By Larry Wright
mailto:wright@iinet.com
 Attached
is a link to the current USGS Earthquake Map for California and
Nevada. You will notice the many micro earthquakes from the Southern
Nevada border to the southern portion of California. In addition
you will notice similar earthquake activity running the length
of the state along faults just east of the San Andreas. There
is little or no activity on the San Andreas Fault itself which
follows the California coastline. The Ocean side of the San Andreas
Fault is moving north while the continent side which is moving
south.
At a point
just above Santa Barbara on the California coast there is a outcropping
of land called Point Conception. The San Andreas Fault goes around
Point Conception as it follows the California coast line south
through Los Angeles Harbor on down to San Diego. This area can
be seen on the map just above the group of islands off the Southern
California coast known as Santa Cruz , Santa Rosa and Catalina
Islands. The San Andreas Fault is unable to slip past Point Conception.
This is the only area along the entire fault line that does not
run in a relative straight line.
Despite this
fact the north / south movements of the tectonic plates are continuing.
This is resulting in an enormous rip or tear across the state
from the Southern California coast to the Nevada border as the
two plates drag past each other. This is also triggering micro
earthquakes along the numerous minor faults running the length
of California. But no major action has occurred along the San
Andreas.
This is a
clear indication that pressure and stress along the San Andreas
is building to a critical level. The area preventing a major slippage
of the San Andreas is Point Conception. No earthquakes have occurred
in the Point Conception area. If the area around and through Point
Conception begins to fracture the San Andreas will be free to
move. Eventually this must happen as pressures continue to build.
The rip in the state can only take up so much of this movement
before something snaps. In my opinion the snap will occur in the
Point Conception area. Once a fracture crosses Point Conception
and joins the San Andreas on each side cutting through the point,
the San Andreas will begin to move. This sudden snap movement
will release a tremendous amount of energy all along the San Andreas
fault from Southern California to the northern part of the state.
I hope I am
wrong about this in so much as I live in the Southern California
area. But in studying this earthquake map I can come to no other
conclusion. The earthquake swarms and the many faults and fractures
shown on this map southeast of Point Conception toward Nevada
indicate a pressure relief due to lack of movement of the San
Andreas through Point Conception. How
much longer this will continue before the big one strikes is anyone's
guess.
USGS and other
scientists conclude that there is a 70% probability of at least
one magnitude 6.7 or greater quake, capable of causing widespread
damage, striking the San Francisco Bay region before 2030. Judging
by this map I think it will be much sooner and much greater than
anticipated.
North California
Link: http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/latest.htm
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