1. Figure 1: Map of the northern Cascadia subduction zone showing the distribution of earthquakes in the subducting Juan de Fuca plate and the locations of seismic cross-sections. Green dashed line ...

This area, called the Cascadia Subduction Zone, hosts a megathrust fault ... making it potentially the most dangerous section. Also in this segment, the seafloor is subducting under the ...

Megathrust earthquakes occur when stress at subduction zones is released, causing significant plate slippage. These events disrupt long-term tectonic changes, complicating modeling efforts.

The Pacific Northwest is at risk for a mega-earthquake because of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The region is primed for powerful quakes, with a particularly strong one called the Big One ...