In the Fault Zone: How Earthquakes Shape the Bay Area

Why do geologists say that there is a 62% chance of a major earthquake in the Bay Area over the next 30 years? Can we tell when the next “Big One” will strike? April 18, 2006, marks the centennial of the Great Earthquake of 1906, an event that devastated San Francisco, but also led to a greater understanding of the dynamic processes that underly the beautiful landscapes of coastal California, at the boundary of two great tectonic plates. In this special 16-page section appearing in the April-June 2006 issue, we introduce the concept of plate tectonics and investigate how tectonic forces have shaped—and continue to shape—the Bay Area. Includes updated fault map and photo tour of several significant Bay Area landforms created by plate movements.

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