on scaled peak ground accelerations to a mathematical model of a building ^[8]. With the further development of computational technologies, static approaches began to give way to dynamic ones.

Dynamic experiments on building and non-building structures may be physical, like shake-table testing, or virtual ones. In both cases, to verify a structure’s expected seismic performance, some researchers prefer to deal with so called “real time-histories” though the last cannot be “real” for a hypothetical earthquake specified by either a building code or by some particular research requirements. Therefore, there is a strong incentive to engage an earthquake simulation which is the seismic input that possesses only essential features of a real event.

Sometimes, earthquake simulation is understood as a re-creation of local effects of a strong earth shaking.

[edit] Structure simulation

Theoretical or experimental evaluation of anticipated seismic performance mostly requires a structure simulation which is based on the concept of structural likeness or similarity. Similarity is some degree of analogy or resemblance between two or more objects. The notion of similarity rests either on exact or approximate repetitions of patterns in the compared items.

Concurrent experiments with two kinematically equivalent to a real prototype building models [4]

In general, a building model is said to have similarity with the real object if the two share geometric similarity, kinematic similarity and dynamic similarity. The most vivid and effective type of similarity is the kinematic one. Kinematic similarity exists when the paths and velocities of moving particles of a model and its prototype are similar.

The ultimate level of kinematic similarity is kinematic equivalence when, in the case of earthquake engineering, time-histories of each story lateral displacements of the model and its prototype would be the same.

[edit] Seismic vibration control

Seismic vibration control is a set of technical means aimed to mitigate seismic impacts in building and non-building structures. All seismic vibration control devices may be classified as passive, active or hybrid [16] where:

passive control devices have no feedback capability between them, structural elements and the ground;
active control devices incorporate real-time recoding instrumentation on the ground integrated with earthquake input processing equipment and actuators within the structure;
hybrid control devices have combined features of active and passive control systems.^[9]

When ground seismic waves reach up and start to penetrate a base of a building, their energy flow density, due to reflections, reduces dramatically: usually, up to 90%. However, the remaining portions of the incident waves during a major earthquake still bear a huge devastating potential.

After the seismic waves enter a superstructure, there are a number of ways to control them in order to soothe their damaging effect and improve the building’s seismic performance, for instance:

to dissipate the wave energy inside a superstructure with properly engineered dampers;

to disperse the wave energy between a wider range of frequencies;

to absorb the resonant portions of the whole wave frequencies band with the help of so called mass dampers [17].

Mausoleum of Cyrus, the oldest base-isolated structure in the world

Devices of the last kind, abbreviated correspondingly as TMD for the tuned (passive), as AMD for the active, and as HMD for the hybrid mass dampers, have been studied and installed in high-rise buildings, predominantly in Japan, for a quarter of a century [18].

However, there is quite another approach: partial suppression of the seismic energy flow into the superstructure known as seismic or base isolation.

For this, some pads are inserted into or under all major load-carrying elements in the base of the building which should substantially decouple a superstructure from its substructure resting on a shaking ground.

The first evidence of earthquake protection by using the principle of base isolation was discovered in Pasargadae, a city in ancient Persia, now Iran: it goes back to VI century BCE. Below, there are some samples of seismic vibration control technologies of today.

[edit] Dry-stone walls control

Dry-stone walls of Machu Picchu Temple of the Sun, Peru

[edit] Lead Rubber Bearing

LRB being tested at the UCSD Caltrans-SRMD facility

Lead Rubber Bearing or LRB is a type of base isolation employing a heavy damping.

Heavy damping mechanism incorporated in vibration control technologies and, particularly, in base isolation devices, is often considered a valuable source of suppressing vibrations thus enhancing a building’s seismic performance. However, for the rather pliant systems such as base isolated structures, with a relatively low bearing stiffness but with a high damping, the so-called “damping force” may turn out the main pushing force at a strong earthquake. The video [19] shows a Lead Rubber Bearing being tested at the UCSD Caltrans-SRMD facility. The bearing is made of rubber with a lead core. It was a uniaxial test in which the bearing was also under a full structure load.

[edit] Tuned mass damper

Tuned mass damper in Taipei 101, the world’s second tallest skyscraper

Typically, the tuned mass dampers are huge concrete blocks mounted in skyscrapers or other structures and moved in opposition to the resonance frequency oscillations of the structures by means of some sort of spring mechanism.

Taipei 101 skyscraper needs to withstand typhoon winds and earthquake tremors common in its area of the Asia-Pacific. For this purpose, a steel pendulum weighing 660 metric tons that serves as a tuned mass damper was designed and installed atop the structure. Suspended from the 92nd to the 88th floor, the pendulums sways to decrease resonant amplifications of lateral displacements in the building caused by earthquakes and strong gusts.

[edit] Friction pendulum bearing

FPB [5] shake-table testing

Friction Pendulum Bearing (FPB) is another name of Friction Pendulum System (FPS). It is based on three pillars^[12]:

articulated friction slider;
spherical concave sliding surface;
enclosing cylinder for lateral displacement restraint.

Snapshot with the link to video clip of a shake-table testing of FPB system supporting a rigid building model is presented at the right.

[edit] Building elevation control

Transamerica Pyramid building

Building elevation control is a valuable source of vibration control of seismic loading. Thus, pyramid-shaped skyscrapers continue to attract attention of architects and engineers because such structures promise a better stability against earthquakes and winds.

Besides, the elevation configuration can prevent buildings’ resonant amplifications due to the fact that a properly configured building disperses the shear wave energy between a wide range of frequencies.

Earthquake or wind quieting ability of the elevation configuration is provided by a specific pattern of multiple reflections and transmissions of vertically propagating shear waves, which are generated by breakdowns into homogeneity of story layers, and a taper. Any abrupt changes of the propagating waves velocity result in a considerable dispersion of the wave energy between a wide ranges of frequencies thus preventing the resonant displacement amplifications in the building.

Tapered profile of a building is not a compulsory feature of this method of structural control. A similar resonance preventing effect can be also obtained by a proper tapering of other characteristics of a building structure, namely, its mass and stiffness. As a result, the building elevation configuration techniques permit an architectural design that may be both attractive and functional (see, e.g., Pyramid).

[edit] Simple roller bearing

Simple roller bearing is a base isolation device which is intended for protection of various building and non-building structures against potentially damaging lateral impacts of strong earthquakes.

This metallic bearing support may be adapted, with certain precautions, as a seismic isolator to skyscrapers and buildings on soft ground. Recently, it has been employed under the name of Metallic Roller Bearing for a housing complex (17 stories) in Tokyo, Japan [20].

[edit] Elevated building foundation

Bottom view of the Municipal Services Building [6] sitting on abutments of its elevated building foundation, City of Glendale, CA

Elevated building foundation (EBF) is a kind of seismic vibration control technology which remains an integral part of a building superstructure ^[13]. It is conceived to shield the building’s superstructure against potentially destructive components of the anticipated earthquakes including both lateral and vertical shaking.

This goal can be achieved by means of a proper choice of building materials, dimensions, and configuration of EBF for the particular construction site and local soil conditions.

As a result of multiple wave reflections and diffractions, as well as energy dissipations of the seismic waves in a process of their vertical propagation through horizontal strata of the EBF, any transmission of seismic wave energy into the building superstructure furnished with EBF will be decreased considerably which will decrease seismic loads and enhance seismic performance of the structure [21].

[edit] Springs-with-damper base isolator

Springs-with-damper close-up

Springs-with-damper base isolator installed under a three-story town-house, Santa Monica, California is shown on the photo taken prior to the 1994 Northridge earthquake exposure. It is a base isolation device conceptually similar to Lead Rubber Bearing.

One of two three-story town-houses like this, which was well instrumented for recording of both vertical and horizontal accelerations on its floors and the ground, has survived a severe shaking during the Northridge earthquake and left valuable information for further learning.

[edit] Hysteretic damper

Hysteretic damper is intended to provide better and more reliable seismic performance than that of a conventional structure at the expense of the seismic input energy dissipation [22]. There are four major groups of hysteretic dampers used for the purpose, namely:

Fluid viscous dampers (FVDs)
Metallic yielding dampers (MYDs)
Viscoelastic dampers (VEDs)
Friction dampers (FDs)

Each group of dampers has specific characteristics, advantages and disadvantages for structural applications.

[edit] Seismic design

Seismic design is based on authorized engineering procedures, principles and criteria meant to design or retrofit structures subject to earthquake exposure^[8]. Those criteria are consistent just with the contemporary state of the knowledge about earthquake engineering structures ^[14]. Therefore, the building design which blindly follows some seismic code regulations does not guarantee safety against collapse or serious damage [23].

