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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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