A new study has emerged that could potentially help in predicting when the next major earthquake might hit Western Washington. The study, published in Tectonics and conducted by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), offers a fresh perspective on the Seattle fault zone.
According to the study, approximately 55 million years ago, an island chain was drawn towards the larger continent, eventually colliding with the North American plate. This collision resulted in the chain splitting into two parts, with one portion moving over the crust layer and the other being pulled underneath it.
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz expressed enthusiasm about the study, stating that it could significantly contribute to the understanding of the region, potentially aiding in more accurate predictions of future seismic events. Franz emphasized the potential for the study to help prevent substantial loss of life and economic damage.
The lead author and DNR geophysicist Megan Anderson described the study as a ‘total surprise,’ highlighting that the results revealed a major ancient fault in the current location of the Seattle fault. Anderson also emphasized the fault’s capacity to trigger a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and how the study uncovered previously overlooked seismic data.
It is worth noting that the Seattle fault intersects with the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which is believed to have the potential to generate a ‘megathrust’ earthquake.
