Tectonic earthquakes of the Pacific Northwest

tectonic-earthquakes-of-the-pacific-northwest

Scientists from University of Portland and US Geological Survey have joined the forces with Earth Sciences Animated and Mount Tabor Middle School Portland to create an animated video explaining tectonic earthquakes of the Pacific Northwest.

The video describes the types of tectonic earthquakes occurring in the Pacific Northwest, their history and the nature of their occurrence, and shows a Pacific Northwest shake map to illustrate the potential threats in the earthquake prone region.

YouTube video

Video credit: IRIS EPO

The experts explain the Pacific Northwest is host to more than the anticipated megathrust earthquake that will happen off the Cascadia coast in the future. That earthquake will be due to the stress building between the Juan de Fuca and North American plates as the oceanic Juan de Fuca plate dives deep beneath the Pacific Northwest. However, there are also deep earthquakes within the subducting plate, and shallow earthquakes in the overlying continental crust. This is because of additional forces acting on the region besides subduction-zone processes.

Featured image credit: IRIS EPO

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *