What's Happening?
Researchers from the University of Victoria have discovered that the Tintina Fault in Canada's Yukon, previously thought to be inactive, may be capable of producing a significant earthquake. The fault, which stretches approximately 620 miles from British Columbia to Alaska, has shown signs of past activity within the last 2.6 million years. Using advanced satellite and lidar mapping, the team identified an 81-mile section near Dawson City with evidence of multiple past quakes. The study highlights a substantial slip deficit, indicating the potential for a future rupture. The Tintina Fault is a right-lateral strike-slip fault, similar to California's San Andreas Fault, capable of sudden, powerful shifts.
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Why It's Important?
The discovery of the Tintina Fault's potential activity has significant implications for seismic risk assessment in the region. A rupture could exceed magnitude 7.5, posing a threat to Dawson City and surrounding areas, potentially causing severe shaking, infrastructure damage, and landslides. Despite this risk, the fault is not currently included in Canada's National Seismic Hazard Model, which guides building codes and engineering standards. Incorporating these findings into future updates could improve emergency planning and preparedness, highlighting the need for ongoing research and monitoring of seismic hazards in the region.
What's Next?
The research team plans to excavate a paleoseismic trench across the Tintina Fault to better understand its recurrence rate and the frequency of large earthquakes. This will involve examining offset sediment layers to date past quakes, providing a clearer picture of the fault's activity. The findings will be shared with local governments to enhance emergency planning and inform future updates to seismic hazard models. Further scrutiny of other sections of the Tintina Fault is also anticipated, as researchers aim to identify additional active segments that may pose a risk.
