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Illustration looking at oceanic plate subducting below another with a volcano on it.
Subduction Zone Science

Subduction Zone Science

Subduction Zone Science

Most of the world’s earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions are caused by the continuous motions of the many tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s outer shell. The most powerful of these natural hazards occur in subduction zones, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another. Explore this collection of resources related to subduction zone science and research.

Illustration looking at oceanic plate subducting below another with a volcano on it.
Subduction Zone Science

Subduction Zone Science

Subduction Zone Science

Most of the world’s earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions are caused by the continuous motions of the many tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s outer shell. The most powerful of these natural hazards occur in subduction zones, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another. Explore this collection of resources related to subduction zone science and research.

Filter Total Items: 412
Charts or Graphs
Northern Cascadia composite bathymetric map

Northern Cascadia composite bathymetric map
Charts or Graphs
Central Cascadia composite bathymetric map

Central Cascadia composite bathymetric map
Charts or Graphs
Cascadia Margin composite bathymetric map

Cascadia Margin composite bathymetric map
Charts or Graphs
Multibeam bathymetry compilation showing entire Cascadia Subduction Zone

Multibeam bathymetry compilation showing entire Cascadia Subduction Zone
publication
image of publications layered on a wooden table

No evidence for an active margin-spanning megasplay fault at the Cascadia Subduction Zone
Center News
Northern Cascadia composite bathymetric map

Multibeam bathymetric data offer high-resolution imagery of the entire Cascadia Subduction Zone
publication
image of publications layered on a wooden table

Using subducting plate motion to constrain Cascadia slab geometry and interface strength
Center News
View of Salmon River estuary, Oregon, from above

The Threat of Coastal Flooding from Cascadia Earthquake-Driven Land Subsidence
Data Release
Collage of images of an earthquake, scientists in flood with instruments, a volcano erupting, and seismic illustration.

Composite multibeam bathymetry surface of the northern Cascadia Margin offshore Washington
publication
image of publications layered on a wooden table

The GorDAS Distributed Acoustic Sensing experiment above the Cascadia locked zone and subducted Gorda Slab
Illustrations
Map illustration of the seafloor off the continental coastline shows all of the regions and tracklines of recent fieldwork.

Cascadia fieldwork map
Charts or Graphs
Map showing where data have been collected along the Cascadia Subduction Zone

Updated Cascadia Subduction Zone fieldwork map
Illustrations
Colorfully shaded map of the seafloor showing the many unique canyons created by nearby rivers.

Topography and Bathymetry of Southern Cascadia
Charts or Graphs
A map shows relief of a long stretch of continental margin with features on land and in the ocean labeled with lines and words.

Cascadia megathrust fault map
Charts or Graphs
Map showing North Cascadia regional tectonic setting

Map showing North Cascadia regional tectonic setting
publication
image of publications layered on a wooden table

Implications of physics-based M9 ground motions on liquefaction-induced damage in the Cascadia Subduction Zone: Looking forward and backward
Featured Films and Shorts
Image of researchers labeling a sediment core aboard a research vessel

Collecting Sediment Cores from the Cascadia Subduction Zone
Charts or Graphs
Example sparker data from Cascadia Subduction Zone showing multiple ghost reflections

Example sparker data from Cascadia Subduction Zone showing multiple ghost reflections
Photography
scenic river view. Tall pine trees line a river with large cobbles visible through clear water. Wildfire smoke taints the sky

Quartzville Creek below Galena Creek near Cascadia (14185865)
publication
image of publications layered on a wooden table

Tracking diagenetic alteration of magnetic susceptibility in thrust ridge and slope basin sediments of the Cascadia margin (ODP Sites 1249 and 1252; IODP Site U1325)
publication
image of publications layered on a wooden table

Combining multisite tsunami and deformation modeling to constrain slip distributions for the 1700 C.E. Cascadia earthquake
Charts or Graphs
Physiographic Cascadia

Physiographic Cascadia
Before/After Image
Example sparker data from Cascadia Subduction Zone showing multiple ghost reflections

Slider image showing example Cascadia sparker seismic data with ghost reflections and ghosts removed, with annotation
Charts or Graphs
Cascadia sparker data with ghosts removed, with annotation identifying geologic contacts, offset layers, and a submarine land

Cascadia sparker data with ghosts removed, with annotation identifying geologic contacts, offset layers, and a submarine landslide deposit
Data Release
Collage of images of an earthquake, scientists in flood with instruments, a volcano erupting, and seismic illustration.

Sediment core data from offshore Cascadia during field activity 2022-653-FA
Animated GIF
Animated GIF of Cascadia 1700 tsunami simulation at Salmon River, Oregon

Animated GIF of Cascadia 1700 tsunami simulation at Salmon River, Oregon
Illustrations
Illustration looking down on a coastal margin with ocean floor features shown off the coast.

Cascadia margin bathymetry
Charts or Graphs
Regional overview map of the Cascadia convergent margin with the locations of methane seeps

Regional overview map of the Cascadia convergent margin with the locations of methane seeps
Photography
Blue green mountain river lined with steep rock walls and evergreens in the distance. Equipment installed in the sheer wall.

Quartzville Creek near Cascadia Oregon
Illustrations
Physiographic image of the Pacific Northwest

Physiographic image of Cascadia
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