Portland Metro Case Study

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There are many geological hazards that could affect the Portland Metro area in the near future, but the three most devastating would be Earthquake, Volcano Eruption, and a landslide. There has been numerous rumor about the “big earthquake” that is long over due for the PNW. The earthquake is estimated to be a nine magnitude, which means it’s going to cause a lot of damage to Portland and could even make Portland disappear. An earthquake is generally formed when the underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release energy that causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. Great subduction zone earthquakes occur around the world where …show more content…
St. Helen’s that erupted on May 18, 1980. The eruption caused the entire weakened north face to slide away, creating the largest landslide ever recorded. It was estimated that about sixty people were killed by the disaster. According to the USGS, a volcano erupts when deep within the Earth it is so hot that some rocks slowly melt and become a thick flowing substance called magma. Because it is lighter than the solid rock around it, magma rises and collects in magma chambers. Eventually some of the magma pushes through vents and fissures in the Earth 's surface. A volcanic eruption occurs. Magma that has erupted is called …show more content…
The Missoula floods have left deposits from when the floods passed through Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Today, you can find sediments of rocks that came with the flood and other rocks that formed with the collapsing of two rocks. The floodwaters uncovered away hundreds of feet of soil and cut deep canyons in the landscape. The Missoula Floods are a remarkable part of the Northwest’s natural heritage. As they traveled through Washington these floods created scablands and dramatic dry canyons. Geologist J. Harlen Bretzs mentioned that in Oregon however, the floods created the exceptionally fertile, productive farmland, wetlands and aquifers found in the Willamette

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