Seismic St. Louis
Emily SekineI'm interested in better understanding the ongoing geological processes that shape St. Louis and the Mississippi Valley region. So far, I've been looking into the history of seismicity in the region, focusing on the fascinating but little known history of the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 -- the most devastating earthquakes to have hit the US east of the Rockies. I've also been exploring how St. Louis and surrounding areas are dealing with the possibility of another earthquake occurring in the future. According to one article I read, one of the biggest uncertainties is what would happen to the heavily engineered Mississippi River in the case of another major tremblor. The shaking could break the levees, flooding wide areas along the river and creating cascading effects. The flow of the river might also reverse completely, as occurred during the New Madrid earthquakes.
On these possibilities and the lack of scientific consensus surrounding intraplate seismicity in this zone, see this article in The Atlantic.
On current efforts to create earthquake hazard maps in St. Louis, see this overview on the US Geological Survey site.
For a deeper dive into the history of the New Madrid earthquakes, see this book by historian of science Conevery Bolton Valencius.
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As a social and cultural historian of California, I am most drawn to understanding toxicity as an “extremely harsh or harmful quality.” Taking this working definition, it is my goal to analyze
Field Works, La Plaza: Past and Present
I designed this field works trip as a way to allow for interested participants to analyze La Plaza as a case study for LA’s, and view it as a site of the visible intersections of environmental
Found Image: La Plaza Cultura Village Floor Plans
This image shows the three least expensive options for La Plaza Cultura Village.
Found Image: La Plaza Culture Village Construction
This image is one of several taken in May 2018 showing the ongoing construction of La Plaza Cultura Village.
Ethnographic Sketch, Competing Hegemonies
This ethnographic sketch highlights the competing discourses surround La Plaza. This document complements the "Mapping Subject Positions" sketch.
Ethnographic Sketch, Core Categories
This ethnographic sketch explains in further details two of the central lenses that I use to view vulnerabilites at La Plaza: urban expansion/renewal and multiculturalism.
Ethnographic Sketch, Mapping Subject Positions
This ethnographic sketch highlights the competing visions and objectives of persons and entities involved with shaping La Plaza's history, culture, politics, and infrastructure.
This timeline shows several events in La Plaza's long history that proved foundational in creating the current socioeconomic issues the district faces today.