Radar image of the Los Angeles Basin
Click on image for full size
Image courtesy of NASA
Los Angeles Heading for the Hills
News story originally written on October 28, 1998
Scientists have found that Los Angeles appears to be moving toward the
San Gabriel Mountains at about one-fifth of an inch per year.
The measurements were taken using the Southern California Integrated
Global Positioning System Network (SCIGN). SCIGN is a nework of 24 GPS
satellites that can detect tiny movements in earthquake
faults across Southern
California. The satellites can pinpoint the locations of ground stations
withing 0.4 inches. There are currently about 60 ground stations in the
greater Los Angeles area; the goal for the project is to have 250
stations operating continuously.
The project is designed to monitor the slow, small movements in the ground
around Southern California. By knowing where the ground is moving,
scientists can tell which areas have higher stresses and where
earthquakes are more likely to happen.
Last modified February 26, 2007 by Lisa Gardiner.
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