SAN ANDREAS (2015): A Seismologist’s Thoughts on the Film’s Accuracy

Seismologist Lucy Jones thoughts on San Andreas‘ Accuracy. With Brad Peyton‘s San Andreas (2015) premiering today in US theaters, questions on its scientific accuracy have been raised. Many of those questions, the film’s key plot points, and set pieces have been addressed by U.S. Geological Survey Seismologist Lucy Jones. American astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson started this commentary trend with Titanic, Gravity, and Interstellar, and it shows no signs of abating. Like Tyson, Jones has released her thoughts via Twitter.

Dr. Lucy Jones on San Andreas’ Accuracy

First big howler. San Andreas the movie pretends that California has a subduction zone. We can only have a M8.2

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

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If seismologists could actually predict EQs, we’d all be much richer. Too bad that part of San Andreas isn’t real…

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

First big safety message- if the shaking is bad enough to damage a dam you won’t be able to run

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

OMG! A chasm? If the fault could open up, there’d be no friction. With no friction, there’d be no earthquake

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

Recognizing water draw down as sign of tsunami is good. However tsunami from San Andreas is impossible. Now we are in fantasy territory

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

The predictions aren’t real but EQ triggering is real. A California EQ M7.3 in 1992 triggered a M5.7 in Nevada the next day

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

Yes! Drop, cover& hold on. The right thing to do in an earthquake

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

I like that the aftershocks keep on hitting and cause more damage. That’s the reality of Big EQs

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— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

Another good tidbit. Landlines work when cellphones are out because of no electricity

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

The competent young woman understands vertical evacuation. One way to escape tsunami is going up a building

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

Competence makes the girl sexy! That’s a new message i can applaud!

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

Bottom line: don’t learn seismology from #SanAndreas but maybe it will inspire people to take Community Emergency Response Training

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015

So it wasn’t all bad. Basically, San Andreas is scientifically accurate when it can be and not accurate when the plot of the film needs something specific to happen.

We previously published these San Andreas articles:

• SAN ANDREAS (2015) Teaser Trailer: Dwayne Johnson Tries to Survive Earthquake
• SAN ANDREAS (2015) Movie Trailer 2: California is Hit by Massive Earthquake

San Andreas stars Archie Panjabi, Will Yun Lee, Kylie Minogue, Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Art Parkinson, Alexandra Daddario, Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Colton Haynes, Ioan Gruffudd, Morgan Griffin, Vanessa Ross, Matt Gerald, Marissa Neitling, and Alec Utgoff.

Leave your thoughts on what Dr. Lucy Jones had to say about San Andreas‘ accuracy below in the comments section. For more San Andreas photos, videos, and information, visit our San Andreas Page, subscribe to us by Email, “follow” us on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, or “like” us on Facebook for quick updates.

Source: Twitter, Slashfilm, LA Observed