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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