The price of poor seismic design may be enormous. Nevertheless, seismic design has always been a trial and error process no matter it was based upon physical laws or empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different shapes and materials.

Ruin of the $7,000,000 poorly designed San Francisco City Hall by 1906 earthquake and fire

To practice seismic design, seismic analysis or seismic evaluation of new and existing civil engineering projects, an engineer should, normally, pass examination on Seismic Principles [24] which, e.g. in the State of California, include:

Seismic Data and Seismic Design Criteria
Seismic Characteristics of Engineered Systems
Seismic Forces
Seismic Analysis Procedures
Seismic Detailing and Construction Quality Control

San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire

To build up complex structural systems^[15], seismic design utilizes, mostly, the same relatively small number of basic structural elements (to say nothing of vibration control devices) as any non-seismic design project.

Normally, according to building codes, structures are designed to “withstand” the largest earthquake of a certain probability that is likely to occur at their location. This means the loss of life should be minimized by preventing collapse of the buildings.

Seismic design is carried out by understanding the possible failure modes of a structure and providing the structure with appropriate strength, stiffness, ductility, and configuration ^[16] to ensure those modes cannot occur.

[edit] Seismic design requirements

Seismic design requirements depend on the type of the structure, locality of the project and its authorities which stipulate applicable seismic design codes and criteria ^[2]. For instance, California Department of Transportation‘s requirements called The Seismic Design Criteria (SDC) and aimed at the design of new bridges in California [25] incorporate an innovative seismic performance based approach.

Metsamor, Armenia nuclear power plant was closed after the 1988 destructive earthquake [7]

The most significant feature in the SDC design philosophy is a shift from a force-based assessment of seismic demand to a displacement-based assessment of demand and capacity. Thus, the newly adopted displacement approach is based on comparing the elastic displacement demand to the inelastic displacement capacity of the primary structural components while ensuring a minimum level of inelastic capacity at all potential plastic hinge locations.

In addition to the designed structure itself, seismic design requirements may include a ground stabilization underneath the structure: sometimes, heavily shaken ground breaks up which leads to collapse of the structure sitting upon it [26]. The following topics should be of primary concerns: liquefaction; dynamic lateral earth pressures on retaining walls; seismic slope stability; earthquake-induced settlement ^[17].

Nuclear facilities should not jeopardise their safety in case of earthquakes or other hostile external events. Therefore, their seismic design is based on criteria far more stringent than those applying to non-nuclear facilities ^[18].

[edit] Failure modes

Failure mode is the manner by which a earthquake induced failure is observed. It, generally, describes the way the failure occurs. Though costly and time consuming, learning from each real earthquake failure remains a routine recipe for advancement in seismic design methods. Below, some typical modes of earthquake-generated failures are presented. For information on the photographer and/or the agency that released corresponding images, usually accompanied with brief comments which were used, with sincere gratitude, here and there in this Section, click on the thumb nearby.

Typical damage to unreinforced masonry buildings at earthquakes

The lack of reinforcement coupled with poor mortar and inadequate roof-to-wall ties can result in substantial damage to a unreinforced masonry building. Severely cracked or leaning walls are some of the most common earthquake damage. Also hazardous is the damage that may occur between the walls and roof or floor diaphragms. Separation between the framing and the walls can jeopardize the vertical support of roof and floor systems.

Soft story collapse due to inadequate shear strength at ground level, Loma Prieta earthquake

Soft story effect. Absence of adequate shear walls on the ground level caused damage to this structure. A close examination of the image reveals that the rough board siding, once covered by a brick veneer, has been completely dismantled from the studwall. Only the rigidity of the floor above combined with the support on the two hidden sides by continuous walls, not penetrated with large doors as on the street sides, is preventing full collapse of the structure.

Effects of soil liquefaction during the 1964 Niigata earthquake

Soil liquefaction. In the cases where the soil consists of loose granular deposited materials with the tendency to develop excessive hydrostatic pore water pressure of sufficient magnitude and compact, liquefaction of those loose saturated deposits may result in non-uniform settlements and tilting of structures. This caused major damage to thousands of buildings in Niigata, Japan during the 1964 earthquake [27].

Car smashed by landslide rock, 2008 Sichuan earthquake

Landslide rock fall. A landslide is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, including rock falls. Typically, the action of gravity is the primary driving force for a landslide to occur though in this case there was another contributing factor which affected the original slope stability: the landslide required an earthquake trigger before being released.

Effects of pounding against adjacent building, Loma Prieta

Pounding against adjacent building. This is a photograph of the collapsed five-story tower, St. Joseph’s Seminary, Los Altos, California which resulted in one fatality. During Loma Prieta earthquake, the tower pounded against the independently vibrating adjacent building behind. A possibility of pounding depends on both buildings’ lateral displacements which should be accurately estimated and accounted for.

Effects of completely shattered joints of concrete frame, Northridge

At Northridge earthquake, the Kaiser Permanente concrete frame office building had joints completely shattered, revealing inadequate confinement steel, which resulted in the second story collapse. In the transverse direction, composite end shear walls, consisting of two wythes of brick and a layer of shotcrete that carried the lateral load, peeled apart because of inadequate through-ties and failed.

7-story reinforced concrete buildings on steep slope collapse due to the following [28]:

Improper construction site on a foothill.

Poor detailing of the reinforcement (lack of concrete confinement in the columns and at the beam-column joints, inadequate splice length).

Seismically weak soft story at the first floor.

Long cantilevers with heavy dead load.

Shifting from foundation, Whittier

Sliding off foundations effect of a relatively rigid residential building structure during 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. The magnitude 5.9 earthquake pounded the Garvey West Apartment building in Monterey Park, California and shifted its superstructure about 10 inches to the east on its foundation.

If a superstructure is not mounted on a base isolation system, its shifting on the basement should be prevented.

Insufficient shear reinforcement let main rebars to buckle, Northridge

Reinforced concrete column burst at Northridge earthquake due to insufficient shear reinforcement mode which allows main reinforcement to buckle outwards. The deck unseated at the hinge and failed in shear. As a result, the La Cienega-Venice underpass section of the 10 Freeway collapsed.

Support-columns and upper deck failure, Loma Prieta earthquake

Loma Prieta earthquake: side view of reinforced concrete support-columns failure which trigged the upper deck collapse onto the lower deck of the two-level Cypress viaduct of Interstate Highway 880, Oakland, CA.

Failure of retaining wall due to ground movement, Loma Prieta

Retaining wall failure at Loma Prieta earthquake in Santa Cruz Mountains area: prominent northwest-trending extensional cracks up to 12 cm (4.7 in) wide in the concrete spillway to Austrian Dam, the north abutment.

Lateral spreading mode of ground failure, Loma Prieta

Ground shaking triggered soil liquefaction in a subsurface layer of sand, producing differential lateral and vertical movement in a overlying carapace of unliquified sand and silt. This mode of ground failure, termed lateral spreading, is a principal cause of liquefaction-related earthquake damage [29].

Beams and pier columns diagonal cracking, 2008 Sichuan earthquake

Severely damaged building of Agriculture Development Bank of China after 2008 Sichuan earthquake: most of the beams and pier columns are sheared. Large diagonal cracks in masonry and veneer are due to in-plane loads while abrupt settlement of the right end of the building should be attributed to a landfill which may be hazardous even without any earthquake, see video footage at [30].

Tsunami strikes Ao Nang, [8]

Two-fold tsunami impact: sea waves hydraulic pressure and inundation. Thus, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004, with the epicenter off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a series of devastating tsunamis, killing more than 225,000 people in eleven countries by inundating surrounding coastal communities with huge waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. For a video footage of the tsunami propagation, click on [31].

[edit] Earthquake construction

Earthquake construction means implementation of seismic design to enable building and non-building structures to live through the anticipated earthquake exposure up to the expectations and in compliance with the applicable building codes.

Construction of Pearl River Tower X-bracing to resist lateral forces of earthquakes and winds

Design and construction are intimately related. To achieve a good workmanship, detailing of the members and their connections should be, possibly, simple. As any construction in general, earthquake construction is a process that consists of the building, retrofitting or assembling of infrastructure given the construction materials available ^[19].

The destabilizing action of an earthquake on constructions may be direct (seismic motion of the ground) or indirect (earthquake-induced landslides, soil liquefaction and waves of tsunami).

A structure might have all the appearances of stability, yet offer nothing but danger when an earthquake occurs [32]. The crucial fact is that, for safety, earthquake-resistant construction techniques are as important as quality control and using correct materials. Earthquake contractor should be registered in the state of the project location, bonded and insured.

