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Michael Hamburger
IU Department of Geological Sciences
hamburg@indiana.edu
812-855-0239

IU Department of Geological Sciences
812-855-5582

Last modified: Tuesday, April 22, 2008

"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On! Understanding the Indiana Earthquake of 2008"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Earthquakes, fault lines and seismic zones are not usually part of a Hoosier's daily vocabulary, but after the rare earthquake of magnitude 5.2 last Friday morning, and two sizable aftershocks of magnitudes 4.6 and 4.0 in the following days, geological science has been a hot topic throughout the Midwest. Luckily, Indiana University has its own resident expert in the field of seismology -- Geological Sciences Professor Michael Hamburger.

Hamburger

Photo by: Chris Meyer

Michael Hamburger

Print-Quality Photo

This Thursday (April 24) evening, Hamburger will share his expertise, and the latest scientific information about last week's earthquake, in a special public forum. "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On! Understanding the Indiana Earthquake of 2008," will take place in IU's Geology Building, 1001 E. 10th St., located between Forrest and Walnut Grove streets. The forum will begin at 5:30 p.m. in lecture room 126, which seats 100 people. Parking will be available in the lot behind the building.

"Earthquakes are relatively rare in the Midwest, and our detailed study of the aftershocks and effects help teach us about the structures and processes of earthquakes in the Midwest," said Hamburger. "Studying the aftershocks may also help better understand the nature of the system and to forecast possible future seismic activity in both Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, where the earthquake occurred, and the neighboring New Madrid Seismic Zone, responsible for several earthquakes with magnitudes over 7.0 in the early 1800's."