1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910964121803321

Titolo

Living on an active earth : perspectives on earthquake science / / Committee on the Science of Earthquakes, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington, D.C., : National Academies Press, c2003

ISBN

9786610185863

9780309169097

0309169097

9781280185861

1280185864

9780309506311

030950631X

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (430 p.)

Disciplina

551.22/07/2073

Soggetti

Seismology - Research

Earthquake hazard analysis

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

FrontMatter -- Preface -- Contents -- 1 The Challenge of Earthquake Science -- 2 Rise of Earthquake Science -- 3 Facing the Earthquake Threat -- 4 Observing the Active Earth: Current Technologies and the Role of the Disciplines -- 5 Earthquake Physics and Fault-System Science -- 6 Research Opportunities and Requirements -- 7 Summary -- APPENDIX A Major Federal Earthquake Programs -- APPENDIX B Acronyms and Abbreviations -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

The destructive force of earthquakes has stimulated human inquiry since ancient times, yet the scientific study of earthquakes is a surprisingly recent endeavor. Instrumental recordings of earthquakes were not made until the second half of the 19th century, and the primary mechanism for generating seismic waves was not identified until the beginning of the 20th century. From this recent start, a range of laboratory, field, and theoretical investigations have developed into a



vigorous new discipline: the science of earthquakes. As a basic science, it provides a comprehensive understanding of earthquake behavior and related phenomena in the Earth and other terrestrial planets. As an applied science, it provides a knowledge base of great practical value for a global society whose infrastructure is built on the Earth's active crust. This book describes the growth and origins of earthquake science and identifies research and data collection efforts that will strengthen the scientific and social contributions of this exciting new discipline.