To minimize possible losses, construction process should be organized with keeping in mind that earthquake may strike any time prior to the end of construction.

Each construction project requires a qualified team of professionals who understand the basic features of seismic performance of different structures as well as construction management.

[edit] Adobe structures

Partially collapsed adobe building in Westmorland, California

One half of the world’s population lives or works in the buildings made of earth.^[20] Adobe type of mud bricks is one of the oldest and most widely used building materials. The use of adobe is very common in some of the world’s most hazard-prone regions, traditionally across Latin America, Africa, Indian subcontinent and other parts of Asia, Middle East and Southern Europe.

Adobe buildings are considered very vulnerable at strong quakes [33]. However, multiple ways of seismic strengthening of new and existing adobe buildings are available, see, e.g., [34].

Key factors for the improved seismic performance of adobe construction are:

Quality of construction.
Compact, box-type layout.
Seismic reinforcement [35].

[edit] Limestone and sandstone structures

Base-isolated City and County Building, Salt Lake City, Utah

Limestone is very common in architecture, especially in North America and Europe. Many landmarks across the world, including the pyramids in Egypt, are made of limestone. Many medieval churches and castles in Europe are made of limestone and sandstone masonry. They are the long-lasting materials but their rather heavy weight is not beneficial for adequate seismic performance.

Application of modern technology to seismic retrofitting can enhance the survivability of unreinforced masonry structures. As an example, from 1973 to 1989, the Salt Lake City and County Building in Utah was exhaustively renovated and repaired with an emphasis on preserving historical accuracy in appearance. This was done in concert with a seismic upgrade that placed the weak sandstone structure on base isolation foundation to better protect it from earthquake damage.

[edit] Timber frame structures

Half-timbered museum buildings, Denmark, date from 1560

Timber framing dates back thousands of years, and has been used in many parts of the world during various periods such as ancient Japan, Europe and medieval England in localities where timber was in good supply and building stone and the skills to work it were not.

The use of timber framing in buildings provides their complete skeletal framing which offers some structural benefits as the timber frame, if properly engineered, lends itself to better seismic survivability ^[21].

[edit] Light-frame structures

A two-story wooden-frame for a residential building structure

Light-frame structures usually gain seismic resistance from rigid plywood shear walls and wood structural panel diaphragms [36]. Special provisions for seismic load-resisting systems for all engineered wood structures requires consideration of diaphragm ratios, horizontal and vertical diaphragm shears, and connector/fastener values. In addition, collectors, or drag struts, to distribute shear along a diaphragm length are required.

[edit] Reinforced masonry structures

Reinforced hollow masonry wall

A construction system where steel reinforcement is embedded in the mortar joints of masonry or placed in holes and after filled with concrete or grout is called reinforced masonry [37].

Devastating 1933 Long Beach earthquake revealed that masonry construction should be improved immediately. Then, the California State Code made the reinforced masonry mandatory.

There are various practices and techniques to achieve reinforced masonry. The most common type is the reinforced hollow unit masonry. The effectiveness of both vertical and horizontal reinforcement strongly depends on the type and quality of the masonry, i.e. masonry units and mortar.

To achieve a ductile behavior of masonry, it is necessary that the shear strength of the wall is greater than the tensile strength of reinforcement to ensure a kind of bending failure ^[22].

[edit] Reinforced concrete structures

Stressed Ribbon pedestrian bridge over the Rogue River, Grants Pass, Oregon

Reinforced concrete is concrete in which steel reinforcement bars (rebars) or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen a material that would otherwise be brittle. It can be used to produce beams, columns, floors or bridges.

Prestressed concrete is a kind of reinforced concrete used for overcoming concrete’s natural weakness in tension. It can be applied to beams, floors or bridges with a longer span than is practical with ordinary reinforced concrete. Prestressing tendons (generally of high tensile steel cable or rods) are used to provide a clamping load which produces a compressive stress that offsets the tensile stress that the concrete compression member would, otherwise, experience due to a bending load.

To prevent catastropic collapse in response earth shaking (in the interest of life safety), a traditional reinforced concrete frame should have ductile joints. Depending upon the methods used and the imposed seismic forces, such buildings may be immediately usable, require extensive repair, or may have to be demolished.

[edit] Prestressed structures

Prestressed structure is the one whose overall integrity, stability and security depend, primarily, on a prestressing. Prestressing means the intentional creation of permanent stresses in a structure for the purpose of improving its performance under various service conditions^[23].

Naturally pre-compressed exterior wall of Colosseum, Rome

There are the following basic types of prestressing:

Pre-compression (mostly, with the own weight of a structure)
Pretensioning with high-strength embedded tendons
Post-tensioning with high-strength bonded or unbonded tendons

Prestressed concrete cable-stayed bridge over Yangtze river

Today, the concept of prestressed structure is widely engaged in design of buildings, underground structures, TV towers, power stations, floating storage and offshore facilities, nuclear reactor vessels, and numerous kinds of bridge systems^[24].

A beneficial idea of prestressing was, apparently, familiar to the ancient Rome architects; look, e.g., at the tall attic wall of Colosseum working as a press for the wall piers beneath.

[edit] Steel structures

Collapsed section of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge in response to Loma Prieta earthquake

Steel structures are considered mostly earthquake resistant but their resistance should never be taken for granted^[^{citation needed}^]. A great number of welded steel moment frame buildings, which looked earthquake-proof, surprisingly experienced brittle behavior and were hazardously damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. After that, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initiated development of repair techniques and new design approaches to minimize damage to steel moment frame buildings in future earthquakes.^[25]

For structural steel seismic design based on Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach, it is very important to assess ability of a structure to develop and maintain its bearing resistance in the inelastic range. A measure of this ability is ductility, which may be observed in a material itself, in a structural element, or to a whole structure.

As a consequence of Northridge earthquake experience, all pre-qualified connection details and design methods contained in the building codes of that time have been rescinded. The new provisions stipulated that new designs be substantiated by testing or by use of test-verified calculations.^[^{citation needed}^]

[edit] Prediction of earthquake losses

Earthquake loss estimation is usually defined as a Damage Ratio (DR) which is a ratio of the earthquake damage repair cost to the total value of a building^[26]. Probable Maximum Loss (PML) is a common term used for earthquake loss estimation, but it lacks a precise definition. In 1999, ASTM E2026 ‘Standard Guide for the Estimation of Building Damageability in Earthquakes’ was produced in order to standardize the nomenclature for seismic loss estimation, as well as establish guidelines as to the review process and qualifications of the reviewer^[27].

Earthquake loss estimations are also referred to as Seismic Risk Assessments. The risk assessment process generally involves determining the probability of various ground motions coupled with the vulnerability or damage of the building under those ground motions. The results are defined as a percent of building replacement value.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Earthquake engineering

Earthquake engineering at the Open Directory Project

Structures and Seismic Activity (v)

[edit] References

^ Berg, Glen V. (1983). Seismic Design Codes and Procedures. EERI. ISBN 0943198259.
^ ^a ^b Seismology Committee (1999). Recommended Lateral Force Requirements and Commentary. Structural Engineers Association of California.
^ Omori, F. (1900). Seismic Experiments on the Fracturing and Overturning of Columns. Publ. Earthquake Invest. Comm. In Foreign Languages, N.4, Tokyo.
^ Chopra, Anil K. (1995). Dynamics of Structures. Prentice Hall. ISBN 0138552142.
^ Newmark, N.M.; Hall, W.J. (1982). Earthquake Spectra and Design. EERI. ISBN 0943198224.
^ Clough, Ray W.; Penzien, Joseph (1993). Dynamics of Structures. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0070113947.
^ “The NIED ‘E-Defence’ Laboratory in Miki City“]. http://www.bosai.go.jp/hyogo/ehyogo/. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
^ ^a ^b Lindeburg, Michael R.; Baradar, Majid (2001). Seismic Design of Building Structures. Professional Publications. ISBN 1888577525.
^ Chu, S.Y.; Soong, T.T.; Reinhorn, A.M. (2005). Active, Hybrid and Semi-Active Structural Control. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0470013524.
^ Live Event Q&As
^ Clark,Liesl; First Inhabitants PBS online, Nova; updated Nov. 2000
^ Zayas, Victor A. et al. (1990). A Simple Pendulum Technique for Achieving Seismic Isolation. Earthquake Spectra. pp. 317, Vol.6, No.2. ISBN 0087552930.
^ Elevated Foundation for Earthquake Protection of Building Structures
^ Housner, George W.; Jennings, Paul C. (1982). Earthquake Design Criteria. EERI. ISBN 1888577525.
^ Edited by Farzad Naeim (1989). Seismic Design Handbook. VNR. ISBN 0442269226.
^ Arnold, Christopher; Reitherman, Robert (1982). Building Configuration & Seismic Design. A Wiley-Interscience Publication. ISBN 0471861383.
^ Robert W. Day (2007). Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Handbook. McGraw Hill. ISBN 0713778294.
^ Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes
^ Edited by Dr. Robert Lark (2007). Bridge Design, Construction and Maintenance. Thomas Telford. ISBN 0727735934.
^ “Earth Architecture – the Book, Synopsis”. http://www.eartharchitecture.org/. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
^ Timber Design & Construction Sourcebook=Gotz, Karl-Heinz et al.. McGraw-Hall. 1989. ISBN 0070238510.
^ Ekwueme, Chukwuma G.; Uzarski, Joe (2003). Seismic Design of Masonry Using the 1997 UBC. Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada.
^ Nilson, Arthur H. (1987). Design of Prestressed Concrete. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0471830720.
^ Nawy, Edward G. (1989). Prestressed Concrete. Prentice Hall. ISBN 0136983758.
^ [1]
^ EERI Endowment Subcommittee (May 2000). Financial Management of Earthquake Risk. EERI Publication. ISBN 0943198216.
^ Eugene Trahern (1999). “Loss Estimation”. http://www.cccengr.com/cccengerwebpage_lossestimation.html.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_engineering“

