Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Change in failure stress on the southern San Andreas fault system caused by the 1992 magnitude = 7.4 Landers earthquake

January 1, 1992

The 28 June Landers earthquake brought the San Andreas fault significantly closer to failure near San Bernardino, a site that has not sustained a large shock since 1812. Stress also increased on the San Jacinto fault near San Bernardino and on the San Andreas fault southeast of Palm Springs. Unless creep or moderate earthquakes relieve these stress changes, the next great earthquake on the southern San Andreas fault is likely to be advanced by one to two decades. In contrast, stress on the San Andreas north of Los Angeles dropped, potentially delaying the next great earthquake there by 2 to 10 years.

Publication Year 1992
Title Change in failure stress on the southern San Andreas fault system caused by the 1992 magnitude = 7.4 Landers earthquake
Authors R. S. Stein, G.C.P. King, J. Lin
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Science
Index ID 70016992
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse