The San Andreas Fault - Transform plate boundry

 The Fascinating San Andreas Fault: The California Tectonic Boundary: A Work in Progress

 

 The Overall Gem of the San Andreas Fault

Running for well over 1000 miles through the state of California, the San Andreas Fault is a true wonder that still elicits interest to this day. This transform fault has been created millions of years ago and delineates the convergence between the North American and Pacific plates; the geographical region is evidently geologically active all the time.

San Andreas fault was first discovered in 1895 by scientist HL Hausen, though he did not name them as a fault but his observation of large movement of the earth’s surface horizontally showed him the existence of the fault. It marked the beginning of a breakthrough that enabled us to study the fault and consequently the area with a new perspective.

The plates, in touch with each other and the earth’s surface, keep moving forward relentlessly.

Specifically, the San Andreas Fault is a transform fault, so the displacement along the fault is strictly eastward or westward depending on where it occurs, meaning that the Pacific plate moves past the North American plate at the rate of? 20 to 35 mm per year. This continuous movement has created many geological features such as present valleys and mountains and the particular movement that caused Baja California peninsula to separate from mainland.

The plates are also very active and this has also ensured that there are frequent occurrence of earthquakes at this zone of the fault line. From various studies it has been realized that the San Andreas Fault is always creating Earthquakes with a measure of 6. 0 or greater approximately every 22 years, thus being one of the most closely watched and investigated fault systems globally.

 

This blog focuses on the Seismic Significance of the San Andreas Fault

Seismic activity in the SAF area has also placed the fault on the center of geological study with research papers published on the matter reaching nearly 3000 in the last 23 years. This accumulation of the scientific insight of the fault’s behavior in that region, apart from advancing the knowledge in the cause and nature of the fault, has played a crucial role in the formulation of specific earthquake prediction and early preparedness measures.

Thus, alongside to its geoscientific value, the San Andreas Fault has also evolved into a cultural icon for the geology of California. The fault’s geography comprises vast mountain ranges, deep valleys, and stunning cliff-lined coastlines which has prompted artists, writers and adventurers to make artistic and cultural explorations within the fault line area.

 

Discovering Some of the Unbelievable Features of the San Andreas Fault

Perhaps the one of the most distinctive aspects of the San Andreas Fault is the kind of formations it has developed. Stretching from the Devil’s Postpile, Yosemite National Park to the Big Sur coastal cliffs this is indeed a force that has shaped the geography.

Apart from the fault, other interesting structures that can be seen include the fault scarps, sag ponds and offset streams to give the tourist an experience of the physical features which are products of the earth’s tectonic activities for the past millions of years. If you are a lover of Geology or just a lover of the earth and natural formation then, the San Andreas Fault is a beauty to behold.

 

Preparing for the Future: Preparedness for the Earthquake of San Andreas Fault

Because of the many past and present known occurrences linked with Saf, earthquake prevention and reduction are core goals in regions along the Saf. Climate has also been predicted with higher accuracy and Specialty models have been developed coupled with early warning systems that can predict the period and intensity of coming earthquakes so that people and emergency services can prepare for the effects.

However, as the major San Andreas Fault lies in this region, the threat of a large earthquake is constant, but the study and understanding of the fault and, generally, the earthquake phenomena have progressed. Thus, knowing the dynamics of the fault and the likely hazards, communities can work on improving the areas that make up their recovery, as well as the protection of the members of the community in case of future seismic activity.

The San Andreas Fault: Beautiful in its own way, a Geological Masterpiece but equally a lesson well learned.

This paper therefore clearly shows that the San Andreas Fault is an evidence of action and power of the dynamic forces that exist in the world. It continues to move and has frequent earthquakes not only sharpening the beauty of geology but also providing an important lesson of tirelessly and being ready for natural disasters.

To be able to learn more about the San Andreas Fault Zone today and progress our knowledge about the tectonic lithospheric plates of our Earth, people can learn about and respect the forces of Earth. Only accepting the scientific facts and the aesthetic value of the fault could lead to appreciating the magnificent geology of the earth and moving forward in enhancing the earth’s stability.

 

Reference:

1.    Rong-Gong Lin II (October 8, 2010). "San Andreas fault capable of magnitude 8.1 earthquake over 340-mile swath of California, researchers say". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 17, 2012.

2.    Wallace, Robert E. "Present-Day Crustal Movements and the Mechanics of Cyclic Deformation". The San Andreas Fault System, California. Retrieved October 26, 2007.

3.    Faulds, James E.; Henry, Christopher D.; Hinz, Nicholas H. (2005). "Kinematics of the northern Walker Lane: An incipient transform fault along the Pacific–North American plate boundary". Geology. 33 (6): 505. Bibcode:2005Geo....33..505F. doi:10.1130/G21274.1.

4.    Busby, C. J. (October 1, 2013). "Birth of a plate boundary at ca. 12 Ma in the Ancestral Cascades arc, Walker Lane belt of California and Nevada". Geosphere. 9 (5): 1147–1160. Bibcode:2013Geosp...9.1147B. doi:10.1130/GES00928.1.

5.    San Andreas Fault. Geologypage. Retrieved from July 21st, 2020