Available online
Description
The programme examines efforts, in California, to prevent and predict earthquakes.
The programme examines efforts, in California, to prevent and predict earthquakes.
| Module code and title: | TD342, Systems performance: human factors and systems failures |
|---|---|
| Item code: | TD342; 10 |
| First transmission date: | 11-07-1976 |
| Published: | 1976 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:23:15 |
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| Producer: | John Groom |
| Contributors: | Bruce Bolt; Geoff Peters |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | China; Fault drilling; Prediction; San Francisco; US Geological Survey |
| Footage description: | Over shots of San Francisco and aerial shots of the San Andreas fault, Geoff Peters introduces the programme. Barry Raleigh (U.S. Geological Survey) and Geoff Peters (OU) explain, in an interview recorded in 1971, a method by which it was hoped to bring large earthquakes under control. The technique involved the drilling of holes at a geological fault together with an injection of water under pressure. Shots of San Francisco, the San Andreas fault, an oil field and an animated diagram illustrate points made. Peters and Raleigh discuss the same technique five years later (1976), particularly reasons why there have been no advances. Prof. Bruce Bolt (Univ. of California) joins the discussion and points out several of the snags of employing this technique . Geoff Peters, Barry Raleigh and Bruce Bolt discuss the possibility of predicting large earthquakes. Aerial shots of San Francisco, shots of the San Andreas fault and shots of seismological instruments. Peters and Raleigh discuss some of the research into earthquake prediction which is joing on at Hollister, California. Shots of Hollister and surrounding area and of Hollister after a small local earthquake which had been predicted. Peters, Raleigh and Prof. Eugene Haas (Univ. of Colorado) discuss some of the problems involved in predicting earthquakes. They focus, particularly, on the dilemma of the geologist who cannot be certain that an event will occur but must, nevertheless, make a decision on whether or not to inform the public. Prof. Haas joins in the discussion and focusses on the moral responsibility of the seismologist to make public data which may indicate that a large scale earthquake is inminent. Geoff Peters, Prof. Haas and Prof. Karl Steinbrugge (Univ. of California, Berkeley) discuss some of the problems, particularly possible economic losses, which might arise because of an earthquake prediction. Prof. Bolt joins the discussion to point out the probabilistic character of earthquake prediction and its possible consequences. Credits (over shots of San Francisco). |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72277 |
| Production number: | 00525_5246 |
| Videofinder number: | 3588 |
| Available to public: | no |
