Tahoe earthquake ‘domino effect’ studied

By Jeff DeLong, Reno Gazette-Journal

With the frightening potential of a massive earthquake and tsunami striking the Pacific Northwest under increasing discussion, scientists are also focusing attention on possible connections between that area and dangerous faults at Lake Tahoe.

Graham Kent, a South Tahoe High grad, is in charge of UNR's seismic lab. Photo/LTN file

Graham Kent, a South Tahoe High grad, is in charge of UNR’s seismic lab. Photo/LTN file

There, like along the coastlines of Washington, Oregon and Northern California, a big quake could someday trigger a deadly tsunami, with some preliminary research suggesting seismic connections between the areas.

“If everything in this region is synchronized, all of a sudden there could be a domino effect” after a big quake in the northwest, said Graham Kent, director of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory at UNR.

“We know these things have a long arm,” Kent said.

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