Tsunamis in Greater Salt Lake area? Who knew...

[lds2]

Ten Concepts vis a vis Earthquake Hazards and Great Salt Lake

Earthquake hazards of Great Salt Lake include:

Surface rupture: … this is why we take all surface evidence of faulting seriously.

Ground shaking:

Ground failure, liquefaction:

Tsunami (initial slosh) and continuing seiche:

Most risks of the NW quadrant are not life threatening. The risks are significant and will be costly to address. However, a highly, very highly unlikely hazard is a killer phenomenon… movement of the Weber-Davis and/or Salt Lake segment of the Wasatch fault with ensuing sudden displacement eastward of the Great Salt Lake.

Earthquake Hazards in Utah http://geology.utah.gov/online/pdf/pi-38.pdf

Edited September 28, 2012 by lds2

[lds2]

Did you know that there is an earthquake fault as strong as the Wasatch underneath the great salt lake that runs along the west of the Promontory mountains, Antelope island and connects to the Oquirrh Mountain Fault on the West side of the Tooele mountains? The last time this earthquake happened the ground dropped 2.2 meters or about 7.2 feet at one point. Evidence of tsunamis in the past was found. I don't know how big a tsunami that could cause...anyone else know? Also if this fault runs North to South and drops on the West side which way would a wave go?

[lds2]

After reading so much regarding the damage caused from "waves heaving beyond their bounds" recently I was wondering about the greater SLC area.

When I posted the research above I meant to read what a Seiche was as they are mentioned.

As I understand it the fault in the Salt Lake would cause a tsunami or even water displacement, but then the power of that would reverberate like water sloshing in a dish causing problems in other directions of the lake as well.

I read that there have been seiches as high as 33 feet in Lake Tahoe in the distant past, but then it is a very deep lake and the GSL is not that deep as lakes go. But then there is an actual major fault going through the bottom of the Salt Lake so this wouldn't be seiche at first causing damage. Much of the area near the Salt Lake including some downtown areas are already in severe damage liquefaction zones. Add a tsunami with continued seiches and that could be "really unfun" as my kids would say.

While unlikely with the Salt Lake the plate could actually drop (seven feet in the last quake) which while unlikely could cause water displacement which can be even more powerful than other types of "heaving waves".

Edited November 4, 2012 by lds2

[SanctitasDeo]

Wow. That is not something I would have ever expected. The earth is a fascinating place.

[lds2]

I have loved ones that have to make it home on freeways that travel through low lying areas close to the lake during their commutes each day and so this was of particular interest to me. I've encouraged them to keep a 72 hour kit in their car with some good walking shoes just in case they have to "hoof" it.

[mirkwood]

Click on the ground shaking for 7.0 map to see the fault lines in SL County.

Utah Earthquakes & Faults - Utah Geological Survey

[lds2]

I tried to look at the map but I guess I don't have the right software...it appears to be about the actual shaking because of the fault?...this is the map that shows where the liquefaction areas are and what areas are expected to have severe damage due to unstable ground and I believe it also reflects the lower lying areas in or near the downtown SLC area.

What this thread is about is the East Great Salt Lake fault that runs under the Great Salt Lake which I believe is more closely associated with the Oquirrh Mountain fault which also has the potential of ~7 earthquakes but doesn't "go off" as often but I have read is overdue.

http://geology.utah.gov/online/images/pi-25.gif

.

Edited November 11, 2012 by lds2

[talisyn]

Speaking of overdue, Craters of the Moon here in Idaho has been due for some sort of geological event for some time ^^

[pam]

Speaking of overdue, Craters of the Moon here in Idaho has been due for some sort of geological event for some time ^^

Craters of the Moon? I always thought that people in Idaho were a little spacey. j/k j/k

[SanctitasDeo]

Or loony.

[lds2]

Ran into a lady who was loading her cart yesterday with food storage at Costco and we talked and she said it was because of a dream she had of a large earthquake and flooding in the Salt Lake City area. I asked her if she knew of or had read "Visions of Glory" and she hadn't when she had the dream.

 

I was on a Daybreak bench on Saturday looking to the South and you can actually see a round lake like indentation starting near the point of the mountain and encompassing a large area (widow maker area in Draper). It made me think of the book "Visions of Glory" written by a lds man telling of his NDE and what he was shown about his future. I have great respect for him and he has been given some leadership responsibilities in his area which tells me that he is in good standing in the LDS Church. His book is a slow read at first as his first NDEs were about what happens to societies when evil reigns. Then around chapter six he is shown in his last NDE future things that he believes he will experience in the SLC area.

 

Then today I read an article about the West Valley fault that they have discovered mid-valley that goes off at times in conjunction with the Wasatch fault. It heads to the East and the Wasatch heads to the West and it is thought they are connected deep within the Earth. Again made me think of this area that "Spencer" sees breaking and causing a large sink-hole lake in that area.

Edited May 5, 2015 by lds2

[Palerider]

In Missouri where I live all we hear about is the New Madrid fault line