Berkeley Seismology Lab
@berkeleyseismo.bsky.social
Monitoring Northern California seismicity. Conducting fundamental research. Training the next generation of earth scientists. Sound science, serving society.
Thank you to our #BSLSeminar speaker, Dr. Yuan Tian, for the insightful talk on seismic wave amplification in sedimentary basins using 3D wavefield simulation! Next week, we will be welcoming Christie Rowe from the University of Nevada, Reno. Learn more: buff.ly/LvdVoo8
January 22, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Thank you to our #BSLSeminar speaker, Dr. Yuan Tian, for the insightful talk on seismic wave amplification in sedimentary basins using 3D wavefield simulation! Next week, we will be welcoming Christie Rowe from the University of Nevada, Reno. Learn more: buff.ly/LvdVoo8
Fact or Fiction:
“California will eventually break off and fall into the ocean.”
Let’s break it down. 👇
“California will eventually break off and fall into the ocean.”
Let’s break it down. 👇
January 19, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Fact or Fiction:
“California will eventually break off and fall into the ocean.”
Let’s break it down. 👇
“California will eventually break off and fall into the ocean.”
Let’s break it down. 👇
32 Years Later: Remembering the 1994 Northridge Earthquake
On January 17, 1994, the Northridge earthquake reshaped Southern California — and earthquake science.
On January 17, 1994, the Northridge earthquake reshaped Southern California — and earthquake science.
January 17, 2026 at 10:00 PM
32 Years Later: Remembering the 1994 Northridge Earthquake
On January 17, 1994, the Northridge earthquake reshaped Southern California — and earthquake science.
On January 17, 1994, the Northridge earthquake reshaped Southern California — and earthquake science.
Pop Culture Friday Thread: Volcano (1997)
What the movie got right, wrong, and very wrong about volcanoes in LA.
🧵👇
What the movie got right, wrong, and very wrong about volcanoes in LA.
🧵👇
January 10, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Pop Culture Friday Thread: Volcano (1997)
What the movie got right, wrong, and very wrong about volcanoes in LA.
🧵👇
What the movie got right, wrong, and very wrong about volcanoes in LA.
🧵👇
Director Richard Allen spoke with @npr on the megaquake watch in Japan this week. He explained what subduction zones are and how people can be prepared. Listen to the full interview here:
Japan is under a megaquake watch. What does this mean?
Japan is learning what life is life under a megaquake watch. NPR's Rob Schmitz talks to Richard Allen, director of the Berkeley Seismology Lab, about what it means.
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Director Richard Allen spoke with @npr on the megaquake watch in Japan this week. He explained what subduction zones are and how people can be prepared. Listen to the full interview here:
A hearty thanks to all of the #BSLSeminar speakers this Fall! The Seminar will be on hiatus through the Winter Break and will resume in January. Stay tuned or bookmark buff.ly/UxsqVzb for more info.
buff.ly
December 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
A hearty thanks to all of the #BSLSeminar speakers this Fall! The Seminar will be on hiatus through the Winter Break and will resume in January. Stay tuned or bookmark buff.ly/UxsqVzb for more info.
This week's BSL Seminar features Dr. Quentin Bletery of GeoAzur Nice. Dr. Bletery's talk is on: "AI-enhanced earthquake and tsunami early warning and the question of precursory signal in GPS data." 12/09 4pm, McCone 220. Learn more at buff.ly/AZU6DXt
earthquakes.berkeley.edu
December 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This week's BSL Seminar features Dr. Quentin Bletery of GeoAzur Nice. Dr. Bletery's talk is on: "AI-enhanced earthquake and tsunami early warning and the question of precursory signal in GPS data." 12/09 4pm, McCone 220. Learn more at buff.ly/AZU6DXt
Fact vs. Fiction:
“You should never run outside or stand in a doorway during an earthquake.”
Let’s break it down. 👇
“You should never run outside or stand in a doorway during an earthquake.”
Let’s break it down. 👇
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Fact vs. Fiction:
“You should never run outside or stand in a doorway during an earthquake.”
Let’s break it down. 👇
“You should never run outside or stand in a doorway during an earthquake.”
Let’s break it down. 👇
This week's BSL Seminar features Dr. Shujuan Mao, Asst. Professor at UT Austin. Dr. Mao's talk is on: "4D Seismology: New Dynamic Insights into Fluid-Rock Systems for Understanding Groundwater, Geoenergy, and Geohazards." 12/02 4pm, McCone 220. Learn more at earthquakes.berkeley.edu/seismo.seminar
December 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This week's BSL Seminar features Dr. Shujuan Mao, Asst. Professor at UT Austin. Dr. Mao's talk is on: "4D Seismology: New Dynamic Insights into Fluid-Rock Systems for Understanding Groundwater, Geoenergy, and Geohazards." 12/02 4pm, McCone 220. Learn more at earthquakes.berkeley.edu/seismo.seminar
The BSL Seminar took a break alongside the University this week. Join us on 12/02 for a talk by Dr. Shujuan Mao of UT Austin on: “4D Seismology: New Dynamic Insights into Fluid-Rock Systems for Understanding Groundwater, Geoenergy, and Geohazards.” buff.ly/AZU6DXt.
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The BSL Seminar took a break alongside the University this week. Join us on 12/02 for a talk by Dr. Shujuan Mao of UT Austin on: “4D Seismology: New Dynamic Insights into Fluid-Rock Systems for Understanding Groundwater, Geoenergy, and Geohazards.” buff.ly/AZU6DXt.
