This
Earthquake Party gives
students the opportunity to actually walk on the Hayward Fault
in Central Park, Fremont. Experience how a geologist or
seismologist sees the Earth.
An overview of
what is known about the Hayward Fault in the East Bay Hills will
be shown in the faulted floor exhibit. A look at the the
science and history of the Hayward Fault. There will be
continuous
tours from 9-12 noon. You must sign up for tours and
when you come to the Central Park (see starting place on map
below, Redwood Area) you will be assigned a guide who will walk
you through key area and discuss the science behind the Hayward
Fault. The tour can be 1-1.5 hours, depending on how many
classes sign up. You
can eat lunch with your students afterwards at any of the
wonderful sites of around Lake Elizabeth.
You can reserve a time slot of either 9, 10, or 11.
A scientist or educator will guide your class through the
different features in Central Park. You will receive a
"scavenger hunt" document and if your student finish their
observations they will get a prize when they show us they did
their work. They will get to see the "Faulted Floor" in
the community center, where the floor is being ripped apart by
the might Hayward Fault.
This
is to help students understand that we live in "Earthquake
County" and should think about what that means.
Rockin' and Rolling along the Hayward Fault.
How
to sign up:
Easy: Request
a time slot of either 9, 10 or 11 am. We will be able to
accommodate enough classes as we get scientists (up to 500
students) We
will confirm your request and send you more information.
Email request to Monica Esqueda
esqueda@msnucleus.org
General questions:
field@msnucleus.org
BACKGROUND:
The Hayward Fault has shaped the landscape
of the East Bay for the last million years.
The last large earthquake was on October 21, 1968, when a 6
foot offset was ripped from Milpitas to San Leandro.
In certain places there was an uplift of 4-6 feet.
Hayward, San Leandro, Oakland and San Francisco had major
damage. Fremont’s
Mission San Jose crumpled. The
Hayward Fault has created the scenic hills and valleys in the East
Bay. Much of the length of the Hayward Fault outlines the
hills of the Diablo Range. However in Fremont, the Hayward
Fault's trace is through the flatland.
The Hayward fault, running through the East Bay from the North Bay to Santa Clara County, is one of a handful of faults in the world that ‘creeps’ at the surface. Fault creep, where a fault moves steadily at the surface (instead of staying locked by friction, like most faults), has many observable effects in the East Bay – it separates curbs and paving slabs, cracks asphalt and walls, and damages buildings, most notably the Berkeley football stadium. The rate of movement, around 5 mm per year in Fremont, is enough to visibly move objects within a year or two.
Geophysicists are interested in this unusual behavior for a couple of reasons. First, we want to explain why some faults creep and others do not – why it happens on the Hayward fault in Fremont, and not (for example) on the San Andreas fault in Palo Alto. Second, and more importantly, knowing where and how fast the Hayward fault creeps allows us to make estimates of where it is not creeping. These ‘locked’ areas are accumulating strain for a future earthquake. We know that there was a large earthquake on the Hayward fault in 1868, and our best estimates suggest that there is a high probability of a repeat earthquake in the next few decades. Understanding in advance where this earthquake will happen will allow citizens, the public utilities and city governments to prepare for the worst.
Come see the "Faulted Floor" Exhibit. See a map of
the East Bay and where the Hayward Fault is ripping it apart.
For more information on the Faulted Floor Exhibit which is a
permanent exhibit
click here.
(left - San
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Leandro City Hall devastated in 1868) |
meet at Redwood Picnic
Area (bathroom nearby) |
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MATH SCIENCE NUCLEUS
since 1982 has served the education and public by
offering quality science and math lessons that take our
children learn critical thinking skills. We manage the
Children's Natural History Museum and Tule Ponds at
Tyson Lagoon Wetland Center.
http://msnucleus.org.
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Math/Science Nucleus
4074 Eggers Drive, Fremont, California, U.S.A., 94536
(510) 790-6284
msn@msnucleus.org
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