Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Spanning from Northern California to British Columbia, Canada, the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) stretches over 1,000 kilometres and marks the boundary between the Juan de Fuca and North American tectonic plates.
The CSZ is not just a geological curiosity but a potential source of one of the most powerful earthquakes and tsunamis globally.
Representative pic
Published in Science Advances on June 7, a new study highlights that different regions within the CSZ may rupture individually or collectively, potentially unleashing a massive earthquake.
According to co-author Harold Tobin from the University of Washington, the impact of such a quake could vary significantly across affected regions like Tacoma and Seattle, ranging from alarming to catastrophic.
The CSZ has a history of producing massive earthquakes, with occurrences estimated roughly every 500 years. The last major quake struck in 1700, affecting the region profoundly.
Since the last comprehensive study in the 1980s, technological advancements have provided researchers with more sophisticated equipment to better understand the CSZ's subterranean structures and mechanics.
The latest study, covering 900 kilometres of the CSZ, revealed a complex fault surface with significant deviations from previous understandings based on outdated data.
While there are no direct records of the 1700 quake, evidence such as drowned trees and a mysterious tsunami in Japan on January 26 of that year suggest a powerful quake, estimated at magnitude 8.7 to 9.2.
Researchers anticipate that the insights gained from this study will enhance hazard mapping and prediction efforts, better preparing major cities like Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver for potential future seismic events. The findings underscore the critical need for continued research and preparedness to mitigate the impact of seismic activity in highly populated coastal areas along the CSZ.
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