Pop Culture Friday: San Andreas (2015) 🎬
Let’s see what the movie got …shakingly right and wrong 👇
Let’s see what the movie got …shakingly right and wrong 👇
November 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Pop Culture Friday: San Andreas (2015) 🎬
Let’s see what the movie got …shakingly right and wrong 👇
Let’s see what the movie got …shakingly right and wrong 👇
Harry Wood taught the 1st seismo course in the US, marking the beginning of seismology as an academic discipline. An instructor of geology and mineralogy at UC Berkeley (1904–1912), he help lay the groundwork for the instrumental seismology that would define the next generation.
November 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Harry Wood taught the 1st seismo course in the US, marking the beginning of seismology as an academic discipline. An instructor of geology and mineralogy at UC Berkeley (1904–1912), he help lay the groundwork for the instrumental seismology that would define the next generation.
Many thx to Dr. Peggy Hellweg for a look back at the Fickle Hill Earthquake of 1954. We'll be off next week for Thanksgiving, but join us 12/02 in welcoming Dr. Mao from UT Austin. Learn more about the BSL Seminar at earthquakes.berkeley.edu/seismo.seminar.
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Many thx to Dr. Peggy Hellweg for a look back at the Fickle Hill Earthquake of 1954. We'll be off next week for Thanksgiving, but join us 12/02 in welcoming Dr. Mao from UT Austin. Learn more about the BSL Seminar at earthquakes.berkeley.edu/seismo.seminar.
This week's BSL Seminar features Dr. Peggy Hellweg speaking on: "Revisiting an Enigma on California's North Coast: the Fickle Hill Earthquake of 21 December 1954." Join us 11/18 4pm in McCone 220. Learn more about the BSL Seminar at earthquakes.berkeley.edu/seismo.seminar.
November 17, 2025 at 9:45 PM
This week's BSL Seminar features Dr. Peggy Hellweg speaking on: "Revisiting an Enigma on California's North Coast: the Fickle Hill Earthquake of 21 December 1954." Join us 11/18 4pm in McCone 220. Learn more about the BSL Seminar at earthquakes.berkeley.edu/seismo.seminar.
The 1908 “Lawson Report” was one of the most influential scientific earthquake reports ever written. Here's the story of Andrew Lawson and how he built the foundations of modern earthquake science at Berkeley!🧵🪨
November 13, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The 1908 “Lawson Report” was one of the most influential scientific earthquake reports ever written. Here's the story of Andrew Lawson and how he built the foundations of modern earthquake science at Berkeley!🧵🪨
The BSL Seminar is taking the week off! Join us next week as Dr. Peggy Hellweg speaks on: "Revisiting an Enigma on California's North Coast: the Fickle Hill Earthquake of 21 December 1954." Join us 11/18 4pm in McCone 220. Learn more about the BSL Seminar at earthquakes.berkeley.edu/seismo.seminar.
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The BSL Seminar is taking the week off! Join us next week as Dr. Peggy Hellweg speaks on: "Revisiting an Enigma on California's North Coast: the Fickle Hill Earthquake of 21 December 1954." Join us 11/18 4pm in McCone 220. Learn more about the BSL Seminar at earthquakes.berkeley.edu/seismo.seminar.
New here? Here's a thread on who we are and what we do👇
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
New here? Here's a thread on who we are and what we do👇
Seismologist Angie Lux spoke with @kpfa.org on the M4.3 #earthquake in Berkeley this week, aftershocks, and what you can do to be ready for the "Big One". Listen here: kpfa.org/area941/epis... and catch the full podcast here: plinkhq.com/i/1637968343....
Earthquake Safety w/ Dr. Angie Lux from Berkeley Seismology Lab | KPFA
Bay Area residents were jolted awake this week by a 4.3 magnitude earthquake. While it may not have been the “Big One” we are expecting, the tremor reminds us to be prepared for when, not if, the exp...
kpfa.org
September 26, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Seismologist Angie Lux spoke with @kpfa.org on the M4.3 #earthquake in Berkeley this week, aftershocks, and what you can do to be ready for the "Big One". Listen here: kpfa.org/area941/epis... and catch the full podcast here: plinkhq.com/i/1637968343....
2025 #SCEC Annual Meeting! Meet UCB undergrad Natasha: "I presented my work on earthquake ground-motion durations and a collaborative project on making CyberShake more accessible through a user-friendly GUI. Grateful to SCEC, Verisk, UCB, and my mentors for supporting this work!" Way to go Natasha!
September 9, 2025 at 4:38 PM
2025 #SCEC Annual Meeting! Meet UCB undergrad Natasha: "I presented my work on earthquake ground-motion durations and a collaborative project on making CyberShake more accessible through a user-friendly GUI. Grateful to SCEC, Verisk, UCB, and my mentors for supporting this work!" Way to go Natasha!
If you would like to know more about the 1868 Earthquake, check out an upcoming talk by Bay Area historian Richard Schwartz, whose new book includes historic photographs of the largest known earthquake on the Hayward Fault. www.sanleandrohistory.org/events--meet...
Events & Meetings
FREE EVENT Saturday, September 6 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall 180 Estudillo Avenue (note the venue change--this is NOT the usual Historical Society event...
www.sanleandrohistory.org
August 12, 2025 at 10:06 PM
If you would like to know more about the 1868 Earthquake, check out an upcoming talk by Bay Area historian Richard Schwartz, whose new book includes historic photographs of the largest known earthquake on the Hayward Fault. www.sanleandrohistory.org/events--meet...