A 1,000-kilometer-long fault line stretching across northern Canada and Alaska may be on the verge of a major earthquake. Researchers from the University of Victoria and the University of Alberta have found signs of two recent earthquakes that shifted the ground, but no notable activity in the past 12,000 years.
According to calculations, the Tintina fault is building up pressure at a rate of 0.2-0.8 millimeters per year, suggesting a major quake may be imminent. The team used high-resolution satellite imagery and LIDAR technology to analyze the fault line and found narrow surface ruptures that point to past earthquakes.
However, these ruptures only reveal signs of stress accumulated over millions of years, but no recent activity. Experts warn that if 12,000 years or more have passed since the last major earthquake, the fault may be at an advanced stage of strain accumulation, potentially leading to a magnitude of more than 7.5.
The researchers emphasize the need for further studies on similar faults to improve predictions of future events. They believe that better data on historical seismic activity will help computer models better predict earthquakes.
The discovery highlights the importance of monitoring and studying fault lines like the Tintina fault, which stretches across a sparsely populated region but poses significant risks to nearby communities, including Dawson City with its 1,600 residents.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/massive-earthquake-could-strike-canada-as-ancient-fault-line-wakes