1. A field report on the Great Chile earthquake
of February 27, 2010
Lori Dengler
Humboldt State Univ.
Nick Graehl,
Humboldt State Univ.
Troy Nicolini,
Eureka NWS
Sebastian Araya,
Stillwater Associates
Francisco Luna,
Independent Journalist
Mark Colwell,
Humboldt State Univ.
HSU Geology Colloquium, April 26, 2010

2. The February 27, 2010 Chile Earthquake
6:34 UTC (3:34 AM local time)
Mw 8.8, 5th largest earthquake since 1900
Santiago
Concepcion

3. Historic ruptures
6:34 UTC (3:34 AM local time)

4. The February 27, 2010 Chile Earthquake
Population exposed MMI ≥VII 12.5 million (USGS PAGER)
over 70% of the total population of the country; earthquake casualties in 50
cities/towns including five of Chile’s 10 largest cities
Infrastructure disrupted over an area 800 x 150 kilometers
Casualties ~500; Losses ~30 billion US$ (30% GDP)

5. In the Footsteps of
Humboldt and Darwin
• Leg 1
– 10 days
– Ecuador
• Leg 2
– 26 days
– Peru & Bolivia
• Leg 3
– 46 days
– Argentina & Chile

6. Terremoto!
¨February 20th
.—This day
has been memorable in the
annals of Valdivia, for the
most severe earthquake
experienced by the oldest
inhabitants. I happened to
be on shore, and was lying
down in the wood to rest
myself. It came on
suddenly, and lasted two
minutes, but the time
appeared much longer…¨
Charles Darwin, 1835.

7. The Day Before…

8. Getting Out!

9. Damage to Interior Stairway

10. Structural Damage

11. The Day After…

12. Strength of Aftershocks
Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/
Strongest
aftershock

13. Aftershock Frequency
Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/
Evo Morales Rafael CorreaFernando Lugo

14. “To travel is of … importance to those who
desire to originate just and comprehensive
views concerning the structure of our globe”.
Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology (1830)

15. Survey Track
Dichato
Pelluhue
Constitucíon
Iloca
Curanipe
Concepcíon

16. Concepcíon

17. Dichato

18. Dichato

19. Curanipe

20. Pelluhue

21. Water Height ~ 19ft
Pelluhue

22. Constitucíon

23. Constitucíon

24. Iloca

25. Iloca

26. The Good: Factors that reduced impacts

27. The Bad: Factors that exacerbated impacts

32. Louis Gatica Photo: Michael Robinson Chavez

35. Relative to Cascadia