A study on a recent deadly Myanmar earthquake suggests that the San Andreas fault in California could unleash an earthquake unlike any seen before. Researchers analyzed data from the March 2023 earthquake, which killed over 5,000 people and caused widespread destruction, to understand how similar faults behave.
The study found that the Sagaing Fault, responsible for the quake, ruptured across a larger area than expected. In some places, it even caught up and moved further south than anticipated based on previous events. This discovery could help scientists better understand what might happen when the San Andreas fault ruptures in California.
The San Andreas Fault is 746 miles long and has a history of producing massive earthquakes. Geologists have warned that the fault will produce another massive earthquake at some point, with the area near Los Angeles having a 60% chance of experiencing a magnitude 6.7 or greater within the next 30 years.
A team of researchers used satellite imagery to correlate before-and-after images and measure ground displacements along the Sagaing Fault. The study’s findings suggest that future earthquakes might not simply repeat past known events, but could be even larger due to the complexity of fault behavior.
This research provides new insights into fault behavior and may improve future earthquake models. It also highlights the need for continued monitoring and preparation for earthquakes in California.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/earthquakes/san-andreas-fault-could-unleash-an-earthquake-unlike-any-seen-before-study-of-deadly-myanmar-quake-suggests