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San Andreas Fault hits highest stress level in 1,000 years, study finds
ABC7 Los Angeles • • science
Key Points:
- New research from the University of Hawaii at Manoa reveals that stress along Southern California's San Andreas and San Jacinto faults has reached its highest level in 1,000 years, raising concerns about seismic hazards in the region.
- The study suggests the possibility of a large rupture involving both fault systems, with Cajon Pass potentially acting as an "earthquake gate" that can either block or allow a combined rupture.
- Using a physics-based model fed with 1,000 years of earthquake history, researchers found that stress accumulation is at unprecedented levels, with over 160 years since the last major rupture, indicating a critically loaded state.
- A simultaneous rupture of both faults could severely impact densely populated areas such as Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and the Coachella Valley.
- The San Andreas Fault, a major tectonic boundary running about 650 miles, is a key focus due to its potential to trigger significant seismic events affecting infrastructure and populations in the region.