http://www.curee.org/

The Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREE), is a non-profit organization, established in 1988, devoted to the advancement of earthquake engineering research, education and implementation.

The Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREE) is a non-profit organization, established in 1988, devoted to the advancement of earthquake engineering research, education and implementation.

9th US National & 10th Canadian Conference on Earthquake Engineering -
July 25-29, 2010 – Toronto [read more]
CUREE Newletter : Golden Gate Bridge Outdoor Exhibition Project [read more]
Winner of the prestigious 2008 SEAOC Excellence in Engineering Award -
General Guidelines for the Assessment and Repair of Earthquake Damage in Residential Woodframe Buildings edited by J. Osteraas
NEES Research Program Funds Grand Challenge on Ceiling-Piping-Partition Systems – The vision of this Grand Challenge research project is to significantly enhance the seismic resilience of buildings and communities, by providing practicing engineers and architects with verified tools and guidelines for the understanding, prediction and improvement of the seismic response of the ceiling-piping-partition nonstructural system. [read more]
The family of Professor Hugh McNiven of the University of California at Berkeley has announced the sad news that he died on December 7, 2009. A memorial service will be held on January 31 at the U.C. Berkeley Faculty Club. [read more]
CUREE Education and Outreach Services: [learn more]
Information from NSF on NEESR Awards: [see complete listing]

NEHRP Seismic Design Technical Brief No.2 – Seismic Design of Steel Special Moment Frames: A Guide for Practicing Engineers - by R. Hamburger, H. Krawinkler, J. Malley, and S. Adan [read more]
Building Bridges Between Civil Engineers and Science Museums – funded by the Informal Science Education branch of NSF, this monograph completed by CUREE is now available for a free PDF download [read more]
Earthquake Damage and Assessment and Repair Project:
limited quantities available
General Guidelines for the Assessment and Repair of Earthquake Damage in Residential Woodframe Buildings edited by J. Osteraas
Earthquake Spectra Special Issue II: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake:
An Earthquake Engineering Retrospective 100 Years Later
edited by W. Holmes and R. Reitherman
CUREE-Caltech Woodframe Project:
Recommendations for Earthquake Resistance in the Design and Construction of Woodframe Buildings by K. Cobeen, J. Russell, and J. D. Dolan

BOOKS by CUREE MEMBERS

Felix Candela – Engineer, Builder, Structural Artist
M. Garlock and D. Billington

Structure and Design
G. G. Schierle

Design of Wood Structures-ASD/LRFD (6th edition)
D. E. Breyer, K. J. Fridley, K. E. Cobeen, and D. G. Pollock

Snow Loads – Guide to the Snow Load Provisions of ASCE 7-05
M. O’Rouke

Displacement-Based Seismic Design of Structures
M. J. N. Priestley, G. M. Calvi, and M. J. Kowalsky

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On this day in history, the February 22, 1981 Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia Earthquake occurred.

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Conference Updates

NSF and CAEE Travel Grants Available for Students, Early Academics, and Early Professionals

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering (CAEE) have made US $50,000 and Can $10,000 available to award travel grants to students, early academics, and early professionals to defray travel costs for attending the 9th US National and 10th Canadian Conference on Earthquake Engineering (9USN/10CCEE). Awards made from NSF funds are limited to students and early academics who reside in the U.S., attend a U.S. university, or teach at a U.S. university as of March 1, 2010. Awards made from Canadian funds can be made to students, early academics, and early professionals who reside in Canada as of March 1, 2010. These grants are being coordinated by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). All recipients will be expected to contribute 4 hours of voluntary service during the conference. We anticipate funding up to 50 U.S. participants and up to 20 Canadian participants. The award criteria, application procedure, and deadlines are described in the full article. READ MORE…

800 9USN/10CCEE Papers Received

The Technical Program Committee of the 9th U.S. National and 10th Canadian Conference on Earthquake Engineering (9USN/10CCEE) is pleased to announce that nearly 800 papers have been submitted to the online submission web site. The committee, co-chaired by professors Shamim Sheikh of the University of Toronto and Catherine French of the University of Minnesota, estimate 1,500 attendees from all over the world. They are planning for approximately 100 technical sessions, including several panel discussions, augmented by two plenary sessions and six special sessions with invited speakers, as well as poster sessions.

Authors will be notified of paper acceptance (or tentative acceptance if revisions are required) by January 31, 2010, with final papers due by March 20, 2010. All accepted papers, whether presented orally or as posters, will be published in the conference proceedings CD-ROM provided as part of the registration package.

Dates for Conference and Excursions

With the theme of “Reaching Beyond Borders,” the 9USN/10CCEE is scheduled for July 25-29, 2010, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Technical tours are planned for the SkyDome on Sunday and the CN Tower Monday evening, immediately after sessions end. An all-day field trip on Friday will tour Niagara Power Plant and Niagara Falls in the morning, followed by lunch at Queens Landing and a visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake in the afternoon.

Co-sponsors

So far, 30 organizations are co-sponsoring the conference, and more are expected to sign on. Members of co-sponsoring organizations will receive the EERI-CAEE member rate for the conference registration fee.

The Tsunami Society will hold its Fourth International Tsunami Symposium, July 25 – 29, 2010 in conjunction with the 9USN/10CCEE.

FINANCIAL CO-SPONSORS:

Degenkolb Engineers

DOE

FEMA / DHS

MCEER

NSF

USGS

US NRC

Click here to see a list of our other co-sponsors.

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List of Exhibitors

as of February 8, 2010

Booth# — Occupant

218	ATC
208 and 210	Digitexx Data Systems
220	Dynamic Isolation Systems
109 and 111	EERI
100 and 102	FEMA
123	FYFECO
222	GeoConstruction
112	International Code Council
224	Kamatics
103 and 202	Kinemetrics
222	Layne GeoConstruction
204	MCEER

111	Nanometrics
214 and 216	NEES
110	NICEE
105	PEER Center
114	Reftek
106	R.J.Watson
115 and 117	Schnell SPA
108	Seismic Energy Products
107	SPI Housing
206	Taylor Devices
122 and 124	THK America Inc
300 and 302	USGS
125	Wiss Janney Elstner

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499 14th Street, Suite 320
Oakland, CA 94612

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161 Louis Pasteur St.
Ottawa, ON., K1N 6N5 Canada

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As the major initiative of the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007 – 2009, Antarctica’s Gamburtsev Province Project (AGAP) investigates the Gamburtsev subglacial mountain range in the East Antarctic. Aerogeophysical surveys and ground-based seismological studies are being conducted by scientists from the United States, Germany, China, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan to better understand why a mountain system the size of the Alps is located in the middle of the continent. The mountain range is completely covered by 600m of ice and snow.

As part of AGAP, the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, designed GAMSEIS (Gamburtsev Antarctic Mountains Seismic Experiment) to determine what is driving the mountains upward and how they may have contributed to the formation of the East Antarctic Ice sheet.

Nanometrics is pleased to announce a new generation in broadband seismometry.

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An award-winning Canadian exporter, Nanometrics was the first company to produce a fully-integrated satellite system specially designed for studying and monitoring earthquakes.

