Hosgri Fault

The Hosgri Fault (also Hosgri Fault Zone, San Gregorio-Hosgri Fault Zone) is an offshore fault zone located near the Central Coast of California in San Luis Obispo County. The main fault stretches for about 140-kilometre (87 mi), and the coastal communities closest to it are Cambria, San Simeon and Morro Bay, Baywood Park-Los Osos, and Avila Beach.[1] The fault system (including branches) is some 420 km long, and is a right-lateral strand of the San Andreas fault system.[2]

Characteristics

The Hosgri Fault is a component of the San Andreas Fault system.[3] Its movement is primarily reverse thrust, as well as exhibiting right lateral slip, and is thought to be capable of generating earthquakes of up to magnitude 7.5.[1] The November 4, 1927 Lompoc earthquake (magnitude 7.1) is thought to have occurred (uncertainty) on this fault.[4]

Diablo Canyon Power Plant

Seismologists monitor activity on the Hosgri fault constantly because of its physical proximity to the nuclear Diablo Canyon Power Plant. In fact, the fault lies only 2½ miles offshore from the nuclear power plant.[5] More recently in 2008, yet another even closer fault was discovered, the Shoreline Fault 1 mile from the NPP.

Coordinates: 35°07′N 119°39′W / 35.117°N 119.650°W / 35.117; -119.650

References

  1. 1 2 "Hosgri Fault Zone" Southern California Earthquake Data Center. Southern California Earthquake Data Center, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2009.
  2. Geological Society of America:STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE SAN SIMEON FAULT ZONE, CALIFORNIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSFORM TECTONICS
  3. Graham, S. A., and W. R. Dickinson. "Evidence for 115 Kilometers of Right Slip on the San Gregorio-Hosgri Fault Trend." Science 199.4325 (1978): 179-181. Print.
  4. SCEDC|Lompoc Earthquake (1927) Southern California Earthquake Data Center
  5. Smith, R. Jeffrey (1981), "A Seismological Shoot-Out at Diablo Canyon" (PDF), Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 214 (4520): 528–529, doi:10.1126/science.214.4520.528


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