Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Recurrence intervals for great earthquakes of the past 3,500 years at northeastern Willapa Bay, Washington

January 1, 1997

Seven great earthquakes, or earthquake series, probably ruptured the southern Washington part of the Cascadia subduction zone in the past 3,500 years. Each earthquake was probably of magnitude 8 or larger. The earthquakes define six recurrence intervals that average about 500 years. The longest interval, about 700-1300 years, was followed by two of the shortest, which together lasted less than 800 years. Another long interval, 600-1000 years, ended with an earthquake 300 years ago.

Publication Year 1997
Title Recurrence intervals for great earthquakes of the past 3,500 years at northeastern Willapa Bay, Washington
DOI 10.3133/pp1576
Authors Brian F. Atwater, Eileen Hemphill-Haley
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Professional Paper
Series Number 1576
Index ID pp1576
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse