San Andreas Fault Could Erupt with Explosive Earthquake at Any Moment, Scientists Warn

The San Andreas Fault could erupt with an explosive earthquake at any moment, with the potential to cause widespread destruction, according to a warning by scientists in their new study. Recently, researchers in the United States and Italy reported that they have detected "seismic attenuation and stress" along the fault line.

These signs may indicate that a looming tremor could be released from California's major geological fault, situated along the boundary between the North American plate and the Pacific plate.

The San Andreas Fault is an 800-mile-long transform boundary that spans across the state of California in the westernmost part of the United States. Sometimes called as the "backbone of California" and referred to as a strike-slip fault, this large fault line system extends to more than 10 miles deep underneath the state.

San Andreas Fault Earthquake

For years, the backbone of California has been a site of concern among seismologists and other experts. Visible from space, the said boundary is located on land, unlike other plate boundaries that exist in the ocean. Since it is located within population centers, the fault was predicted by scientists before to potentially generate a powerful earthquake never seen before in 'recorded' human history.

Due to its large size and geographical proximity, the San Andreas Fault has been deemed an earthquake-hazard zone, and new findings suggest an increased likelihood of an unprecedented quake in the region.

The potential for a strong San Andreas Fault earthquake could occur starting this year. This is according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Earth Science. Dubbed by media as the "next big earthquake," scientists concluded the fault is in a "pre-critical state."

The paper was authored by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.

Although seismologists are not certain of when or where along the fault line system the "big one" will occur, data from the research paper is enough to cause great concern. Still, its occurrence cannot be accurately determined due to our current earthquake prediction technology.

Also Read: 'Slow and Silent' Part of San Andreas Fault Responsible for Most Devastating Earthquakes in US

Earthquake Prediction

Earthquake prediction has remained a challenge for seismologists and other concerned scientists in the field. According to the USGS, neither its organization nor any other scientists have successfully predicted a major earthquake.

This is because, previous earthquake predictions are general or not specific, in terms of when and where a significant earthquake will happen, the US seismic agency says.

Unlike weather forecasts, predicting earthquakes is challenging since seismic activities within Earth's tectonic plates and boundaries are unpredictable. Even in large transform boundaries such as the San Andreas Fault, our current science only makes general forecasts about potential major earthquakes, including their intensity.

In 2004, a 6-magnitude earthquake occurred within the San Andreas Fault and was felt across a 350-mile radius followed by 150 aftershocks.

Related Article: What Will Happen If San Andreas Fault Ruptures?