By Gary Robbins, The San Diego Union-Tribune
The seismic network that UC San Diego has long used to monitor the potentially dangerous San Jacinto fault will operate for at least another five years after a private company donated $700,000 to cover the loss of federal funding.
The university's Scripps Institution of Oceanography received the donation Thursday from Seismic Warning Systems Inc., of Scotts Valley, which provides earthquake detection and warning systems. The company is collaborating with Scripps on improving quake monitoring in Southern California.
Scripps operates the ANZA Seismic Network, which is composed of 28 monitoring stations in San Diego and Riverside counties. The network, which has been operating since 1982, focuses on the San Jacinto fault, a 130-mile system that extends from Imperial County through Anza, Ocotillo Wells and Borrego Springs into Riverside County and the San Bernardino Valley. The fault is located about 55 miles east of San Diego.
The San Jacinto is a source of concern to scientists. It produces scores of mostly small quakes, making it the most active fault in Southern California. The system also periodically produces significant events. The temblors include a magnitude 6.5 quake in April 1968 and a 6.7 shaker in November 1987. The latter quake, known as the Superstition Hills event, jolted San Diego.
Scripps began operating the ANZA network with internal funds in January after federal funding ran out.
"The donation from Seismic Warning Systems keeps us alive," said Scripps geophysicist Frank Vernon, the network's lead researcher. "We are very thankful, and are looking forward to doing more good research."
ANZA is one of many seismic networks spread across the state. The systems include the Southern California Seismic Network, which has expanded over the years with a mix of state, federal and university funds, and contributions from foundations. Scientists are lobbying to modify the system to create an earthquake early warning system.
©2015 The San Diego Union-Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
