San Andreas Fault - When an Earthquake Strikes

The San Andreas Fault is a strike-slip fault that marks the boundary between two of Earth’s tectonic plates.

It has been a very significant source of major California earthquakes. From 1812 to 1906 it generated four major earthquakes of M 7 or larger in two pairs on two major portions of the fault. The most recent large earthquake on the San Andreas Fault was in 1857.

Earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault can have devastating effects on people and their environment. They can cause landslides, tsunamis, soil liquefaction, and structural damage to buildings. The effects of earthquakes can be felt over large areas and can last for long periods of time.

There are many ways to measure earthquakes. The most common method is the Richter scale which measures the magnitude of an earthquake based on the amplitude of its seismic waves. The Mercalli intensity scale is another method that measures the intensity of an earthquake based on its effects on people and structures.

In conclusion, earthquakes are a natural phenomenon that can have devastating effects on people and their environment. The San Andreas Fault is a strike-slip fault that has been a very significant source of major California earthquakes. There are many ways to measure earthquakes and their effects can be felt over large areas and for long periods of time.