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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

DAS Bump! My summary of this morning’s session: “Forecasting Earthquakes with Continuous Data: From Lab to Field”. Sounds like a SCEC German punk band. #scecmeet

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Tom Rockwell (Distinguished Lecture) kicking off the 2025 SCEC meeting! Small offset per event (smaller magnitude) produces narrower damage zone in nearby rocks. Serves as a proxy for max magnitude per rupture event. #scecmeet #scec2025 🧪

$Tom Rockwell standing on the stage in front of 4 chairs. On the left is a large projection screen showing one of his slides that includes a photomicrograph of fractured mineral grains.$ A slide from Tom’s talk showing an annotated aerial view of the San Andreas Fault near Little Rock and a photomicrograph on the right showing pulverized mineral grains from a sample collected several meters from the main fault plane.

A slide from Tom’s talk showing an annotated aerial view of the San Andreas Fault near Little Rock and a photomicrograph on the right showing pulverized mineral grains from a sample collected several meters from the main fault plane.

Summary slide of Tom’s talk labeled: General Summary of Physical Damage. Includes three categories: small displacement (less than 1 meter), moderate (1.5 to 2.7 meter), and large displacement (3 to 6 meters).

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Opening presentation of this year’s SCEC annual meeting in Palm Springs! It seems SCEC is a “large Enterprise” working to develop & share cutting-edge earthquake system science to enhance California’s resilience & to educate and inspire future scientists. #scecmeet #SCEC2025 🧪

Digital image off the USS Enterprise from the Star Trek franchise. Small pictures of the science researchers are in little circles around the edge. The bottom of the slide says: “To boldly go where no SCEC has gone before.”

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Well, given that he's not running for governor again becuase he reached his term limit....

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Ha!! Next time I’ll include a random non-sequitur limerick somewhere in my draft and it’ll be your job to find and remove it. 😆

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Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

“NSF watchers fear that a smaller, restructured agency could be more vulnerable to pressure from the White House to fund research that suits its ideological bent.” www.science.org/content/arti...

science.org

Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions

Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Did they work the graveyard shift and were heading home?

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Celeste Labedz @celestelabedz.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

I'm guessing there was a real reason that the new pope served as the bishop of Chiclayo, but I'm going to pretend that whoever was doing the bishop assignments misheard it as Chicago and was like "great we can just promote one of our Chicago guys".

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

There are new ducklings ALL over Disneyland these days. They had to stop the parade the other day to let them cross the street.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

"They picked a globalist pope!" - Yes, he's the leader of the GLOBAL Catholic Church. Duh!

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

It’s me! I’m “one scientist”! 🧪

Screen shot of an online article from the Los Angeles Times about this week’s magnitude 5.2 earthquake and the early warning notifications. The text says, “Geologists at the California Geological Survey’s office in Los Angeles also received early warning notifications on their phones ‘so we were prepared for some shaking,’ one scientist posted on social media.”

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

That's not unusual when you are that close to the epicenter. At some point you are close enough that the seismic waves are faster than the computers can calculate and send the warning message.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Us geologists here at the @cageosurvey.bsky.social LA office all got our early warning notifications on our phones so we were prepared for some shaking. Did you get one too? Download @myshakeapp.bsky.social to be ready next time. #earthquake

Screenshot of MyShake notifications for a magnitude 5.8 earthquake (later revised to 5.2) in San Diego County. The alert reads: “Earthquake - Drop, cover, hold on. Mag 5.8 EQ in San Diego Country Estates, CA 92065, USA on 4-14-2025 at 10:08am PDT”.

A second alert under the first says: “Earthquake Alert
Earthquake Detected! Drop, Cover, Hold On. Protect yourself. - USGSShakeAlert.”

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Felt the long-period shaking here in downtown LA from the M5.2 earthquake near Julian, CA (San Diego County). Epicenter is near the Elsinore Fault, which would be the primary suspect, but we'll see once more data comes in. #earthquake #Julian 🧪 @cageosurvey.bsky.social

This ShakeMap shows the ground shaking intensity from a magnitude 5.2 earthquake that occurred on April 14, 2025. The epicenter is marked with a black star and located just south of Julian, California, in San Diego County.
The shaking intensity is represented using the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, with colors ranging from green (light shaking) near the epicenter to blue (weak shaking) farther out. The strongest shaking (MMI V to VI) was felt in the mountains and foothill regions northeast of San Diego, including areas near Mira Mesa and Encinitas.

