1983 Coalinga earthquake

1983 Coalinga earthquake
Los Angeles
Susanville
Coalinga
Avenal
Date May 2, 1983 (1983-05-02)
Origin time 23:42 UTC
Magnitude 6.2 Mw [1]
Depth 10 kilometers (6 mi) [1]
Epicenter 36°14′N 120°19′W / 36.23°N 120.31°W / 36.23; -120.31 [1]
Type Blind thrust [2]
Areas affected Central California
United States
Total damage $10 million USD [3]
Max. intensity VIII (Severe) [1]
Landslides Yes
Aftershocks 5.9 MW July 22 at 02:39 [4]
Casualties 94 injured [3]

The 1983 Coalinga earthquake occurred on May 2 at exactly 23:42 UTC in Coalinga, California. The earthquake measured 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The earthquake was caused by an unknown fault buried under the surface.

The shock was felt from the greater Los Angeles Area, north to Susanville in Lassen County, and from the coast east to western Nevada. Through July 31, more than 5,000 aftershocks were recorded, of which 894 had a magnitude of 2.5 or larger. Most of the larger magnitude shocks were felt in Coalinga.[5]

Earthquake

The Coalinga earthquake was caused by an 0.5-meter uplift of the anticline ridge northeast of Coalinga, but surface faulting was not observed. Ground and aerial searches immediately after the earthquake revealed ground cracks and fissures within about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) of the instrumental epicenter, none of which appeared to represent movement on deeply rooted fault structures. About five weeks later, on June 11, however, an aftershock caused surface faulting about 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Coalinga.[5]

Damage

A destroyed building on 5th Street in Coalinga

This earthquake caused an estimated $10 million in property damage (according to the American Red Cross) and injured 94 people. Damage was most severe in Coalinga, where the 8-block downtown commercial district was almost completely destroyed. Here, buildings having unreinforced brick walls sustained the heaviest damage. Newer buildings, however, such as the Bank of America and the Guarantee Savings and Loan buildings, sustained only superficial damage. The most significant damage outside the Coalinga area occurred at Avenal, 31 kilometers (19 mi) southeast of the epicenter.[5]

A disaster assessment by the American Red Cross listed the following statistics on damage in the area: almost destroyed - 309 single-family houses and 33 apartment buildings; major damage - 558 single-family houses, 94 mobile homes, and 39 apartment buildings; and minor damage - 811 single-family houses, 22 mobile homes, and 70 apartment buildings. Most public buildings, including the City Hall, hospital, schools, fire house, post office, and police station, sustained only minor damage.[5]

USGS ShakeMaps for the mainshock (left) and the July 22 aftershock

Only six bridges of 60 surveyed in the area sustained measurable structural damage. This damage consisted of hairline cracks and spalling at the top of the support columns, fracturing and displacement of wing walls and parapets, and settlement of fill.[5]

All public utilities were damaged to some degree. The water system continued to function despite many leaks in its transmission piping. Gas was shut off for several days because of broken piping and leaks, but only temporary interruptions of electric and telephone services were reported. One large section of old concrete sewer pipe west of the downtown area partly collapsed, but this system also continued to function.[5]

In the oil fields near Coalinga, surface facilities such as pumping units, storage tanks, pipelines, and support buildings were all damaged to some degree. One oil company administration building, about 7 km (4.3 mi) north of Coalinga, sustained major structural damage and its two brick chimneys were toppled. Subsurface damage, including collapsed or parted well casing, was observed only on 14 of 1,725 active wells.[5]

Ground effects

This earthquake triggered thousands of rockfalls and rockslides as far as 34 km (21 mi) northwest, 15 km (9.3 mi) south, and 26 km (16 mi) southwest of the epicenter. Only a few slope failures occurred east of the epicenter because of the absence of steep slopes in that direction.[5]

Aftermath

The California Seismic Safety Commission was tasked with conducting a specific comprehensive investigation into the 1983 Coalinga earthquake, providing funding and expert technical assistance to the people of Coalinga for planning and reconstruction, and preparing and publishing a comprehensive report on the Coalinga earthquake.[6] Coalinga recovered 98 percent of their expenses in repairing and rebuilding public buildings at a time when an 85 percent recovery rate was considered the standard success rate.[7] In September 2006, the California Seismic Safety Commission was renamed the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission in honor of the then recently deceased California politician Al Alquist.[6] In addition, the commission member's per diem expenses were raised from $50 to $100 per day and their duties specific to the 1983 Coalinga earthquake were deleted before the comprehensive report was prepared.[6]

The Coalinga earthquake suggested to geologists that the State of California was in even worse seismological condition than had been thought. The pace of earthquake activity along the Pacific coast was identified as a relevant subject for further study; and the investigation of earthquakes stemming from unknown faults caused concern.[8] California officials emphasized that the predicted great quake would do far more damage than this one and that if it struck in a densely populated area the damage would be incalculable.[9]

See also

References

Sources

Further reading

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "the United States Geological Survey".
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