Customers

Nanometrics has customers on every continent in more than 100 different countries. Our customers have used our technology to establish and grow research networks across every environment in the world from the frozen tundra of Canada’s north to the arid deserts of the Middle East to the jungles of South America. Many of these include mission-critical national and regional networks that demand the highest possible data quality and availability.
History

Nanometrics was founded by Robin Hayman, and has since grown to more than 100 full-time staff with a head office and production facility located in Ottawa in the Kanata North Business Park, the high-tech heart of Canada’s capital region.

ATC-15-12

April 20-22, 2010

Big Island, Hawaii

Call for Abstracts and Registration Information

ATC Publications in Highest Demand

	1. ATC-20-1, Field Manual: Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings (Second Edition)
	2. ATC-45, Field Manual: Safety Evaluation of Buildings after Wind Storms and Floods
	3. ATC-20 Set, Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings & Companion Addendum
	4. ATC-20-3, Case Studies in Rapid Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings

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RefTek

Welcome to Refraction Technology, Inc. (REF TEK), your UNSHAKABLE source of digital recording instruments for imaging studies and earthquake research. We strive to give you the most technically advanced range of products available, support your work through top-notch customer service and stay one step ahead of your needs through continuing research. Please feel free to contact a sales person or engineer to answer your questions or help you find the right system for your application.

http://www.reftek.com/

RJ Watson, Inc.

R.J. Watson is a world wide designer, manufacturer and supplier of Bridge Bearings, Seismic Isolation Disk Bearings, Multirotational Disk Bearings, Bridge Expansion Joints, Fiber Composites and Spray Applied Membrane for the Bridge & Highway Industry.

http://www.rjwatson.com/

(My note – why aren’t the manufacturers and engineers involved with reinforcing polymer fabrics – not at this show where the designers and engineers for earthquake resistant design are attending who would integrate these products into their menu of options for building constructions and engineering?)

NICEE

National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering, at IIT Kanpur, INDIA

http://www.nicee.org/

National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering
at IIT Kanpur, INDIA

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		The Structural Engineer A Center for Integrating Information on Structural Engineering

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Show only this author’s papers (ASCE), American Society of Civil Engineers Abdelrazaq, A. Abou-Hanna, J. Abraham, E.J. Abrams, D. Accord, N.B. Adamchack, J.C. Adams, J. Adamson, D. Adan, S.M. Adany, S. Afshar, A. Agrawal, S.K. Agrawal, A.K. Aguiar, B. Aguilar, Z. Ahmad, S. Ahmed, M.S. Ahmed, O. Ahmed, E.U. Ahmed, I. Ahn, I.-S. Ahner, C. Akguzel, U. Aktas, M. Al-Ali, A.A.K. Al-Omaishi, N. Al-Salloum, Y.A. Alam, J.B Alarcon, J. Alavi, B. Alcocer, S.M. Alexander, S.D.B. Alfawakhiri, F. Ali, Q. Ali, S.I. Alimoradi, A. Alkhrdaji, T. Allen, R. Almeida, J.C Almusallam, T.H. Alsayed, S.H. Aluminiumwalla, M. Alva-Hurtado, J. Alves, J.L.D. Alves, T.M.J. Amaris, A. Ameli, M. Amiruddin, A.A. Amrhein, W.A. Anagnos, T. Anderson, R. Anderson, D.L. Anderson, J. Anderson-Wilk, M. Andrade, A. Andre, G.P. Angal, R.D. Ankenman, B.E. Anooshehpoor, R. Antunes, J. Anzani, A. Aquado, P. Aquino, W. Arciszewski, T. Arede, A. Aref, A.J. Arlekar, J.N. Arnold, S. Arora, D. Arslan, M.H. Arslan, G. Arteaga, A. 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Isoyama, R. Isyumov, N. Itani, A. Ito, S. Ivanyi, M. Iwai, S. Iwankiw, N.R. Iwasaki, T. J., Panda Jackson, H.W. Jacobson, D.A. Jahanshahi, M. Jain, S.K. Jain, A.K. Jaiswal, O.R. Jaiswal, A. Jalali, S. Jansohn, R. Jatulis, D. Javed, M. Jeffs, P.A. Jennings, P.C. Jensen, J.P. Jeong, S.-H. Ji, J. Ji, C. Jin, M. Johansson, J. Johanssons, J. Johnson, L. Johnson, N. Johnston, A. Jones, S.E. Joon, L.S. Joshi, M. Joshi, H.R. Josi, G. Juan, W. Juhas, P. Juozapaitis, A. Juska, T. Juvas, K. Kabat, S. Kabele, P. Kabeyasawa, T. Kaewkulchai, G. Kai, M. Kaklauskas, G. Kala, J. Kala, Z. Kaliszky, S. Kalpakidis, I. Kam, W.Y. Kamat, M.K. Kanda, T. Kanda, K. Kang, T.H.-K. Kanstad, T. Kantor, J.C. Kanvinde, A.M. Kappi, A. Kara, M.E. Karbhari, V.M. Kareem, A. Karim, K.R. Karr, M.E. Kase, B. Kashiryfar, A. Kaufmann, E.J. Kaushik, H.B. Kaushik, S.K. Kaveh, A. Kawano, H. Kawano, A. Kayvani, K. Kazemi, M.T. Keller, C. Kelly, J.M. Kendall, A. Kennedy, D.J.L. Kennedy, S.J. Kennedy, G.D. Kenyon, J.M. 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Kuthinh, D. Kutter, B.L. Kuzik, M.D. Kvedaras, A.K. Kwak, H.G. Kwak, Y.K. Kwan, Y.K. Kwon, O.-S. Kwon, D.K. Kyungha, P. LaBelle, J. LaBoube, R.A. Lagomarsino, S. Lai, H.C.J. Lai, W. Lal, R. Lamanna, A.J. Lang, K. Lange, D.A. Langenbach, R. Laplace, P.N. Larmie, E.A. Lawler, J.S. Lecce, M. Ledezma, C. Lee, D. Lee, T.-H. Lee, H.-J. Lee, B.J. Lee, K. Lee, R. Lehman, D.E. Lennon, T. Leon, R. Leon, E. Lepech, M. Lesko, J.J. Lesse, M. Lestuzzi, P. Leung, C.-K. Levesque, A.P. Lew, M. Lew, H.S. Leyendecker, E.V. Li, J. Li, Y.F. Li, V.C. Li, C. Liel, A. Lignola, G.P. Lim, Y.M. Lim, H.S. Limaye, R.G. Lin, C.-C.J. Lin, F.-B. Lindvall, A. Lineham, K. Liroux, V. Little, J. Liu, Z. Liu, H. Liu, Y.K. Liu, C. Liu, J.B. Liu, S.-L. V. Liu, L. Lizundia, B. Loftus, P. Logo, J. Lohrmann, G. Lombaert, G. Longstreth, M. Longworth, J. Lopez, P. Lopez Garcia, D. Lopez-Garcia, D. Losiriluk, T. Lourenco, P.B. Lu, W. Lu, X.Z. Lu, P.-C. Lubell, A.S. Lubkowski, Z.A. Lucien, M.P. Lui, G.K. Luigi, C. Luise, M. 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TNO DIANA BV is a renowned International Software Company for FEA applications in civil and geotechnical engineering, with one of the strongest and most advanced solver capabilities in the world.

Course Announcement: Non-linear Analysis using DIANA: Applications to Structural and Geotechnical Engineering

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7th International DIANA Users Meeting

TNO DIANA BV and the DIANA Users Association are honoured to announce the 7th International DIANA Users Meeting, which will be held in Brescia, Italy, from 17 -18 June 2010. The event will be hosted by University of Brescia.

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TNO DIANA BV is pleased to invite you to its promotional training course on 3D Finite Element Analysis for Geotechnical & Tunnel Engineering. The course will be held on 4-5 March 2010. The training course consists of a balanced mixture of lectures and hands-on computer analyses with midas GTS finite element software.

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plane strain vs plane stress

By salahqudah – Posted on 13 February 2010

where can I use plane strain and plane stress?
if I have a portal frame : column 600×600 mm and beam 600x800mm, which element type is suitable?

‹ 3D Interface Element Unable to use graphic input ›

define confined concrete behavior

By Yihai – Posted on 18 February 2010

I was using total strain crack model with predefined compressive curve (THOREN) and lateral influence option (CNFCRV: VECCHI). However, compared with the increase of compressive strength, the increase of ultimate strain is very limited. The residual strength is also not presented. I tried with user defined curve but it can not work with the lateral influence option. Any idea will be appreciated.

