But at its northern end, at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, the fault can be walked and traced across open land with trees and grass. Posted April 19, 2018, under Blog. A new report from the USGS says the biggest danger may be the Hayward Fault, because 2 million people live directly on top of it, including the cities of Oakland and Berkeley. According to a new study, the Hayward fault line that runs under Oakland, California is believed to be more dangerous than the infamous San Andreas fault line that spans Southern California.. In 1996, an 18-millimeter creep event, the largest ever observed on the Hayward fault, occurred between surveys 63 days apart. A section of sidewalk in Hayward that showed the movement of the Hayward Fault was 'fixed' by the city, much to the dismay of geologists. Locate the Hayward fault. Two factors combine to make the Hayward Fault very dangerous. The Hayward fault threatens a lot of people and structures as it runs straight through the East Bay. Strike-slip faults have walls that move sideways, not up or down. Also significant is the Hayward Fault, a 74-mile-long fault that mostly covers the East Bay. It contains a lot of information, links, and videos to explore and you will learn practically everything there is to know if you study this page. This web page tries to compile the most up-to-date information in one place. Contributed by Dale Smith Photos by Phil Garbutt. If a building was unlucky enough to have been built on the fault, the fault will gradually warp and tear it apart. Different faults in the Bay Area and the probabilities for each one producing a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake. The Hayward Fault is the single most urbanized earthquake fault in the United States—in 1868 there were only 24,000 residents living in Alameda County; now there are more than 2.4 million people. The net effects of these are often more severe and more widespread than the damage directly caused by the shaking itself, and they complicate emergency response and clean-up.Faults, however, can also cause damage in much less noticeable and long term way through creep. The Hayward Fault runs through portions of Fremont and Union City. The Hayward Fault has ruptured about every 140 years for its previous five large earthquakes. The Hayward fault is considered a branch within the San Andreas Fault system (fig 1). Understanding the parts of a fault can help you identify what type of fault you’re seeing. Parts of a Fault. The Hayward fault is not our only fault. San Francisco Bay Area Earthquakes: The Hayward and San Andreas Faults are probably the most studied earthquake faults in the world, so a lot is known about them. Locate the Hayward fault. ... What type of plate boundary is closest to it? Strike-Slip Faults. To find out more about the potential hazards from an earthquake in the Bay Area, or about the specific area that you live in, the USGS has several great Google Earth maps that show: likeliness of a damaging earthquake, liquefaction likeliness, at risk areas, and potential hazards for our infrastructure. Technically speaking, the Hayward is a right-lateral strike-slip fault. Earthquake country just got a little scarier. The last major earthquake on the Hayward Fault, with magnitude 6.5-7.0, occurred on October 21, 1868. The Hayward Fault splinters from the Calaveras Fault, which itself is an offshoot of the SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- While the San Andreas fault gets much of the attention after the devastating 1906 and 1989 quakes, it's the Hayward fault, which runs along the East Bay, that quake experts consider the most dangerous fault in America. The largest earthquakes recorded on the San Andreas fault include the 1906 San Francisco earthquake (approximately magnitude 7.8) and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake … The Hayward fault is a transform or strike-slip fault that moves sideways, rather than the more common faults that move up on one side and down on the other. This event marked the end of a period of severely reduced creep on the southern part of the fault that began after the 1989 Loma Prieta, California, earthquake. To share this video via email, copy and paste the message and URL below into your favorite email client and send. Picture via USGS. One block is called the hanging wall, and the other is the footwall. Faults may range in length from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers. Nearly all transform faults are in the deep sea, but the major ones on land are noteworthy and dangerous, such as … The last major earthquake on the Hayward Fault, with magnitude 6.5-7.0, occurred on October 21, 1868. The Hayward Fault is a strike-slip fault on the surface but changes to a low angle thrust fault as it descends under the Easy Bay Hills. Copyright © 2020 KGO-TV. It is a right-lateral strike-slip fault, meaning that motion along it is mainly horizontal, so that objects on the opposite side of the fault from the viewer will move to … The San Andreas Fault system forms the boundary between the North American and the Pacific tectonic plates. This movement may occur rapidly, in the form of an earthquake - or may occur slowly, in the form of creep. On April 15, 2006, Drs. A fault’s length is related to the maximum strength of an earthquake it can produce. ... the site’s distance from the fault, and the type of geologic material at the site. convergent. Between the San Andreas Fault and the Calaveras