Seismic Surveying: Predicting Earthquake
Hazard; Finding Geothermal Energy
John N. LouieNevada Seismological Laboratory
Dept. of Geological Sciences & Engineeringwww.seismo.unr.edu
Why do I care? - Christchurch, New Zealand >200 deaths, 1/3 of city’s buildings destroyed
J. Louie, NMSLC 3/3/2011Stuff.co.nz
Photos by Marilyn Newton, Reno Gazette-Journal
Could It Happen Here? It Already Did! Wells, Nevada, Feb. 2008
How Do We Protect Nevada’s People and Economy from Earthquakes?
This is what I want to accomplish Do we stiffen building codes to strengthen
buildings everywhere? No. Would make construction too costly
We improve our understanding of earthquake shaking What areas have high hazard? Put resources
there. Don’t waste money reinforcing safer areas
ReMi Technology: Invented in
NevadaHow do I do it?Seismic Sensor Arrays
Commercialized by Optim
Facilities Downstairs in LME 207
Surveyed by UNR & Optim
with ReMi
Earthquake Parcel Map by Clark
County and City of Henderson
10,721 site measurements
Add more detailed geological knowledge
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Adding Physics
Verifiable computational results
Computer facilities sponsored by Optim
Methods also apply to geothermal exploration
Computed and plotted by interns!
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Black Hills M6.5 Scenario Results
What I’ve Learned: Damaging shaking
(yellow) bleeds into Las Vegas Valley from outside.
Parcel Map and other details essential for accurate prediction
Hazard maps developed in California don’t work in Nevada.
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Earthquake Recording Facilities This Floor in
LME 323
Seismic Explorationfor Geothermal Energy
Why do I care? Nevada could be the
“Saudi Arabia of geothermal”
Exploration risk is too high; development is too slow now.
What do I study? How to find hot brine
reservoirs- old earthquake faults!
Seismic Reduces Drilling Risk
How do we do it? Optim again!What we’ve found: Now we can see the
faults carrying hot brine.Seismic Surveying Advanced Processing-
Invented in Nevada
Facilities Downstairs in LME 207