‹ Staggered Heat and stability analysis 3D Interface Element ›

Advantages of QuakeWrap®

Fiber Composites offer a number of advantages compared to conventional repair and retrofit systems. These advantages have resulted in exponential increase in the use of these materials since the early 1990s.

Some of the salient features of QuakeWrap® are listed here:

High tensile strength
Low weight (little change to the mass of structure means no foundation adjustments required)
Corrosion resistance
Thermal compatibility with common construction materials, e.g. concrete
Excellent fatigue behavior
Fast speed of construction
Products are light and can be handled without the need for any lifting equipment on job site
Versatility to be applied to non-flat surfaces
Odorless (extremely important when the structure is occupied)
Low cost

While the cost for FRP materials is higher than conventional construction materials, the savings resulting from shorter construction time, and minimal disturbance of occupants, generally result in lower overall construction cost.

Seismic Repair and Strengthening of Concrete Columns with Glass or Carbon FRP

Glass FRP and Carbon FRP can provide significant lateral confinement for concrete columns or bridge piers. While spiral columns have in general performed well in past earthquakes, the above shortcomings have resulted in failure of many tied columns such as the one shown on the right.

The solution is to externally confine the column. External confinement increases the strength of the concrete, but more importantly for seismic applications, the strain at failure of the concrete (i.e. ductility) increases significantly. Among the advantages of retrofitting columns with Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) are:

Increases Ductility
Increases Shear Strength
Improves Bond in Starter Bars
Conforms to Various Cross Sections
Requires Minimum Access
Costs Less than Conventional Methods

Research and Development

QuakeWrap principals were the first research team in the U.S. to receive a 3-year grant from the National Science Foundation in 1991 to study the behavior of columns retrofitted with fiber composite jackets. Both repair and retrofit of circular and rectangular columns with active and passive confinement were examined. The findings of this extensive study have been published in several journal articles dealing with such topics as confinement effects on circular and rectangular columns and repair of earthquake-damaged columns. A number of other researchers have also studied this problems and a sample of those technical papers is also available.

Columns were subjected to an axial load of 100 kips that remained constant throughout the test while the top of the columns were subjected to reversed cyclic loading, simulating earthquake motions. Retrofitted specimens continued to resist additional lateral loads during consecutive loading cycles and testing usually had to be stopped because the maximum displacement of the testing equipment was reached.

Case Studies

A sample of projects where Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) have been used to strengthen reinforced concrete columns are listed below. By clicking on each project, you will be able to view specific information on each project.

For detailed field installation procedures click here.

— Phone: +1-520-791-7000 | Toll Free: 1-866-QuakeWrap [782-5397] —
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© 1994-2010 QuakeWrap, Inc. | Product Warranty

http://www.quakewrap.com/Seismic-Repair-and-Strengthening-of-Concrete-Columns-with-Glass-or-Carbon-FRP.php

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Editor’s Note

Timber Beams Strengthened with GFRP Bars: Development and Applications
Repair and rehabilitation of infrastructure is becoming increasingly important for bridges due to material deterioration and limited capacity to accommodate current load levels. An experimental progra…

J. Compos. for Constr. / Volume 6 / Issue 1 / TECHNICAL PAPERS

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Ductile Anchorage for Connecting FRP Strengthening of Under-Reinforced Masonry Buildings

J. Compos. for Constr. Volume 6, Issue 1, pp. 3-10 (February 2002)

Issue Date: February 2002

ABSTRACT

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J. D. Hall,¹ P. M. Schuman,² and H. R. Hamilton III³
¹Graduate Research Assistant, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX 78712.
²Graduate Research Assistant, Univ. of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093.
³Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Fiber-reinforcedpolymer (FRP) composites have been examined as a convenient andcost-effective means of strengthening unreinforced masonry structures. Seismic design inthe United States is almost entirely based on the assumptionthat the structural system provides a ductile failure mode. FRPstrengthened masonry walls inherently have brittle failure modes due tothe nature of the strengthening system. The concept explored inthis article is the introduction of ductility using a hybridstrengthening system. This involves the placement of structural steel orreinforcing steel at critical locations in the lateral force resistingsystem. This article presents the testing and analysis of aductile structural steel connection that can be used to strengthenthe connection of FRP strengthened shear walls to the foundation.The connection also increases energy dissipation. Results indicate that aductile failure mode can be attained when the connection isdesigned to yield prior to the failure of the FRPstrengthening.

History:	Submitted December 20, 1999; accepted January 17, 2001
Permalink:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0268(2002)6:1(3)

ASCE SUBJECT HEADINGS

civil engineering, building, polymers, fibre reinforced composites

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When Dots-On-Plots Just Don’t Cut It Any More – How to Use Interactive 3-D Visualizations to Explore the Fine-Scale Fault Structure of Southern California (Based on Focal Mechanism Catalog Data)
Kilb, Debi (IGPP/SIO), Jeanne Hardebeck (USGS), and Kristoffer T. Walker (IGPP/SIO)

Fed up with GMT but just can’t seem to break free of the 2-D flat-map world? Too intimidated by the large learning curve for software required to manipulate and view your data in 3D? Resigned to the idea that whatever you need to do, you can do in MATLAB? An intermediate solution is to use the iView3D freeware (http://www.ivs.unb.ca/products/iview3d; runs on multiple platforms) to interactively explore geo-referenced 3D data, to easily toggle on/off different data from view, and to set topography and bathymetry maps transparent for aiding in correlation of surface and sub-surface features. With (HASH) focal mechanism catalogs, we have used the iview3D associated Fledermaus software to create 3-D visualizations of the fine-scale fault structure in southern California. The end products are 3-D visualizations that, for each of the >6000 individual earthquakes, include: (1) a sphere in 3-D space representing the earthquake’s latitude, longitude and depth, (2) a rectangle oriented with respect to the strike and dip of the fault (both nodal planes can be included), and (3) color coding to highlight differences among the data such as rake, dip, method used to compute the focal mechanisms (FPFIT or HASH), or temporal behavior. In this way, our initial results show that the fine-scale fault structure in southern California is extremely heterogeneous in comparison with the simple fault structure of the San Andreas Fault near Parkfield and the Hayward fault in the Bay area. Future plans are to scale the sub-faults by magnitude and extend our study region so we can compare and contrast fine-scale fault complexity in different tectonic settings and incorporate the larger-scale results from the SCEC Community Fault Model (CFM) project (http://structure.harvard.edu/cfm/). These visualizations will be distributed through the visual objects library at the SIO Visualization Center (http://www.siovizcenter.ucsd.edu/library/objects).

Deep Bay

Crater Name	Location	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter (km)	Age (Ma)*	Exposed	Drilled	Target Rock**	Bolide Type***
Deep Bay	Saskatchewan, Canada	N 56° 24′	W 102° 59′	13	99 ± 4	N	Y	C	-

SIR-B (Shuttle) image; Vertical view
Space Shuttle Image STS59-L08-63
***

DEM (High Resolution image available)

References

1. Beals, C. S., Halliday, I., Impact craters of the Earth and Moon. Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, v. 59, p. 208. 1965.

2. Beals, C. S., Innes, M.J.S. and Rottenberg,J.A., Fossil meteorite craters. Middlehurst, B.M. and Kuiper, G.P., eds., The Moon, Meteorites and Comets, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, v. IV, pp. 235-284. 1963.

3. Beals, C. S., Innes, M.J.S. and Rottenberg,J.A., The search for fossil meteorite craters. Ottawa Dominion Observatory Contributions, v. 4, pp. 1-31. 1960.

4. Bertaud, C., The Deep Bay fossil meteorite crater (in French). Astronomie, v. 79, pp. 329-331. 1965.

5. Clark, J. F., Magnetic survey data at meteoritic impact sites in North America. Geomagnetic Service of Canada, Earth Physics Branch Open File # 83-5, 30 p. 1983.

6. Cockell, C. S., Lee, P., The Biology of Impact Craters – a review. Biol. Rev., 77, P. 279 – 310. 2002.

7. Currie, K. L., Analogues of lunar craters on the Canadian shield. New York Academy of Sciences, Annals, v. 123, pp. 915-940. 1965.

8. Dabizha, A. I., Ivanov, B. A., A geophysical model of the structure of meteorite craters and some problems of the mechanics of crater formation (in Russian). Meteoritika, v. 37, pp. 160-167. 1978.

9. Dabizha, A. I., A new interpretation of the structure of meteorite craters (in Russian). Astronomicheskii Vestnik, v. 11, pp. 73-77. 1977.