Seismic instrument locations are shown as triangles, and community-reported intensities are marked with small circles. Cities across Southern California and northern Baja California, including San Diego, Oceanside, Riverside, and Tijuana, experienced weak to light shaking. The scale at the bottom links MMI levels to estimated damage and ground motion levels, helping to interpret the impact across the region.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

You’ll forgive my concerns over a possible upcoming recession. I lost my job and almost lost my house in the last one.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

So encouraged by everyone we saw at the Hands Off rally yesterday in Santa Ana (Orange County)! #HandsOff Rise Up. Wise Up. Eyes Up.

A crowd of protesters at a rally. One of them is holding up a black sign with an outline of the United States with the words “Rise Up!” written inside.

A group of protestors on the sidewalk. One is holding a cardboard sign that reads “It’s so bad, introverts are here! Hands off our Constitution.”

A woman sitting on the curb with a white sign that reads “Thisis just not OK!”

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Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

What do the Republicans and the oligarchs fear most? Solidarity between poor rural whites and Black urban folks. They have always feared it. It’s time to come together, friends. Our futures are bound up together.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Heading out to our local Orange County Hands Off rally shortly. #handsoff

Two t-shirts, a blue one reading “ano more Kings” with a cartoon drawing of King George III sitting on a stool with bags of money from Schoolhouse Rock. The second is a white shirt with multicolored balloons on top the word “No”.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Talks went very well and a great time was had by all!

Photo of Wendy Bohon giving a presentation at the Geological Society of America, Cordilleran Section meeting in Sacramento. She is in a hotel conference room standing behind a wooden lectern with her arm lifted and extended towards the projection screen. On the screen is a map of California showing the largest potential earthquake shaking intensities for each area of the state.

Photo of Brian Olson giving a presentation at the Geological Society of America, Cordilleran Section meeting in Sacramento. He is in a hotel conference room standing behind a wooden lectern addressing the audience. A sign at the top front of the lectern reads “Holiday Inn Sacramento” and another sign at the bottom reads “The Geological Society of America”.

Title slide of Brian Olson’s presentation that reads “Liquefaction Hazard Zone Mapping in the Greater Sacramento Area, Sacramento and Yolo Counties, Northern California.” At the top left is a multi-colored version of the California gear from the state flag with text to the right that reads “California Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey”. In the lower left is Brian’s name, job title (Senior Engineering Geologist), and CGS’ social media handle of “@CAGeoSurvey”.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Anyone have any insight into why this M3.1 in the Sacramento delta is SO deep? 🧪

Map of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento River delta and surrounding areas. A white circle is shown north of the city of Antioch representing the epicenter of a magnitude 3.1 earthquake. A white box with details about the quake is shown in the lower left corner. It states this earthquake was 13 kilometers west of Rio Vista, CA occurring at 8:37am on April 4. The hypocenter is listed at 24.6 kilometers and is highlighted in yellow for emphasis.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

The context is “0.5 inch(es) of settlement is expected.”

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Dr. Wendy Bohon @drwendyrocks.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Folks attending the @geosociety.bsky.social Cordilleran conference - roll out of bed early, grab a ☕️ and head over to the Granada Room to catch my 8:00 am talk! Then stick around to learn about liquefaction hazards in Sacramento from @brianolson.bsky.social at 9:10. 😎

Screenshot of the talk title, which says “earthquake science and public service: working to keep earthquake hazards from becoming earthquake disasters“. Friday, April 4, 2025 8 AM to 8:30 AM in the Granada Hermosa.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

If you're at the GSA Cordilleran Section meeting in Sacramento tomorrow, stop by the "Earthquake Hazards in Applied Geology" session tomorrow morning and catch me and Wendy Bohon in action as we represent the California Geological Survey! 🧪 @drwendyrocks.bsky.social @cageosurvey.bsky.social

Screen shot of the Friday morning schedule of speakers with orange boxes highlighting a talk by Wendy Bohon entitled "Earthquake Science in Public Service: Working to Keep Earthquake Hazards from becoming Earthquake Disasters" at 8:00am and a talk by Brian Olson entitled " Liquefaction Hazard Zone Mapping in the Greater Sacramento Area, Sacramento and Yolo Counties, northern California" at 9:10am.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Help me... I'm reviewing a technical document and need to know... is it "0.5 inch" or "0.5 inches"? 🧪 Can't find any style guides or clear rules.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Example from La Cañada showing progressive residential development on an alluvial fan that has seen numerous debris flow flooding. Risk is changing with a warming climate, hazard is increasing with expanding construction. 🧪 #CDGSA2025 @cageosurvey.bsky.social

PowerPoint slide showing different topographic maps of one area of La Cañada showing more homes being built over time from 1928 to 2009. In 1928 the area is very lightly populated with scattered homes and by 2009 every lot is filled with homes and other buildings.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Jeremy Lancaster (California State Geologist) giving the lunchtime lecture at GSA on post-wildfire flooding & debris flow hazards. Highly developed alluvial fans are most prone. Studies find a minimum flow depth of 5 feet equaled total destruction of structures. @cageosurvey.bsky.social

California state geologist Jeremy Lancaster stands behind a podium speaking into the microphone giving a presentation.

