GEOL 001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: San Andreas Fault, Elastic-Rebound Theory, Aseismic Creep

• School: College of The Sequoias
• Department: Geology (GEOL)
• Course: GEOL 001
• Professor: Hetherington

Document Summary

An earthquake is the vibration of earth, produced by the rapid release of energy. Energy released radiates in all directions from its source, the focus. Energy is in the form of waves. Sensitive instruments around the world record the event. Movements that produce quakes are usually associated with faults. Rocks on both sides of an existing fault are deformed by tectonic forces. Frictional resistance holding the rocks together is overcome. Slippage at the weakest point (the focus) occurs. Vibrations (earthquakes) occur as the deformed rock springs back to its original shape (elastic rebound) Earthquakes most often occur along existing faults whenever the frictional forces on the fault surfaces are overcome. Adjustments that follow a major earthquake often generate smaller. Small earthquakes, called foreshocks, often precede a major earthquake by earthquakes called aftershocks days or by as much as several years. San andreas an active earth quake zone. San andreas is the most studied faults system in the world.