10. Dabizha, A. I., Fedynsky, V. V., Features of the gravitational field of astroblemes (in Russian). Meteoritika, v. 36, pp. 113-120. 1977.

11. Dabizha, A. I., Fedynsky, V. V., The Earth’s “star wounds” and their diagnosis by geophysical methods (in Russian). “Zemlya i Vselennaya”, v. 3, pp. 56-64. 1975.

12. Dence, M. R., Innes, M.J.S. and Robertson,P.B., Recent geological and geophysical studies of Canadian craters. in Shock Metamorphism of Natural Materials, eds. B. M. French and N. M. Short, Mono Book Corp., Baltimore, MD, pp. 339-362. 1968.

13. Dence, M. R., A comparative structural and petrographic study of probable Canadian meteorite craters. Meteoritics, v. 2, pp. 249-270. 1964.

14. Dent, B. E., Gravity model of the Deep Bay, Saskatchewan impact crater. Thesis, Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, California, 36 p. 1973.

15. Dent, B. E., Three dimensional gravity model of the Deep Bay, Saskatchewan impact crater (abstract). EOS, v. 53, p. 1036. 1972.

16. Grieve, R. A. F., The record of impact on Earth: Implications for a major Cretaceous/Tertiary impact event. Geological Society of America, Special Paper 190, pp. 25-37. 1982.

17. Grieve, R. A. F., Robertson, P. B., The terrestrial cratering record. 1. Current status of observations. Icarus, v. 38, pp. 212-229. 1979.

18. Gurov, E. P., Gurova, E. P., Impact structures on the Earth’s surface (in Russian). Geologicheskii Zhurnal, v. 47, pp. 117-124. 1987.

19. Innes, M. J. S., Recent advances in meteorite crater research at the Dominion Observatory, Ottawa, Canada. Meteoritics, v. 2, pp. 6-12. 1964.

20. Innes, M. J. S., Pearson, W.J. and Geuer,J.W., The Deep Bay crater. Ottawa Dominion Observatory Publications, v. 31, pp. 19-52. 1964.

21. Innes, M. J. S., The use of gravity methods to study the underground structure and impact energy of meteorite craters. Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 66, pp. 2225-2239. 1961.

22. Innes, M. J. S., A possible meteorite crater at Deep Bay, Saskatchewan. Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Journal, v. 51, pp. 235-240. 1957.

23. Krinov, E. L., Meteorite craters on the surface of the Earth. Beynon, M.M., ed., Giant Meteorites, Pergamon Press, New York, pp. 75-76. 1966.

24. Krinov, E. L., Meteorite craters on the Earth’s surface. Middlehurst, B.M. and Kuiper, G.P., eds., The Moon, Meteorites and Comets, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, v. IV, pp. 183-207. 1963.

25. Masaitis, V. L., Danilin, A.N., Maschak, M.S., Raykhlin, A.I., Selivanovskaya, T.V. and Shadenkov,Ye.M., The Geology of Astroblemes (in Russian). Leningrad, Nedra, 231 p. 1980.

26. Ogilvie, B. Y., Robertson, B. and Grieve,R.A.F., Meteorite impact features in Canada: An inventory and an evaluation. Unpublished Report, 180 p. 1984.

27. Pilkington, M., Grieve, R. A. F., The geophysical signature of terrestrial impact craters (abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XXIII, pp.1073-1074. 1992.

28. Robertson, P. B., Dence, M. and Vos,M.A., Deformation in rock-forming minerals from Canadian craters. French, B.M. and Short, N.M., eds., Shock Metamorphism of Natural Materials, Mono Book Corp., Baltimore, MD, pp. 433-452. 1968.

29. Sander, G. W., Overton, A. and Bataille,R., Seismic and magnetic investigation of the Deep Bay crater. Ottawa Dominion Observatory Contributions, v. 5, 15 p. 1964.

30. Scott, R. G., Pilkington, M., Tanczyk, E.I. and Grieve,R.A.F., Magnetic properties of three impact structures in Canada (abstract). Meteoritics, v. 30, pp. 576-577. 1995.

31. Sweet, A. R., Applied research report on 4 mid Cretaceous samples from boreholes in the Deep Bay crater, Northern Saskatshewan, Paleontological Report, Department of Natural Resources Canada 3-ARS-1999. 1999.

32. Zotkin, I. T., Dabizha, A. I., Evolution of a meteorite crater as a process of random displacements (in Russian). Meteoritika, v. 40, pp. 82-90. 1982.

33. Zotkin, I. T., “Moon” craters on the Earth (in Russian). Priroda, v. 9, pp. 95-105. 1969.

* pre-1977 K-Ar, Ar-Ar and Rb-Sr ages recalculated using the decay constants of Steiger and Jager (1977) Ages in millions of years (Ma) before present.

** Abbreviations: C – Crystalline Target; C-Ms – Metasedimetary Target; M – Mixed Target (i.e.sedimentary strata overlying crystalline basement); S – sedimentary target (i.e. no crystalline rocks affected by the impact event). From Osinski. G. R., Spray J. G., and Grieve R. A. F. 2007. Impact melting in sedimentary target rocks: A synthesis. In The Sedimentary Record of Meteorite Impacts, Geological Society of America Special Paper. Editors: Evans K. Horton W., King D., Morrow J., and Warme J. Geological Society of America: Boulder, in press.

*** From Koeberl,C. Identification of meteoritic components in impactites. 1998, Koeberl, C. The Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry of Impacts. 2007 and PASSC Files. (IAB, IIIAB, IIIB, IIID – Iron Meteorite)

Earth Impact Database Sorted by : | Age | Diameter | Name |

Impact Cratering Essay

Earth Impact Database Frequently Asked Questions

PASSC Director: John Spray
Data Manager

Last updated January 30, 2009

Site developed and maintained by
Planetary and Space Science Centre
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Queries to: passc@unb.ca

http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/images/deep-bay.htm

This is the html version of the file http://www.netsurvey.co.uk/files/ivs_flyer.pdf.
Google automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.

Page 1

Interactive Visualization Systems

Description

Fledermaus is a powerful interactive 3D data

visualization system that is used for a variety of

applications including swath bathymetry editing and

quality control, environmental impact assessment,

mining, geology, cable laying and dredge planning. A

wide variety of industry standard formats are

supported for direct import of data to the 3D scene.

Innovative data exploration features including the Bat

(“flying mouse”), allow for intuitive 3D exploration of

spatial data. Fledermaus also allows data from

remotely operated vehicles, ships or other entities, to

be visualized in real-time. Due to its flexible object

oriented software design, Fledermaus can be easily

tailored to support many additional visualization

modules.

Features

• Multiple data sets and types can be visualized and

interactively explored at the same time.

• Integrated support for very large data sets.

• All data sets can be geo-referenced in the

3D scene.

• Users can interactively query data sets to select

coordinates for profiles and measurements.

• Advanced object oriented architecture allows

easy integration of new data types into the system.

• Explorations can be recorded and used to

create movies of data exploration sessions.

• Visualizations can be displayed in 3D stereo.

Tel: (506) 454-4487

Fax: (506) 453-4510

email: info@www.ivs.unb.ca

Web: www.ivs.unb.ca

2 Garland Court

P. O. Box 69000

Fredericton, NB. Canada

E3B 6C2

Page 2

Interactive Visualization Systems

Tel: (506) 454-4487

Fax: (506) 453-4510

email: info@www.ivs.unb.ca

Web: www.ivs.unb.ca

2 Garland Court

P. O. Box 69000

Fredericton, NB. Canada

E3B 6C2

Applications

• Swath Bathymetry Editing and Quality Control

View massive data sets to allow quick and

accurate discrimination of features and artifacts.

• Cable and Pipeline Route Planning

Plan cable or pipeline routes. View route

in 3D with route draped on surface.

• Project Planning

Import many data types for project overview and

work in a team environment.

• Analysis of Seafloor and Sub-Surface Data

Combined visualization of bathymetry, seabed

type and sub-surface data enhances analysis.

Specifications

Data Types

• Digital elevation models, 3D surface plots.

• Gridded and un-gridded spatial data

• Pipelines and cables.

• Seismic sub-surface data.

• Imagery such as satellite imagery, maps,

and aerial photos.

• Measurement planes and grids.

• DXF CAD format and solid models.

• ArcView data (shape files, grids, and imagery).

• Real time tracked objects/ROV module.

• Sounding class for area based edit and

quality control.

Data Capacity

• Integrated support for very large data sets.

• Data set size not limited by software.

