Caltech study puts Paso Robles in center of massive future earthquake
Caltech study puts Paso Robles in center of massive future earthquake
Photo from SFbay.com
SFBay – In a new study from Caltech, seismologists say a massive quake along the legendary San Andreas Fault, which runs through more than 800 miles of California, could rupture in a way that would essentially unzip the state from end to end.
Based on research collected in the aftermath of the massive 9.0 quake that struck Japan in 2011 and the 7.6 that hit Taiwan in 1999, scientists found that a portion of the San Andreas Fault called a “creeping segment” could cause earthquakes in the same way.
Long believed to prevent pressure buildup along faults, creeping segments are what caused the devastating temblors in Asia. Until now, it was thought that the slow movement actually relieved stress buildup along the fault. However, there can be locked segments that accumulate stress over time, then rupture.
The California creeper has been identified as a stretch of the San Andreas Fault about 50 miles inland, between Paso Robles and Monterey. Just like those in Asia, it was thought to be slowly and steadily releasing pressure as the tectonic plates shifted.
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