Earthquakes, Faults & Hazards
- Latest Earthquakes in Pacific Northwest (PNSN website)
- Atlas of Active Shallow Deformation in the Puget Lowland, Washington
This atlas presents an up-to-date map compilation of the geological and geophysical observations that underpin interpretations of active, surface-deforming faults in the Puget Lowland, Washington. The atlas provides a visual overview of the observations and interpretations that support the existence of active, shallow faults beneath the densely populated Puget Lowland.
- SHIPS (Seismic Hazards Investigations in Puget Sound)
This major experiment conducted over a decade ago has provided a wealth of information about the features that are responsible for earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest. Specifically, the SHIPS experiment provided a region wide seismic velocity model, mapped basin geometry, imaged the subsurface geometry of crustal faults including the Tacoma fault zone, and imaged the subducting Juan de Fuca plate beneath the Puget Lowland.
- National Seismic Hazard Maps
These maps cover the entire United States and its territories, presenting the earthquake hazard on a uniform basis nationwide. The maps incorporate recent seismic, geologic, and geodetic information on earthquake rates and associated ground shaking. They are the basis for seismic design provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, earthquake loss studies, retrofit priorities, and land-use planning.
- Seattle Seismic Hazard Maps
The USGS has produced a new series of earthquake hazard maps for the City of Seattle. These 'urban seismic hazard' maps provide a much higher-resolution view of the potential for strong earthquake shaking than previously available. This new view is particularly important for Seattle, which sits atop a sedimentary basin that strongly affects the patterns of earthquake ground shaking and therefore, of potential damage. These new hazard maps incorporate shaking effects not captured in the National Seismic Hazard Maps, including those due to the subsurface geologic structure, the surficial and shallow materials, and details of the earthquake rupture process.
- Seattle Fault Earthquake Scenario (EERI website)
The Seattle Fault Earthquake Scenario draws on the knowledge and advice of many of the region's experts in the fields of earth and life sciences, earthquake engineering, planning and emergency management. A multi-disciplinary team developed a broad look at the Puget Sound region's and the State of Washington's vulnerability to an earthquake on the Seattle Fault.
- Tacoma Fault Earthquake Scenario
The USGS and its partners summarize the local effects of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Tacoma Fault Zone in Pierce County, Washington.
The USGS and its partners monitor all major seismic source zones for earthquakes that affect Washington and Oregon, particularly the Vancouver, British Columbia to Eugene, Oregon urban corridor. - Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN website)
The Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network (PNSN) is a collaborative effort by the University of Washington, the USGS and the University of Oregon. The PNSN also collaborates with the USGS's Cascades Volcano Observatory to seismically monitor all the major Cascade volcanoes. A substantial fraction of the data are transmitted using the Bonneville Power Administration's regional telecommunication system. All this work involves a day to day close partnership with University of Washington personnel.
- 2010-11 Seismicity Summary
