Utilization And Impact Of Earth Science Information Among Local Governments And Businesses In Southern California
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Date
1996
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Since the mid-1970's when earth scientists began to publicly discuss the possibility of forecasting damaging earthquakes, social scientists have studied public reactions to these
announcements (cf, Turner et al. 1986). Even at that early time, earth scientists were concerned
about the potential negative impacts their forecasts couid have on social, economic, and political
systems. One frequent question from the earth science community was: Would the
announcement of an earthquake "prediction" have more severe consequences than would an
earthquake itself? Local government leaders expressed concerns that, if their community were
included in the area of predicted seismic activity, would their citizens temporarily or permanently
leave the area? Would economic activities become depressed? Would citizens "panic?"
Keywords
Earth Science Information, Local Governments, Businesses, Southern California