Earthquake prediction has long remained a matter of myth, of birds or bunny. Because the presence of the fault was wellknown when construction started in 1922 it was built with expansion joints where the exterior wall meets the fault. Its unique because seismologists know exactly where the. Washington monument cracks indicate earthquake damage. Seismic engineers plan to stabilize uc berkeley stadium. California memorial stadium parking california memorial. The catastrophic earthquake expected to strike the san andreas fault is not. Uc berkeleys memorial stadium, which was built smack on top of the. Massive crack on the azteca stadium in mexico city after. We would like to extend our best wishes to all of our neighbors, family and friends affected by this mornings earthquake, says a.
At the rim of the stadium, a berkeley professor named richard allen. California, cuts through the eastern part of campus, most prominently through the playing field of the universitys football arena, the california memorial stadium. The california memorial stadium the hayward fault at the. The faultline that runs under california memorial stadium. An excavator breaks up a mountain of old concrete at the construction site of the new san jose earthquakes stadium on coleman avenue in. The venue opened in 1923 and currently seats around 63,000 fans for football.
At memorial stadium, the sections directly on top of the fault will be cut into three large freefloating blocks. Memorial stadium on the university of californiaberkeley campus. The usgs hopes to minimize the damage with planning and preparedness. In the hypothetical earthquake scenario, half of memorial stadium moves 2 feet northwest during the main earthquake, another foot over the next 24 hours, and yet another foot or so over the next. Retrofit plan to ride out quake at cal stadium sfgate. While the san andreas fault that triggered the great 1906 san francisco earthquake has become ingrained in california culture, new research. California memorial stadium 210 stadium rim way, berkeley, california 94720 rated 4. Seismic engineers apparently have solved one of the worlds great retrofit puzzles. Take a looksee above at the north end zone on the left side of the screen and you can see the line make its way. While the san andreas fault that triggered the great 1906 san francisco earthquake has become ingrained in. Universitys football arena, the california memorial stadium. Eight earthquakes hit berkeley over past several days. The main earthquake caused a crack to open in the ground from 6 inches to two feet. The structure and one contributing site, complementing apron of open space with landscaped character that was developed with the stadium, were listed at the state level of significance in the areas of architecture and engineering as a distinctive example of type, period, and method of construction and as the work of a.
Construction began on memorial stadium in december 1922, and 11 months later, it opened in time for the 1923 big game. The hayward fault and the other big one air worldwide. Californias hayward fault is considered one of the most dangerous seismological zones in the united states. Engineers to quakeproof cal stadium on freefloating blocks. California memorial stadium is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the university of california, berkeley in berkeley, california. East bay fault is tectonic time bomb, more dangerous than san. The hayward fault at the campus of the university of. Uc berkeleys memorial stadium had to undergo renovations because the fault shifted seating.
In the hypothetical earthquake scenario, half of memorial stadium. Watch the ridgecrest earthquake shatter the desert floor. At memorial stadium at uc berkeley, seating was recently broken up and rebuilt in anticipation of a future earthquake on the hayward fault that. It runs through the densely populated hills of the east bay, sketching a diagonal line between san jose and richmond and can be thought of as a branch of the main. The hayward fault university of california, berkeley. Ways to prepare for an earthquake in berkeley the daily. The monument was initially closed right after the earthquake struck at 1. The seismic joint between california memorial stadiums rupture block and the western half of the stadium, as seen from inside the. The university of california, berkeleys memorial stadium, built in 1923, sits atop the hayward fault. Take a looksee above at the north end zone on the left side of. Hayward fault tour ucb berkeley seismology lab university of. Berkeley, earthquakes, oakland, san francisco 1906 great quake, u.
California most dangerous hayward fault is overdue and the. For the south side of the stadium, the fault trace is actually located just to the east somehwere beneath the flight of cement stairs, although it is difficult to see. Hayward fault could displace 400,000 in california if earthquake hits. The new memorial stadium field features the hayward fault. The concession stand on the concourse in the ne corner of the. We cant prevent the building from moving or cracking, but we can. Commonly known as memorial stadium, it is the home field for the university of california golden bears of the pac12 conference. The hayward fault runs along the foot of the east bay hills, something that all residents of the bay area, and the east bay in particular, should know.
The faultline that runs under california memorial stadium will now be represented on the turf itself. Theres a crack in the fremont community center, and hayward city hall has been closed due to the shifts in the tectonic plate. Ranked by the latest probabilistic hazard analysis ucerf3 as the most dangerous earthquake fault in. For ten years i was lucky enough to have my office right on top of the fault, in the infamous section kk at the stadium. San jose earthquakes new stadium under construction the. It is a tribute to uc berkeley alumni who died in world war i. From top sporting events to mustsee concerts, you can find any california memorial stadium parking passes currently for sale at vivid seats on this page. Minutes before first pitch, the loma prieta earthquake hit the bay area. Earthquake experts wonder whether southern california is. Ways to prepare for an earthquake in berkeley michael drummondsenior staff a crack develops in the wall of uc berkeleys memorial stadium just south of concourse dff.
Its last major earthquake occurred on october 21st, 1868, destroying downtown hayward, killing 5 people and, injuring 30. Memorial stadium where creep in the fault can easily be seen by the offset in the stadium walls. Notably, the hayward fault runs directly beneath uc berkeleys california memorial stadium. Earthquakes in rancho palos verdes, california, united. The most recent large earthquake on the hayward fault was in 1868 an approximately 6. The california memorial stadium, like the hearst memorial mining building see. The new building was delayed old on the outside, new on the inside, berkeleys california memorial stadium still resembles the roman colosseum while offering features that no one dreamed of at its 1923 inauguration. The line in the parking lot marks the path of what many geologists consider californias most dangerous earthquake fault.
The year 1868 was only twenty years after the start of the gold rush and california had been a state. Uc berkeleys 1923 memorial stadium sits on top of an active earthquake fault. Cals new football field has earthquake fault line markings. Designers didnt factor in the stadiums location on the hayward fault, and by 1997 its walls had begun to crack apart. Ridgecrest, which sits about 10 miles from the epicenters of both tremors, is just beginning to survey damage from the quakes that cracked buildings, ignited fires and left thousands without power. This crack and many others similar to it in east bay cities from fremont to richmond are subtle reminders that someday soon, without warning, all hell will break loose along the east bay hills. One of the defining features of the new memorial stadium.
Hayward fault could displace 400,000 in california if. Instead the cracks are caused by the aseismic creep of the hayward fault. It is located at the base of the berkeley hills directly at the mouth of strawberry canyon. In case of a major quake, the hayward fault could tear the ground apart below the stadium. The game is set for new levis stadium in santa clara, calif. California memorial stadium college football field in. Every april anniversary month of the sf 06 earthquake, tours would come and see all the wonderful signs of creep. The national park service is making no predictions when it will reopen, because evaluations are still underway. The fault line at memorial stadium, north end zone. The stadium has responded by deforming at the expansion gap in the structure near the top of the seats. Hayward fault article, earthquake science information, earthquake. The california memorial stadium, like the hearst memorial mining building see section 1, was designed by john galen howard. Fault runs directly beneath uc berkeleys california memorial stadium.
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