Justin: Disclaimer! Disclaimer! Disclaimer!
The largest earth tremor recorded anywhere on the planet registered a 9.5 magnitude on the Richter scale. It occurred 50 years ago in Chile, the Gran Terremoto de Valdivia.
Fifty years later, people of Chile are no strangers to earthquakes. And despite the great magnitude and duration of the recent 8.8 Chilean building codes, engineering and retrofitting have saved many more lives than were lost.
If we know our history, we know that there are no such things as natural disasters. There are only disasters of man’s making. For ignorance of tectonics will not protect people from tremors. Not having seen a hurricane first hand doesn’t mean they are harmless.
Filling former floodplains with newly furnished homes is not going to dictate the future rainfall for that area. If you want to live on a mountain peak or a valley floor, by ocean frontage or in hillside retreat or wherever you prefer to place yourself on the planet, it comes with the responsibility of being prepared.
And while condemning ignorance of the future, much like the following hour of our programming, does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of California at Davis, KDVS or its sponsors.
Nature is a consistent creature. If you watched her movements in the past, you will know where she will go in the future. The better we know her ways, the more prepared we will be to deliver This Week in Science, coming up next.
Continue reading “Transcript:TWIS.ORG Mar 02, 2010”