Fault lies the Hayward Fault, which diverges from the Calaveras Fault east of San Jose, California. Think: Have any Mw 9 quakes occurred on any other type of plate boundary? High disruption of structures, roads, and utilities. (Play Video), Cooperative Institute for Deep Earth Research (CIDER), Northern California Earthquake Data Center (NCEDC), Official Maps of Earthquake Fault Zones throughout California, Official Seismic Hazard Zone Maps throughout California. Copyright © 2020 UC Regents; all rights reserved, Explore the science behind a simulation of a magnitude 7 earthquake on the East Bay's Hayward Fault and learn what it could mean for shaking potential in your area. The most dangerous fault in the Bay Area is, as of now, due to fail at any time. This movement causes stress, which results in earthquakes. per year (about how fast your fingernails grow). The Hayward Fault Zone derived its name from the city of Hayward in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Hayward Fault is a major earthquake fault that runs for nearly 45 miles (72 km) through the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay region. Faults allow the blocks to move relative to each other. Think: Have any Mw 9 quakes occurred on any other type of plate boundary? The Hayward Fault runs along the foot of the East Bay hills, something that all residents of the Bay Area. The Hayward Fault is a strike-slip fault on the surface but changes to a low angle thrust fault as it descends under the Easy Bay Hills. It is located within its central section, between the latitudes of San Jose and Bakersfield. NCGS Commemorates the 1906 Great Earthquake by Walking…the Hayward Fault! It is a right-lateral strike-slip fault, meaning that motion along it is mainly horizontal, so that objects on the opposite side of the fault from the viewer will move to … Joyce Blueford and Mitch Craig lead NCGS members, family, and the general public on a field trip to examine evidence of the Hayward Fault in the East Bay. San Francisco Bay Area Earthquakes: The Hayward and San Andreas Faults are probably the most studied earthquake faults in the world, so a lot is known about them. The Hayward Fault Zone is a geologic fault zone capable of generating destructive earthquakes.This fault is about 74 mi (119 km) long, situated mainly along the western base of the hills on the east side of San Francisco Bay.It runs through densely populated areas, including Richmond, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Hayward, Union City, Fremont, and San Jose. The Hayward Fault is a major earthquake fault that runs for nearly 45 miles (72 km) through the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay region. Damage in San Francisco from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The Hayward Fault has a strike-slip motion which is when one land mass moves, nearly horizontally in the opposite direction of the other on the surface. The Hayward Fault and the 1868 Earthquake. It is among the most active faults and seismologists warn it will likely be the source of the next "big one" in San Francisco-Bay Area. It suggests that either the fault is creeping there, or there has been recent seismic slip.” In fact, according to Watt et al., even the most recent prehistoric earthquakes along the Rodgers Creek fault and Hayward faults, which struck sometime between 1715 and 1776, could have been a single combined event given dating uncertainties. The first is its location in the urban heart of the Bay Area. The most obvious hazard is that of large earthquakes, which induce ground shaking over a large area that can cause heavy objects to fall and windows to shatter, and can cause structural damage to buildings and bridges. That is, the slip … The Hayward Fault is a Strike-slip Fault. High disruption of structures, roads, and utilities. According to experts, this fault causes a major earthquake, on average, approximately every 140 years. It runs through densely populated areas, including Richmond, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Hayward, Union City, Fremont, and San Jose. All Rights Reserved. It splays to the east and trends between N. 20° and 35°W along some 119 km. This is what happens when the ground starts to shake. ... What type of plate boundary is closest to it? In addition, there are numerous documents on the State of California's Department of Conservation website that give lots of useful information. These four fault structures are some of the major faults in California at the latitude of San Francisco. What if...A 7.0 earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay Area? To the east lies the Clayton-Marsh Creek-Greenville Fault. How does the COVID-19 vaccine get to a hospital near you? In order to better understand mechanisms of active faults, we studied relationships between fault behavior and rock units along the Hayward fault using a three-dimensional geologic map. The Hayward Fault is thought capable of generating a magnitude 7.5 quake. October 21, 2008, marks the 140th Anniversary of the 1868 approximate Magnitude 7 … Are you, your family, and your business prepared to outsmart disaster? Click for more detail. Major active faults such as the Hayward Fault are associated with many hazards. The most obvious hazard is that of large earthquakes, which induce ground shaking over a large area that can cause heavy objects to fall and windows to shatter, and can cause structural damage to buildings and bridges. Outsmart disaster one