Join Senior Curator of Geological Sciences Kathleen Springer on Saturday, October 3 at 2pm, when she presents a lecture titled, “Epicenter of the Shakeout: the Southern San Andreas Fault.”

Springer will share with visitors the geology of the southern section of the San Andreas Fault and the Salton Trough. Her lecture will focus on the evolution of the San Andreas Fault in this region and discuss current studies of the fault that attempt to model future large magnitude earthquake potential.

“From the Cajon Pass to the Salton Sea, this portion of the fault that has not had a large magnitude earthquake since 1680 has been identified by the United States Geological Survey as the most probable section to elicit a major earthquake,” said Springer. “This rupture could start at Bombay Beach at the southern end of the Salton Sea and unzip the earth to Lake Hughes in Los Angeles County, a distance of approximately 200 miles.”

The San Andreas Fault is the focus of the “Great California ShakeOut,” a statewide disaster preparedness drill that will take place on Thursday, October 15. A “ShakeOut” scenario—a hypothetical earthquake designed by scientists to show what will happen when a major earthquake strikes southern California—is intended to raise earthquake awareness and motivate preparedness. For more information about the drill, go to www.ShakeOut.org.

Kathleen Springer is the Senior Curator of Geology for the San Bernardino County Museum. She has an extensive background in both geology and paleontology and has been with the San Bernardino County Museum for nearly 19 years leading geologic and paleontologic investigations throughout southern California, Arizona, and Nevada.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9am to 5pm. General admission is $8 (adult), $6 (military or senior), $5 (student), and $4 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org or call (909) 307-2669.

The San Bernardino County Museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is (909) 307-2669 ext. 229.

 

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