In California on the west coast of the United States, it has long been considered that there is a dangerous "time bomb" buried underground - the San Andreas Fault. Previously, many scholars believed that this fault might induce a dangerous earthquake in California, but it is difficult to estimate when an earthquake will occur. Recently, according to the British " Daily Mail " report, a new study recently discovered a new structure that appeared in the fault, which may trigger a major earthquake in California!
This study examined the 1,300-kilometer-long southern section of the fault zone on the West Coast of the United States. During extensive research, scientists found a 25-kilometer-long formation called the Durmid step structure in the fault. The emergence of this formation is likely to trigger major earthquakes.
Since the beginning of last year, relevant researchers have been warning that highly destructive earthquakes may occur on the San Andreas Fault on the West Coast of the United States. A study also found that in the next 30 years, there is a 75% chance of an earthquake of magnitude 7 or stronger in both southern and northern California. In California, which has a relatively developed population and economy, devastating earthquakes may cause very serious damage.
The special stratigraphic structure discovered this time is named the Durmid Step Structure because it is located in the Durmid hill area and is a highly fractured rock area of 1-4 kilometers. The structure extends from the center of the San Andreas Fault to the opposite edge of the East Shoreline Fault Zone. Experts say if seismic activity triggers the collapse of the Durmid Step structure and the wider San Andreas Fault, the effects could be felt across an area of 40 square kilometers.
The exact effect is difficult to predict due to the different shapes of the ladder structures, fault lines extending both vertically and horizontally. The intensity of the earthquake will depend on whether the entire structure collapses at once, or whether each fault line is triggered individually. More seriously, however, researchers predict that the Durmid step structure could cause an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 or more. Because the width of the east coast fault zone and the larger width and spatial extent of the Durmid step structure mean that if the main fault and the intermediate cross fault are activated at the same time during this earthquake, the seismic hazard to the surface will be very great.
Dr. Jones from USGS warned that people should prepare for earthquakes now. She and her team simulated a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on the San Andreas fault, which they predicted could kill many people and destroy 15,000 buildings. Large earthquakes in such densely populated areas are very scary. In 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake hit the east coast of Japan, killing about 20,000 people.
Although earthquake activity in California has been relatively weak over the past century, California's risk of experiencing eight or more larger earthquakes is estimated to have increased from about 4.7% to about 7% over the next 30 years. Earth's tectonic activity continues to tighten the San Andreas Fault, making major earthquakes inevitable. It's just a time difference, and the discovery of the abnormal stratigraphic structure may once again intensify the worry and panic about a major earthquake in this area.
