Map showing location of major faults and offshore basins of the San Francisco area, from the study Vertical tectonic deformation associated with the San Andreas fault zone offshore of San Francisco, California.
Can a large earthquake trigger earthquakes in distant locations or on other faults?
Sometimes.
Earthquakes, particularly large ones, can trigger other earthquakes in more distant locations though a process known as dynamic stress transfer/triggering. This means that the energy from the seismic wave passing through can cause a new earthquake, usually in already vulnerable locations prone to frequent earthquakes (e.g., volcanic regions). Examples of large events that triggered distant seismicity include the 1992 M7.3 Landers earthquake, 2002 M7.9 Denali earthquake, and the 2004 M 9.1 Sumatra earthquake that ruptured an area ~1300x200 square km, and triggered aftershocks from northern Sumatra to just south of Myanmar.
If a triggered earthquake is within a distance of about 2-3 fault lengths of the fault rupture associated with a mainshock, the earthquake is considered to be an aftershock, not a triggered event.
The fault length is related to the earthquake size:
- M4 ~ 1 km long
- M7 ~ 40-60 km long
- M9.1 Sumatra fault ~ 100's of km long
Learn more:
Related
What does an earthquake feel like?
The way an earthquake feels depends on where you are, where the earthquake is, and how big the earthquake is: A large earthquake nearby will feel like a sudden large jolt followed quickly by more strong shaking that may last a few seconds or up to a couple of minutes if it's a rare great event. The shaking will feel violent and it will be difficult to stand up. The contents of your house will be a...
Can an eruption at one volcano trigger an eruption at another volcano?
There is no definitive evidence that an eruption at one volcano can trigger an eruption at a volcano that’s hundreds of kilometers/miles away or on a different continent. There are a few historic examples of simultaneous eruptions from volcanoes (or volcanic vents ) located within about 10 kilometers (6 miles) of each other, but it's difficult to determine whether one eruption caused the other...
Can earthquakes trigger volcanic eruptions?
Sometimes, yes. A few large regional earthquakes (greater than magnitude 6) are considered to be related to a subsequent eruption or to some type of unrest at a nearby volcano. However, volcanoes can only be triggered into eruption by nearby tectonic earthquakes if they are already poised to erupt . This requires two conditions to be met: Enough "eruptible" magma within the volcanic system...
Is there any possibility that a wastewater injection activity could interact with a nearby fault to trigger a major earthquake that causes extensive damage over a broad region?
So far, there is no documented example linking injection operations to triggering of major earthquakes. However, we cannot eliminate this possibility. Other human activities--for example oil production in Uzbekistan--have induced M7+ earthquakes. Learn more: USGS Induced Earthquakes
How does an earthquake affect groundwater levels and water quality in wells?
Groundwater levels in wells can oscillate up and down when seismic waves pass. The water level might remain higher or lower for a period of time after the seismic waves end, but sometimes a long-term offset of groundwater levels follows an earthquake. The largest recorded earthquake-induced offset in a well is a one meter rise. Water quality can also be affected by earthquakes, typically in...
San Francisco area seismic fault map
Map showing location of major faults and offshore basins of the San Francisco area, from the study Vertical tectonic deformation associated with the San Andreas fault zone offshore of San Francisco, California.
PubTalk 5/2015 — Breaking Badly:Forecasting California Earthquakes
by Morgan Page, USGS Research Geophysicist
by Morgan Page, USGS Research Geophysicist
Epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake map
Map of southern Alaska showing the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake (red star).
Map of southern Alaska showing the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake (red star).
The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale assigns intensities as ...
Although numerous intensity scales have been developed over the last several hundred years to evaluate the effects of earthquakes, the one currently used in the United States is the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale. It was developed in 1931 by the American seismologists Harry Wood and Frank Neumann.
Although numerous intensity scales have been developed over the last several hundred years to evaluate the effects of earthquakes, the one currently used in the United States is the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale. It was developed in 1931 by the American seismologists Harry Wood and Frank Neumann.
Related
What does an earthquake feel like?
The way an earthquake feels depends on where you are, where the earthquake is, and how big the earthquake is: A large earthquake nearby will feel like a sudden large jolt followed quickly by more strong shaking that may last a few seconds or up to a couple of minutes if it's a rare great event. The shaking will feel violent and it will be difficult to stand up. The contents of your house will be a...
Can an eruption at one volcano trigger an eruption at another volcano?
There is no definitive evidence that an eruption at one volcano can trigger an eruption at a volcano that’s hundreds of kilometers/miles away or on a different continent. There are a few historic examples of simultaneous eruptions from volcanoes (or volcanic vents ) located within about 10 kilometers (6 miles) of each other, but it's difficult to determine whether one eruption caused the other...
Can earthquakes trigger volcanic eruptions?
Sometimes, yes. A few large regional earthquakes (greater than magnitude 6) are considered to be related to a subsequent eruption or to some type of unrest at a nearby volcano. However, volcanoes can only be triggered into eruption by nearby tectonic earthquakes if they are already poised to erupt . This requires two conditions to be met: Enough "eruptible" magma within the volcanic system...
Is there any possibility that a wastewater injection activity could interact with a nearby fault to trigger a major earthquake that causes extensive damage over a broad region?
So far, there is no documented example linking injection operations to triggering of major earthquakes. However, we cannot eliminate this possibility. Other human activities--for example oil production in Uzbekistan--have induced M7+ earthquakes. Learn more: USGS Induced Earthquakes
How does an earthquake affect groundwater levels and water quality in wells?
Groundwater levels in wells can oscillate up and down when seismic waves pass. The water level might remain higher or lower for a period of time after the seismic waves end, but sometimes a long-term offset of groundwater levels follows an earthquake. The largest recorded earthquake-induced offset in a well is a one meter rise. Water quality can also be affected by earthquakes, typically in...
San Francisco area seismic fault map
Map showing location of major faults and offshore basins of the San Francisco area, from the study Vertical tectonic deformation associated with the San Andreas fault zone offshore of San Francisco, California.
Map showing location of major faults and offshore basins of the San Francisco area, from the study Vertical tectonic deformation associated with the San Andreas fault zone offshore of San Francisco, California.
PubTalk 5/2015 — Breaking Badly:Forecasting California Earthquakes
by Morgan Page, USGS Research Geophysicist
by Morgan Page, USGS Research Geophysicist
Epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake map
Map of southern Alaska showing the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake (red star).
Map of southern Alaska showing the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake (red star).
The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale assigns intensities as ...
Although numerous intensity scales have been developed over the last several hundred years to evaluate the effects of earthquakes, the one currently used in the United States is the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale. It was developed in 1931 by the American seismologists Harry Wood and Frank Neumann.
Although numerous intensity scales have been developed over the last several hundred years to evaluate the effects of earthquakes, the one currently used in the United States is the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale. It was developed in 1931 by the American seismologists Harry Wood and Frank Neumann.
Updated Date: September 5, 2024