Bill Hacock
On Wednesday, March 9 the Kamloops Exploration Group (KEG ) presented a continuation of their Lecture Series program, which was held at Ashcroft’s River Inn. This is their third year of presentations about geology in this area.
This session was presented by Dr. John J. Clague, Ph.D., a Professor who holds the Shrum Chair in Science at Simon Fraser University and is Emeritus Scientist for the Geological Survey of Canada. His topic was “Magnitude 9: Countdown to the Next Giant Earthquake in B.C.” The very informative presentation was attended by approximately 40 interested locals.
Dr. Clague stated that investigative science is becoming more exact, and that we are coming close to the next Level 9 earthquake off the B.C. coast. Science has determined that the last Level 9 earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone occurred at 9:00pm on January 26, 1700.
As the shifting of the Pacific tectonic plates produces a magnitude 9 earthquake every 300 to 400 years, Clague says we are due for a big one off the B.C. coast in the not too distant future.
A magnitude 7 earthquake will occur every 30 to 50 years. Fortunately, this earth movement under the Pacific Ocean will probably not affect too much of our area. However, Clague noted that problems will arise with the movement of goods and service in the Fraser Valley and the Fraser and Thompson Canyons due to landslides.