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1906 earthquake

Overview
1887-1906 | 1906 earthquake | 1906-1960 | 1960-1990 | 1990-present
References

Photograph of Andrew Lawson The 1906 earthquake revolutionized seismology in California. The post-earthquake investigation involved most members of what was then the Department of Geology at the University of California. Professor Andrew Lawson, then head of the Department, chaired the State Earthquake Investigation Commission. The Lawson report, published by the Carnegie Institution in 1908, is an exhaustive compilation of detailed reports from more than twenty contributing scientists on the earthquake's damage, the movement on the San Andreas fault, the seismograph records of the earthquake from around the world, and the underlying geology in northern California. The report is still the standard to which earthquake reports are compared today.
Professor Andrew Lawson
The 1906 earthquake also gave rise to the creation of the Seismological Society of America. Professor George Louderback of the University of California served as the first secretary. The Seismological Society of America continues to serve as a professional society for seismologists around the world. SSA Medal
SSA Medal
Photograph of Fusakichi Omori Although recorded on six of the original ten stations in Holden's California System, the 1906 earthquake also highlighted the need for additional seismic stations with modern equipment. Professor Fusakichi Omori of Japan visited California following the earthquake and he provided a two-component, horizontal pendulum tromometer which was installed at the Student's Observatory. The first record from these instruments is dated June 15, 1906. In 1910, the seismographs donated by Professor Omori were replaced with two Bosch-Omori 100 kg horizontal and an 80 kg Weichert vertical seismographs (these instruments operated until 1961).
Professor Fusakichi Omori

In 1907, William Randolph Hearst made a generous gift in order to improve the quality of seismic instrumentation at Lick Observatory. The Hearst gift was used to purchase a 200 kg horizontal and 80 kg vertical Weichert seismographs, installed in 1911. The instruments on display here are the horizontal Weichert seismographs from Lick Observatory. These instruments were relocated to McCone Hall for display by Director Bruce Bolt in 1978.

Overview
1887-1906 | 1906 earthquake | 1906-1960 | 1960-1990 | 1990-present
References



Berkeley Seismological Lab
215 McCone Hall, UC Berkeley
Berkeley CA 94720-4760
www@seismo.berkeley.edu

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Last modified: Wed Sep 17 09:20:44 PDT 2008