Data Processing

• Software allows for the importing of numerous

data formats including ASCII xyz/gridded,

GMT GRD/NetCDF, Etopo5, NOAA Gravity

database, Grass, binary raster data, DTED,

Arcview, ERMapper, and many others.

• No need to resample to a single resolution.

• New data formats are easily added.

• Surfaces are colour coded by height, depth or

any other attribute (such as imagery) that

can be draped over a DTM.

3D Visualization

• Multiple hierarchical data sets can be visualized

and explored at the same time.

• All data sets can be geo-referenced.

• Users can interactively select data points to get

geo-referenced 3D co-ordinates and

perform profiling.

• Advanced object oriented architecture allows easy

integration of new data types into the software.

2D Visualization

• Color-coding can be interactively designed or

modified by the user.

• Surfaces are illuminated with an artificial lighting

and have cast shadows.

• Allows exploration of the data with continuous

zoom and translation abilities.

• Provides profiling, histogram and other tools to

analyze the surface data.

• Users can interactively select data points

to get geo-referenced 3D co-ordinates

and perform profiling.

Movie Making Tools

• Exploration flights recorded to make movies.

Computer Platforms

• SGI and Sun workstations.

• Linux and Windows NT/2000 PCs.

Note: Cover image from USGS Data of Crater Lake

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:VKJpRZLa1G4J:www.netsurvey.co.uk/files/ivs_flyer.pdf+ivs+unb+canada&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

River Watch	Home \| Français

Cooperating Agencies

This recent addition to the River Watch program is the result of a cooperative partnership between New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, the University of New Brunswick, CARIS and the Government of Canada through the GeoConnections program. This application has been developed to provide the public with current and forecast information for the area along the lower Saint John River Valley which has been most frequently subjected to open water flooding.

NB Emergency Measures Organization CARIS UNB – Faculty of Computer Science Interactive Visualization Systems Government of Canada

NB Emergency Measures Organization

Protecting People, Property and the Environment

We provided project management and river watch expertise.

For more information: http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/emo-omu/index-e.asp

CARIS

Geospatial Software Solutions

We provided web design, data processing, and the mapping product, Spatial Fusion. We also host these pages.

For more information: http://www.caris.com

University of New Brunswick

Faculty of Computer Science

We designed and implemented web cameras at the following bridges: Princes Margaret, Lakeville Corner Bridge and Burton. We also designed Your Observations.

For more information: http://www.cs.unb.ca

Interactive Visualization Systems (IVS 3D)

We designed the 3D fly through at the 1973 flood levels of the St. John River from the Mactaquac Dam to Oak Point.

For more information: http://www.ivs3d.com

Co-operating Agencies

NB Emergency Measures Organization CARIS University of New Brunswick – Faculty of Computer Science Interactive Visualization Systems (IVS 3D) Government of Canada

Communications New Brunswick

Email | Contacts | Disclaimer | Privacy Statement

http://asp.caris.com/riverwatch/agencies-e.cfm

http://www.ivs3d.com/

LIBRARY

The Library is designed to be an open-source database for images, software tips, development skills and code snippets that help users of the SIO Visualization Center to manipulate and display their data in the best way. The following sections are available for browsing:

VISUAL OBJECTS

This is a place to download visual objects for the classroom, whether you are a high school teacher, college lecturer, professor, or researcher (who needs some material for a talk!). Files are in various flavors, including Quicktime, Flash .SWF, Inventor, Fledermaus SD, MPEG, WAV, AIFF, MP-3, Windows Media Player and VRML1 & 2.

Scene Files

Explore earthquakes, bathymetry, topography and many other datasets in 3D! These scene files were created using the Fledermaus toolkit. You can view these files in Fledermaus or with the free player iView3d.

Movies

Download Quicktime movies, video podcasts, mpeg files. You will need Apple’s Quicktime player to view these.

Online Tools

This section of the library has many Flash tools that you can use to estimate earthquake magnitude or to listen to what an earthquake sounds like! You need a web browser and the Flash plugin to interact with these tools.

Presentations

You just saw a great professional talk or class lecture and you think to yourself that it would be great to incorporate some of that material in your own work. In the presentations portion of our visual objects library, we catalog a collection of PowerPoint and KeyNote presentations that can be used to supplement research talks, classroom lectures or outreach activities.

TUTORIALS

Tutorials

Want to know how to plot lines in a Fledermaus .sd file? Or maybe create a QuickTime movie on the SGI? How about SGI shortcut keys to reduce the amount of finger-tapping?

LIBRARY / LINKS

ASSOCIATED RESEARCH PROJECTS

The SIO Geowall

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS

GRAPHICS CARDS

DISCUSSION FORUMS

Geowall Consortium

TUTORIALS

STEVE REYNOLDS BRYCE PAGES
http://geology.asu.edu/~sreynolds/
http://geology.asu.edu/~sreynolds/geologic_scenery/bryce_dem_info.htm

GEOPHYSICAL INFORMATION & FREEWARE PROGRAMS

SEISMIC ERUPTION PROGRAM (WORKS ONLY ON WINDOWS)
http://www.showmegeology.org/seismic-eruption_1.htm

THE BROADBAND SEISMIC DATA COLLECTION CENTER AT IGPP
http://www.eqinfo.ucsd.edu/

THE BROADBAND SEISMIC DATA COLLECTION CENTER WEB PAGE ON THE RECENT AFGHANISTAN EARTHQUAKE
http://eqinfo.ucsd.edu/special_events/2002/085/a/index.html

THE BROADBAND SEISMIC DATA COLLECTION CENTER WEB PAGE ON HURRICANE JULLIETE’S INCREASE IN SEISMIC NOISE
http://eqinfo.ucsd.edu/special_events/2001/269/a/index.html

LOCAL EARTHQUAKES THAT ARE RECORDED BY THE BROADBAND SEISMIC DATA COLLECTION CENTER ANZA NETWORK
http://www.eqinfo.ucsd.edu/current_earthquakes/anza/local.html

TEACHING SEISMOLOGY USING EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE
http://www.geo.arizona.edu/%7Eseis.soft.html

INTERESTING EARTHQUAKE FACTS
http://eqinfo.ucsd.edu/~dkilb/blasker/cool_eq_facts.htm

REPORT AN EARTHQUAKE
http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/

EARTHQUAKES WORLD WIDE
http://www.iris.washington.edu/HTM/year.html

EXPLORE A GEYSER IN YELLOWSTONE
http://schwehr.org/yellowstone/

WEBPAGE ON THE 1998 PAPUA NEW GUINEA TSUNAMI, COMPLETE WITH A MOVIE
http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/tsunami/PNGhome.html

http://www.siovizcenter.ucsd.edu/library/links.php

iView4 – viewer download 02-24-10, 3.02 pmET

win64_iview4D.exe

from –

ivs3D.com


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		NICEE has undertaken a range of capacity building activities towards earthquake safety such as organising Literature Review/Curriculum Workshops in Earthquake Engineering for Students and Teachers from Engineering Colleges across India more….
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		Engineering Response to Hazards of Terrorism: This volume contains the articles or power point presentations made during the seminar. The seminar themes included hazard estimations, structural and non-structural mitigaton measures and hazard detection.Authors: Sudhir K. Jain, C.V.R. Murty and D.C. Rai. 398 pages.	450
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Tsunami Inundation Map

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Tsunami Messages for All Regions (Past 10 Days)

Updated tsunami warning system in action

Monitoring network upgraded dramatically since 2004 Asian catastrophe

At least one dead in Argentina quake

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Historic Seismicity

Magnitude 8.8 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 06:34:14 UTC

Entérate Google ayuda a buscar personas en Chile

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Retiran alerta ante posible tsunami en playas de Guerrero

Acapulco out of danger by tsunami

Acapulco fuera de peligro por tsunami

Tectonic Summary

Seismic Hazard Map

Magnitude 8.8 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 06:34:14 UTC

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PAGER – M 8.8 – OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE

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Decades later, U.S. military pollution in Philippines linked to deaths

Toxic fumes leak in Philippine port kills 3

Story Tools

Trackman’s estate sues BNSF over toxic fumes 2/18/2010 10:00 AM By Kelly Holleran

Pan-frying meat over gas hob ups cancer risk

Veterans speak out against burn pits

A range of health problems are linked to the pits on military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Toxic substances have been found in the smoke.

Probers unearth toxin shock in Greenpoint groundwater

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Magnitude 8.8 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 06:34:14 UTC

Magnitude 8.8 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE
Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 06:34:14 UTC

Trackman’s estate sues BNSF over toxic fumes
2/18/2010 10:00 AM By Kelly Holleran