Oregon Coast Earthquakes - Newport, Oregon - Oregon Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

This sign is located in a group of signs and displays near the entrance to the Hatfield Marine Science Center

Marker Name: Oregon Coast Earthquakes

Marker Text: What is a Subduction Zone?
A subduction zone is a region where one tectonic plate moves under the another, with the lower plate sinking into the mantle of the earth as the plates converge. The large subduction off the west coast of the United States is known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone or Cascadia Fault.

What is the Ring of Fire?
The Ring of Fire is an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. The Ring of Fire has 452 volcanoes including over 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is part of the Ring of Fire, as is the area where the 2011 Japanese earthquake occurred.

What is a tsunami?
A tsunami is a series of waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water. Tsunami waves do not resemble normal sea waves but appear more like a rapidly rising tide. Any large earthquake on the ocean floor can produce a tsunami.

What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic waves. The Cascadia Fault is the most likely source of an earthquake in our area. The Cascadia Fault can produce megathrust earthquakes with a magnitude of 9.0 or greater. The last known megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest was the Cascadia earthquake in 1700. The Cascadia fault causes a megathrust earthquake every 300 to 600 years.
Many scientist believe that a megathrust earthquake and tsunami could hit the Pacific Northwest in the next 50 years.

Be prepared!
The Pacific Northwest is beautiful and dramatic, with mountains, cliffs, caves, craters, and other facinating landforms. Much of this landscape was formed by seismic activity such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Living in and visiting this beautiful region is not risk free, so it is important to be prepared. For more information about preparing for an earthquake please visit: http://www.oregontsunami.org Make sure you check out the Tsunami Evacuation Trail, which starts at the sign in front of this exhibit. The signs detail what you should do and where you should go in the event of an earthquake while here at the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center.

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