A magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the Tacoma Fault Zone— A plausible scenario for the southern Puget Sound region, Washington

Joan Gomberg; Brian L. Sherrod; Craig Weaver; Art Frankel

doi:10.3133/fs20103023

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A magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the Tacoma Fault Zone— A plausible scenario for the southern Puget Sound region, Washington

Joan Gomberg·Brian L. Sherrod·Craig Weaver·Art Frankel

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating scientists have recently assessed the effects of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Tacoma Fault Zone in Pierce County, Washington. A quake of comparable magnitude struck the southern Puget Sound region about 1,100 years ago, and similar earthquakes are almost certain to occur in the future. The region is now home to hundreds of thousands of people, who would be at risk from the shaking, liquefaction, landsliding, and tsunamis caused by such an earthquake. The modeled effects of this scenario earthquake will help emergency planners and residents of the region prepare for future quakes.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 46.86394700508323° to 47.368594345213374° latitude; -123.06335449218749° to -122.33551025390625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Joan Gomberg, Brian L. Sherrod, Craig Weaver, Art Frankel. 2010. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the Tacoma Fault Zone— A plausible scenario for the southern Puget Sound region, Washington. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103023

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