Where can I find a fault map of the United States? Is one available in GIS format?
An online map of United States Quaternary faults (faults active in the last 1.6 million years which places them within the Quaternary Period) is available via the Quaternary Fault and Fold Database. There is an interactive map application to view the faults online and a separate database search function. KML (Google Earth-type) files and GIS shape files are also available for download from the site. The interactive map provides detailed reports for each fault by placing the cursor over the fault and clicking to bring up a link to the information.
Related
Why are there so many earthquakes and faults in the Western United States? Why are there so many earthquakes and faults in the Western United States?
This region of the United States has been tectonically active since the supercontinent Pangea broke up roughly 200 million years ago, and in large part because it is close to the western boundary of the North American plate. Since the formation of the San Andreas Fault system 25-30 million years ago, the juxtaposition of the Pacific and North American plates has formed many faults in California...
Why are there so many faults in the Quaternary Faults Database with the same name? Why are there so many faults in the Quaternary Faults Database with the same name?
Many faults are mapped as individual segments across an area. These fault segments are given a different value for name, number, code, or dip direction and so in the database each segment occurs as its own unique entity. For example, the San Andreas Fault has several fault segments, from letters a to h, and fault segment 1h has segments with age of last fault movement from historic (<150 years) to...
Related
Why are there so many earthquakes and faults in the Western United States? Why are there so many earthquakes and faults in the Western United States?
This region of the United States has been tectonically active since the supercontinent Pangea broke up roughly 200 million years ago, and in large part because it is close to the western boundary of the North American plate. Since the formation of the San Andreas Fault system 25-30 million years ago, the juxtaposition of the Pacific and North American plates has formed many faults in California...
Why are there so many faults in the Quaternary Faults Database with the same name? Why are there so many faults in the Quaternary Faults Database with the same name?
Many faults are mapped as individual segments across an area. These fault segments are given a different value for name, number, code, or dip direction and so in the database each segment occurs as its own unique entity. For example, the San Andreas Fault has several fault segments, from letters a to h, and fault segment 1h has segments with age of last fault movement from historic (<150 years) to...