Los Angeles, A City of Faults

Matt Rieman

Los Angeles: A City of Faults

Faults in Los Angeles

• Freeways cross faults in many locations creating potential risk.• Collapse of freeway bridges during the Northridge earthquake

caused widespread recognition of the hazard.

Effect on Infrastructure

- Faults run throughout the LA basin Blind thrust faults such as the Puente Hills fault are particularly dangerous-Skyscrapers are not designed for all possible motions and still have the potential to collapse during specific (and uncommon) motions

Another Result of Faulting

• Oil can become trapped along faults• Yet seepage can also occur along faults • Tar pits- Caused by oil seeping up along a

fault and degrading to asphalt

References:• 405 Traffic. 2012. MNG Interactive. Photograph. Web. 20 Jun 2013. Uuuuuuu

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii<http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site200/2012/0615/2012061 5__405_traffic_01.JPG>.

• Elle, Alli. Texture 79. Photograph. Deviant Art. Web. 20 Jun 2013. <http://couch-and- uuuuuuucanvas.deviantart.com/art/Texture-79-159359821>.

• La Brea Tar Pits March 2010. Photograph. Web. 20 Jun 2013. uuuuuuu<http://www.thegypsiestownsend.com/2011/03/la-brea-tar-pits-march-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii2010.html>.

• Los Angeles Skyline. Photograph. Web. 20 Jun 2013. Uuuuuuu<http://www.thewallpapers.org/photo/17314/los_angeles_skyline-003.jpg>.

• Northridge Earthquake. Photograph. Natural Disaster Atlas of the United States. Web. 20 u uuuuuuuJun2013.<http://naturaldisasteratlas.weebly.com/uploads/5/1/2/3/5123992/ 938 6727_orig.jpg>.

• Sheibley, Mari. LA at Night. 2012. Photograph. Web. 20 Jun 2013. <http://www.marisheibley.com/post/19185422109/3-11-12-la-at-night>.

• Weber, Betsy. La Brea Tar Pits. 2010. Photograph. Flickr. Web. 20 Jun 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/betsyweber/5301040950/>.