place up-to-date information in one place movement causes stress, which results earthquakes. Share this video via email, copy and paste the message and URL below into your favorite client!... the site instance, moves at a rate of about 0.2 in the East and trends between 20°! Near you is likely to be the effect on the East and trends between N. and! 74-Mile-Long fault that mostly covers the East Bay when it ruptures technically speaking, fault! Walking…The Hayward fault, the fault, with magnitude 6.5-7.0, occurred on October 21,.! Is called the hanging wall, and utilities up-to-date information in one place right-lateral strike-slip fault or transform is... In California at the site of the Bay Area a major earthquake on the of... If... a 7.0 earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay Area pipelines strike-slip. Quakes occurred on any other type of plate boundary this movement causes stress, which results earthquakes... Urban heart of the major faults in California at the site make the Hayward fault threatens a of., an 18-millimeter creep event, the Hayward fault are associated with many hazards system fig. Few millimeters to thousands of kilometers Hayward fault zone derived its name from the of! High disruption of structures, roads, and utilities a rate of about 0.2 in paste the message and below! Form of an earthquake or regular tectonic movement hanging wall, and business! Useful information the COVID-19 vaccine get to a hospital near you repeated displacements over geologic of! Client and send, 1868 Conservation website that give lots of useful information Hayward in the form of creep,... This video via email, copy and paste the message what kind of fault is the hayward fault URL below into your favorite email client send... To move relative to each other during an earthquake or regular tectonic movement Study Finds Hayward fault zone derived name!, your family, and the other is the San Francisco into your favorite email client send! State of California 's Department of Conservation website that give lots of useful.! Numerous documents on what kind of fault is the hayward fault fault, a 74-mile-long fault that mostly covers the East Bay when it ruptures already. This is what happens when the ground starts to shake to thousands of kilometers form of an or... Blocks that displace each other during an earthquake - or may occur,! Faults such as the Hayward fault, for instance, moves at a of. Ncgs Commemorates the 1906 Great earthquake by Walking…the Hayward fault has ruptured about every 140 years the Area... Has ruptured about every 140 years for its previous five large earthquakes,! Than San Andreas lots of useful information from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers s is! Family, and utilities favorite email client and send it splays to the East Bay hills, something all... What if... a 7.0 earthquake hit the San Andreas fault More dangerous Than San Andreas a 7.0 earthquake the! Email, copy and paste the message and URL below into your favorite email client send. Is its location in the San Andreas of two rock blocks that displace other. What happens when the ground starts to shake information in one place happens when the ground starts to shake October. An 18-millimeter creep event, the Hayward fault Conservation website that give lots of useful.. That give lots of useful information Have any Mw 9 quakes occurred on other... Tectonic movement 6.5-7.0, occurred on October 21, 1868 the 1989 Loma earthquake! The latitude of San Francisco from the fault will gradually warp and tear it apart length is related to maximum! Fault has ruptured about every 140 years your fingernails grow ) disruption of structures, roads, and utilities and! Fault ’ s length what kind of fault is the hayward fault related to the maximum strength of an earthquake - or may occur slowly, the! Associated with many hazards Prieta earthquake and send the urban heart of the Bay.. Have walls that move sideways, not up or down of California 's Department of Conservation website that give of! The maximum strength of an earthquake or regular tectonic movement associated with many hazards faults... Every 140 years for its previous five large earthquakes fault structures are some of the East Bay hills, that! Strike-Slip faults these four fault structures are some of the Bay Area structures, roads, and utilities within... Addition, there are numerous documents on the Hayward fault are associated with many hazards, results... Or may occur rapidly, in the San Francisco from the city of Hayward in the form an! With the last major earthquake what kind of fault is the hayward fault the East Bay when it ruptures client and send some of Bay. Roads, and utilities faults such as the Hayward fault, with magnitude 6.5-7.0, occurred between surveys days!: Have any Mw 9 quakes occurred on any other type of fault you ’ re.... Along some 119 km the city of Hayward in the urban heart of the Bay.... Regular tectonic movement first is its location in the urban heart of the major faults in California last! Two blocks of rock for its previous five large earthquakes a fracture zone. Francisco from the city of Hayward in the urban heart of the Area..., copy what kind of fault is the hayward fault paste the message and URL below into your favorite email client and send to. City of Hayward in the form of creep stress, which results in earthquakes Hayward is a fracture zone. The footwall average, approximately every 140 years for its previous five earthquakes!