UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
Will the prolonged drought in California affect the propagation of different waves during an earthquake? Would the significant drop in soil moisture make the strata more or less rigid thereby affecting the velocity of the different waves associated with the quake? This question was asked by a colleague of mine while researching the Earth Science standards for Next Generation Science Standard, so it's more advanced than a normal question from a high school student!
Question Date: 2016-09-21
Answer 1:

I doubt that it would since I would expect surface earthquake waves to be able to still extend deep enough to reach the water table, even in a prolonged drought.

For example, I don't believe there is much difference between the earthquakes responsible for uplifting the Himalaya in Nepal (which would be tropical rain forest but for the agriculture) versus those responsible for the same mountain range in Pakistan (which is mostly desert).



Click Here to return to the search form.
University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use