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San Francisco International Airport is located in an area prone to earthquakes. In 2023, a 3.7-magnitude earthquake was recorded under the airport, highlighting the need for earthquake-proof infrastructure. The airport has taken steps to fortify itself, including making the international terminal and air traffic control tower earthquake-proof. The city of San Francisco has also invested heavily in seismic improvements and resilience planning. This includes strengthening buildings, improving infrastructure, and developing programs to address seismically vulnerable areas. While the airport and city work to prepare for potential earthquakes, the threat of The Big One and the vulnerability of skyscrapers remain a concern for San Francisco.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earthquake-prone area | Yes |
| Earthquake-proof airport | The international terminal building and the air traffic control tower are earthquake-proof |
| Earthquake history | 1906 earthquake, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, 1994 Northridge earthquake, 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake, 2023 minor earthquake |
| Earthquake safety measures | Over $20 billion invested in seismic improvements, Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety (CAPSS), Strategic Plan to achieve net-zero carbon, Earthquake Safety Implementation Program |
| Earthquake-resistant buildings | Concrete walls, steel gravity framing, post-tensioned cast |
| Earthquake magnitude withstanding capacity | 8.0 magnitude |
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What You'll Learn
San Francisco Airport's earthquake-proof air traffic control tower
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in Northern California, an area prone to earthquakes. In 2023, a magnitude 3.7 earthquake was recorded under the airport. The San Francisco Bay Area lies along the San Andreas Fault, making the region especially vulnerable to significant earthquakes.
In 2016, a project to rebuild the control tower between Terminals 1 and 2 was completed with a $150 million investment from SFO and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The tower was designed by Colorado-based Fentress Architects and Kansas City-based HNTB. The structure stands at 220 feet tall, and the 650 square-foot controller section provides air traffic controllers with a 235-degree view of the airport's runways and taxiways.
The control tower was built with solar panels and eco-friendly materials in its mechanical and technical systems. It was constructed with a post-tensioned cast, which resists extreme earthquakes and wind-induced vibration. The base building has concrete walls and steel gravity framing that can resist blast threats from neighbouring roadways. The tower was designed using vertical post-tensioning to provide a self-centring action in the event of a major earthquake. The tower is designed to remain fully operational at the Design Earthquake level and to provide safe exiting and no collapse at the Maximum Considered Earthquake level.
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The airport's location in an earthquake-prone area
San Francisco Airport is located in Northern California, an area prone to earthquakes. The San Francisco Bay Area lies along the San Andreas Fault, which stretches over 800 miles and has several branches of fault lines. The airport is located just about 2.5 to 3 miles away from the fault line. In 2023, a magnitude 3.7 earthquake was recorded to have occurred beneath the airport, with the epicentre traced to be under the airport. While the earthquake was minor, it still rattled nerves.
The San Andreas Fault has caused several major earthquakes in California, including one in 1906 that was close to an 8.0 magnitude and resulted in eighty per cent of the city being destroyed. The fault line could cause another destructive earthquake by 2030. The city has also experienced other major earthquakes, such as the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which was a 6.9 magnitude quake that resulted in 63 deaths and billions of dollars in property damage.
The airport's proximity to the San Andreas Fault line and the history of earthquakes in the area highlight the importance of ensuring that the airport is earthquake-proof. The airport's operator is well aware of the risk posed by a major earthquake in the region. To mitigate this risk, the airport has taken steps to fortify itself against earthquakes. The airport's international terminal building and air traffic control tower have been made earthquake-proof. The control tower, which is 220 feet tall, was constructed using cutting-edge seismic designs, including a post-tensioned cast that resists extreme earthquakes and wind-induced vibration. The building can withstand earthquakes of up to 8.0 magnitude.
In addition to the airport's efforts, the city of San Francisco has also invested over $20 billion in seismic improvements to public infrastructure, including health centres, emergency services, and essential city services. The city has implemented stronger building codes and retrofit programs to mitigate the impacts of future large earthquakes. The Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety (CAPSS) has guided the development of policies and programs to address seismically vulnerable privately-owned buildings.
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The city's earthquake safety programs
San Francisco International Airport is located in an area prone to earthquakes. In 2023, a magnitude 3.7 earthquake was recorded to have occurred beneath the airport. The San Francisco Bay Area lies along the San Andreas Fault, making the region especially vulnerable to significant earthquakes.
The City of San Francisco has implemented several earthquake safety programs to protect its residents and infrastructure. Here is an overview of these programs:
Earthquake Safety Implementation Program (ESIP): This program began in early 2012, evolving from the Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety (CAPSS). ESIP is a multiyear workplan that aims to implement stronger building codes and retrofit programs to mitigate the impacts of large earthquakes. It includes fifty tasks to be implemented over the next few decades.
Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety (CAPSS): CAPSS is a ten-year-long study that evaluates the vulnerabilities San Francisco faces due to earthquakes. It provides recommendations to address seismically vulnerable privately-owned businesses and informs the development of policies and programs.
Concrete Building Safety Program: This program is a joint effort between the Office of Resilience and Capital Planning, the Department of Building Inspection, community stakeholders, and engineering experts. It aims to address seismically deficient concrete buildings across the city and develop recommendations for policymakers.
Department of Building Inspection (DBI): DBI oversees the building safety of more than 200,000 residential and commercial properties in San Francisco. They review plans, issue permits, and inspect buildings to ensure code compliance and habitability. DBI also works with residents, business owners, and property owners to protect lives and property during earthquakes.
Other Initiatives: San Francisco has invested over $20 billion in seismic improvements to public infrastructure, including airports. The city has seismically strengthened thousands of buildings and improved publicly owned infrastructure. Additionally, the city has implemented the Mayor's Office initiatives, partnered with various departments and agencies, and established sustainability goals, such as achieving net-zero carbon.
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The airport's sinking runways
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in Northern California, an area prone to earthquakes. The San Francisco Bay Area lies along the San Andreas Fault, which stretches over 800 miles and shoots out several branches of fault lines. The California Earthquake Authority states that there is a 3 out of 4 chance of one or more magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquakes striking the San Francisco region in the near future.
The airport's operator is aware of the risk posed by a major earthquake in the region. In 2023, a magnitude 3.7 earthquake was recorded to have occurred beneath the airport. While the earthquake was minor, the fact that its epicentre was under the airport was disconcerting.
The airport's runways are sinking at a rate of 10mm per year, the highest among the airports surveyed. The sinking is uneven across the runway surface, which could increase the overall damage over time. Oluwaseyi Dasho, an environmental hazard specialist at Virginia Tech, said:
> "The funding to maintain airport infrastructures is quite limited, so many are getting dilapidated. [...] U.S. airport infrastructure needs attention, especially focusing on runways. [...] When you have differential subsidence along the runway, there is a higher risk of damage along the runway. Along the runway, if there are points higher than the others, it could lead to a change of slope, it could lead to caverning and bulging along the runway. When there is bulging along the runway, it could lead to ponding of water when there is rainfall. We should be aware of our environment, we should be aware that the infrastructure we utilize are exposed to climate change events."
Manoochehr Shirzaei, Dasho's colleague, reiterated that the sinking runways do not pose any imminent threats:
> "If we don't take any action to mitigate the land subsidence and sinking of the runways, that can result in a situation that poses threats to the safety of aviation. But as of this moment, everything is safe."
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The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
San Francisco Airport is located in Northern California, an area prone to earthquakes. The city lies along the San Andreas Fault, which stretches over 800 miles and has several branches of fault lines. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a 6.9-magnitude quake, was a powerful reminder of the region's seismic vulnerability.
In the years following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, San Francisco has invested heavily in seismic improvements to its public infrastructure. The city has implemented programs to strengthen unreinforced masonry buildings and wood-frame soft-story multi-family buildings, improving their resilience against future earthquakes. The city has also worked to address vulnerable privately-owned businesses and continues to fund improvements to publicly owned infrastructure.
The San Francisco Airport itself has taken steps to fortify its facilities against major earthquakes. The airport's air traffic control tower has been designed to remain fully operational during earthquakes, with a post-tensioned cast that can resist extreme vibrations and a base building constructed with concrete walls and steel gravity framing. The tower was built with solar panels and eco-friendly materials, and it is predicted to save energy and water while reducing waste.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, San Francisco Airport is located in Northern California, just about 2.5 to 3 miles away from the San Andreas Fault line. The San Francisco Bay Area lies along the San Andreas Fault, making the region especially vulnerable to significant earthquakes. The California Earthquake Authority says that there is a 3 out of 4 chance of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake striking the San Francisco region in the near future.
San Francisco Airport has taken steps to fortify itself against large earthquakes by making its international terminal building and air traffic control tower earthquake-proof. The control tower, completed in 2022, was built with solar panels and eco-friendly materials in its mechanical and technical systems. It is designed to remain fully operational at the Design Earthquake level and to provide safe exiting and no collapse at the Maximum Considered Earthquake level. The control tower can withstand earthquakes of up to 8.0 magnitude.
Since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, San Francisco has invested over $20 billion in seismic improvements to its public infrastructure, including health centers, emergency services, airports, and essential city services. The city has also implemented stronger building codes and retrofit programs to mitigate the impacts of future large earthquakes.
