
The Great Quake Debate
The Crusader, the Skeptic, and the Rise of Modern Seismology
- 328 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
In the first half of the twentieth century, when seismology was still in in its infancy, renowned geologist Bailey Willis faced off with fellow high-profile scientist Robert T. Hill in a debate with life-or-death consequences for the millions of people migrating west. Their conflict centered on a consequential question: Is southern California earthquake country? These entwined biographies of Hill and Willis offer a lively, accessible account of the ways that politics and financial interests influenced the development of earthquake science. During this period of debate, severe quakes in Santa Barbara (1925) and Long Beach (1933) caused scores of deaths and a significant amount of damage, offering turning points for scientific knowledge and mainstreaming the idea of earthquake safety. The Great Quake Debate sheds light on enduring questions surrounding the environmental hazards of our dynamic planet. What challenges face scientists bearing bad news in the public arena? How do we balance risk and the need to sustain communities and cities? And how well has California come to grips with its many faults?
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Information
Table of contents
- The Great Quake Debate
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Preface
- Prologue: Setting the Stage
- 1. Bailey Willis
- 2. Robert T. Hill
- 3. Intersecting Orbits
- 4. Parting Company and Facing Disaster
- 5. Golden State
- 6. Framing the Debate
- 7. At the Epicenter
- 8. The Prediction
- 9. The Book
- 10. Retrenchment
- 11. The Climax
- 12. Settling the Score
- 13. Theater
- Epilogue: Legacies and Lessons
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- Selected Bibliography
- Index
- Author