Author: Christian Yates, Senior Lecturer in Mathematical Biology, University of Bath

At around 10:44 Pacific Time on December 5, a huge earthquake struck around 60 miles off the coast of California. The magnitude 7 quake triggered a tsunami alert for some cities in northern California. Fortunately the potentially catastrophic wave never appeared and the warning was later rescinded. Although many people reported experiencing an alarming shaking, thus far there have been no stories of serious casualties from the quake, with California residents typically reporting only minor damage. A narrow escape like this is a reminder of the devastation that earthquakes in the area have the potential to cause. Residents might rightly…