Gap Hypothesis

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The gap hypothesis is the hypothesis that states that parts of active faults that have had relatively few earthquakes are likely to be the sites of strong earthquakes.

[edit] The Loma Prieta

Previous to 1989, there had been a seismic gap below Santa Cruz, California. In 1988, seismologists predicted there would be 30% chance that over the next 30 years an earthquake of at least 6.5 magnitude would fill this gap. In 1989, the Loma Prieta, a 7.1 earthquake, occurred.

[edit] References

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