Could San Diego be at risk for a catastrophic earthquake?
443354
Yes! San Diego has several major faults in the area and could experience a catastrophic earthquake(s) up to 7.7 on the Richter Scale.\n\nGod should be spelled B-I-G B-A-N-G\nPBrax@netscape.com
898102
There are several factors decides the amount of destruction during earthquakes. The safest place is only the open ground. Important factors are magnitude, frequency of earthquakes, and natural frequency of buildings, geographical condition, and the distance from the source of earthquakes. Some times tall building withstands the quakes and short buildings are damaged. If the frequency of earthquakes matches with the natural frequency of the building the damages will be more. You can construct the building of short height using the technology adopted for self alignment bearings. That will just osculate. No damages will be there for any quakes. Please visit my slide show in the following URL. \nhttp://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/quake
984597
It would seem to indicate that the area in question is on a fault line that is extremely unstable.
1044728
The foci of earthquakes at transform boundaries tend to be at shallow depths.\n\nSee source.
26232
Absoutly, there is a ridge subduction zone off the pacific coast that is moving at a good clip.  We know through laser tomography, that the surface of this subduction zone isn't as smooth as many other fault lines.  We know what will happen as soon as it 'buckles', a huge earthquake, followed, of course by a sub surface wave, making a tsunami.\n\nAs to when, no clue.  The plate at the subduction zone isn't moving at a constant clip, but random.  So hard to say.  Will it happen? Absoutly, when? Dunno.
349011
Los Angeles and San Francisco would be the big ones but there are a lot of smaller ones in the same danger area. Basically anything that is on or near the San Andreas Fault. Check the map at the link--- actually explore the rest of the site, too--- good info there!
1042660
There are pre-tremors associated with impending earthquakes in well defined regions.  However, these are seismic as well, and not associated with the atmosphere.  There is no one sign in the atmosphere, and certainly not three.
361908
Because the west coast is being saved up for the BIG ONE (quake)
189814
Earthquakes happen a LOT. Most of them are too faint to detect, except with sophisticated devices. So the truth is, earthquakes are far less scary than you may think. Earthquakes of 4.0+ on the Richter Scale (the threshold above which people can actually feel quakes) aren't daily occurences, and the truly terrifying quakes (6.0+) are far rarer than tornadoes and hurricanes. You get major quakes maybe once or twice a decade.\n\nBut if that's not enough to assuage you, then you should know that the major faultlines run north to south through California. That means most of the state is vulnerable to temblors.\n\nBut I've lived here my entire life. I've felt my share of shake-ups, and it doesn't scare me. Big quakes are rare enough that they don't bother people.
1049212
Because San Fran is on a major fault line. That basically means that the ground below the streets isn't set properly so it fragments easily to make the Earth subside, and the Earthquakes to occur. I don't know why its like it in the 1st place though?
856524
9.5 magnitude, Chile, 1960. Biggest since 1900, modern measures.\nhttp://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/10_largest_world.php\n\nNo. Faults or potential faults would rupture before they could build up enough energy to have a magnitude 20 quake.  Maybe a huge meteor impact could cause such an earthquake. It hasn't happened in recorded history.
13603
Yes, there are. I have experienced several including the Nisqually Earthquake on 2/28/2001 that registered 6.8 and caused a significant amount of damage. \n\nThe site I added below gives more information about the major faults that are located under the water near the city.
990139
I was always told to stand in a doorway.  I grew up in Alaska and experienced many quakes.  I never lived in an apartment complex.  I would definately stay off the stair and/or elevator once the earthquake began.  Do you have an earthquake survival kit?  It might be good idea to put one together if you don't.
274586
There are areas that are more prone to Tsunamis than other areas.  Besides the seismic activity factor, the shape of the ocean floor has a lot to do with whether a tsunami hits a coastal area and how bad the tsunami is.  For example, in the 1964 Alaska earthquake, a tsunami wave went south and struck the California coast.  Damage ranged from minor (boats knocked against the dock) to devestating as in Crescent City where 30 city blocks were covered and 11 people died.  The seabed off of Crescent City forms a shallow slope the forces the pressure of the tsunami up into the classic "tidal wave" configuration associated with tsunamis.
813517
Yes and no!\n\nYes - the amount of energy released when the fault slips dictates the force of the shock waves.\n\nBut the No is also important.   A deep high magnitude earthquake may not rattle a cup because most of it's energy is absorbed before it reaches the surface.  Where a relatively much lighter earthquake on the surface could cause devesatation.
658182
Salaam sadiq,\nUnderwater, on the side of one of the Canary Islands, there's several cubic kilometres of rock which could slide to the ocean floor at any time; maybe next week (not very likely) or some time in the next few thousand years.   It's on the west side of the island, so it will be more of a threat to North America than to Morocco or Europe but, yes, there is a possibility of a tsunami striking your Atlantic coast.
924642
Not yet. There is a case near San Diego that will be heard by the courts.