American geologist who in 1994 reported a huge earthquake that struck deep in the rock beneath Bolivia. This earthquake, measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale, caused virtually no damage, though it was felt as far away as Toronto (over 6,000 miles away). The muted impact of the earthquake may be explained by its depth and the presence of a "seismic channel" that managed to convey seismic waves a great distance, allowing a slow release of earthquake energy along this entire path.