Title slide of Jeremy Lancaster’s talk reading “Post-Fire geohazard management in California’s warming climate”.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Are we thinking this ruptured the Sagaing Fault? Seems the most recent significant event was a ~M7.9 earthquake in March 1839. Can’t help but see the parallels of a major right-lateral transform boundary fault near major population centers that last ruptured 160+ years ago. 😳

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

The USGS posted their aftershock forecast and they are saying there's a 40% chance of another M6+ earthquake in the next week. Certainly, there will be dozens to hundreds of smaller M4s and M5s. If you are in Bangkok, I doubt you'll feel quakes less than M6 though. Scary no matter what though.

USGS "Aftershock Forecast" graph for the recent magnitude 7.7 earthquake near Mandalay in Myanmar (Burma). According to the graph, in the next week, there is a 6 percent chance of another M7+ earthquake, 40% chance of a magnitude 6+ quake, and 97 percent chance of a magnitdue 5+ quake.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Hi, Paige! So sorry I didn't see this until now. Likely you're hearing a lot about this quake today. This was definitely a major earthquake and there will certainly be large aftershocks. Within 12 min. of the main quake there was a M6.7 aftershock, which is also potentially dangerous.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Oops! Looks like USGS removed it over an hour and a half after it posted it. Weird. Glitch?

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

That's one way to start your weekend! A M4.6 earthquake shook the Bombay Beach/Salton Sea area this morning, just before 10:30am local time. This part of California has been rumbling with small M1-2 quakes since March 1. This could be the main shock of that sequence. #earthquake 🧪

Map of southern California and part of western Arizona showing geographic features, city names, major freeways, and dark gray lines representing known surface faults. Two orange circles represent recent earthquake epicenter locations. The northerly one is the magntiude 4.6 earthquake from this morning. It plots within the southern end of the Salton Sea in Imperial County.

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California Geological Survey @cageosurvey.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Would you like to learn about earthquakes and tsunamis in Northern California? 🧪⚒️ Register for an “Evening Discussion of Local Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards.” This hybrid event will be held on March 12 from 5:30-7 PM. Visit now.humboldt.edu/news/lessons... for more information.

now.humboldt.edu

Lessons from December’s Earthquake and Tsunami Warning

On Dec. 5, 2024, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Humboldt County, shaking communities and triggering a tsunami warning along Northern and Central California’s coastline. Now local e...

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

WE DON’T GAIN MORE SUNLIGHT WITH DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME! WE JUST SHIFT THE HOURS OF THE DAY WITH WHEN THE SUN IS UP!

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Ha! It was quite the circuitous journey to find the *actual* restaurant.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Post-workshop brainstorming session. 😉

Stainless steel beer tanks inside a warehouse at Rogue Brewing.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Excellent 1-day workshop in Newport, OR discussing ground failures from past Cascadia earthquakes and planning for future ones.

Vertical banner in an interior hallway. It reads: “CRESCENT Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center, Innovative Science for a Resilient Society”

Exterior view of a vertical tsunami evacuation structure at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. A metal sign on a wooden post reads “Tsunami Evacuation Route” and points towards a concrete ramp that leads to the top of a 3-story building.

View of a marina with scattered boats and a steel arch bridge in the distance at sunset.

Elevator button panel with a button labeled “Seismic” and one with a “Tsunami Evacuation Route” sticker next to it.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Also, not the first cane raised in Congress, but this is to defend the honor of the poor and vulnerable, not wealthy elite slaveholders.

Political cartoon depicting the 1856 beating of Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner by South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks at his desk days after giving a lengthy, excoriating speech against slavery and Congressional slaveholders. Sumner was beaten bloody and unconscious.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

"[NOAA is] a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future U.S. prosperity." - Project 2025, Chapter 21 It's not about reducing bloat/waste... it's about eliminating an ideology...

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

The self-delusion is real! 😆😆

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

I’ve done plenty of drilling in the first half of my career, but I’ve always wanted to go to that drilling workshop. In a weird way, I miss it.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Exactly! Several slides are just pictures so I can move quickly past them. 🤞🏼

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Just wrapped prep on a 5-minute lightning talk that ended up with 13 slides. Uh oh! 😳😆

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

To be clear, I send this weekly report to my direct supervisor, not the governor’s best friend.

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Brian Olson @brianolson.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

I mean, as a state government employee, I literally do this EVERY. WEEK. It’s called a “Weekly Report”. (However, failure to respond is NOT taken as my desire to resign.)

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