What do faults do

During the earthquake that destroyed the city of San Francisco, the fault moved 6 metres. Scientists' predictions are based on their existing science knowledge. By examining fault lines, scientists are able to predict where earthquakes are likely to occur and the likelihood of when they might occur.

Wellington is located on six active fault lines — many are a combination of reverse and strike slip faults. As with any coastal settlement, there is also a threat of tsunamis, which can be caused by vertical fault movement under the ocean.

Geologists study a fault trace to build up a history of its movement and work out the timing between each movement. Find out more about the Wellington fault from GNS here. Read this press release to learn about recent research from NIWA on a newly discovered fault line in Wellington.

Williams, R. Year Published: Where's the San Andreas fault? Where's the San Andreas fault? Year Published: This dynamic earth: the story of plate tectonics In the early s, the emergence of the theory of plate tectonics started a revolution in the earth sciences.

Kious, W. Jacquelyne; Tilling, Robert I. Year Published: Young faults Wallace, R. Filter Total Items: 4. Date published: March 27, Attribution: Natural Hazards. Date published: March 9, The U. Geological Survey has a new website that offers a virtual tour of the Hayward fault.

Date published: December 4, Date published: November 7, Filter Total Items: 8. List Grid. February 24, More than 50, square miles of the state was tilted to new elevation, and the resulting property damage disrupted the state's economy.

Within 24 hours, a team of USGS geologists. Attribution: Region Alaska. November 30, May 25, What is the relationship between faults and earthquakes? What happens to a fault when an earthquake occurs? Earthquakes occur on faults - strike-slip earthquakes occur on strike-slip faults, normal earthquakes occur on normal faults , and thrust earthquakes occur on thrust or reverse faults.

When an earthquake occurs on one of these faults, the rock on one side of the fault slips with respect to the other. The fault surface can be vertical, horizontal, Filter Total Items: 7. Year Published: 20 cool facts about the New Madrid Seismic Zone-Commemorating the bicentennial of the New Madrid earthquake sequence, December February [poster] This poster summarizes a few of the more significant facts about the series of large earthquakes that struck the New Madrid seismic zone of southeastern Missouri, northeastern Arkansas, and adjacent parts of Tennessee and Kentucky from December to February Williams, R.

View Citation. Year Published: Where's the San Andreas fault? Where's the San Andreas fault? Year Published: This dynamic earth: the story of plate tectonics In the early s, the emergence of the theory of plate tectonics started a revolution in the earth sciences.

Kious, W. Jacquelyne; Tilling, Robert I. Year Published: Young faults Wallace, R. Year Published: Our changing continent Where were the land areas and oceans of the North American Continent one million years ago, compared to our present geography?

Geological Survey. Filter Total Items: 3. Date published: March 9, The U. Geological Survey has a new website that offers a virtual tour of the Hayward fault. Date published: December 4, Date published: November 7, Filter Total Items: 6. Sign up for event updates and exciting announcements. Learn more. Reservations are required for the planetarium and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

More info. Donate Join Tickets. California Academy of Sciences. Toggle Close. Search calacademy. Normal Faults : This is the most common type of fault.