600-mile Cascadia subduction zone mapped, capable of generating 9.0-magnitude earthquakes and 40-ft tsunamis.

Scientists have mapped the Cascadia subduction zone, a 600-mile geological boundary off the Pacific Northwest coast, in unprecedented detail. The zone, which stretches from Northern California to Vancouver Island, is a tectonic plate slip area that can generate a catastrophic 9.0-magnitude earthquake and 40-foot-high tsunamis. To better understand the geological state of play and help policymakers devise building codes that protect people, researchers have been analyzing the fault's geometry and assessing the risk to the entire area.

June 07, 2024
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