Los Angeles Times

July 4th earthquake won't delay the Big One. And it might have worsened quake strain

LOS ANGELES - Does a good-size earthquake help relieve pent-up seismic stress? Does that postpone the day of reckoning when the Big One finally arrives?

That was the question some in California were asking hopefully in the wake of the July 4 magnitude 6.4 earthquake that rattled the region.

You won't like this answer.

It's wishful thinking to imagine that, as a rule, earthquakes "relieve" seismic stress, said seismologist Lucy Jones.

In fact, generally speaking, earthquakes actually increase the risk of future quakes.

Here is a primer on earthquakes and seismic stress largely based on past interviews with Jones and other scientists:

Q: Does an earthquake immediately relieve seismic stress, forestalling a future big quake?

A: No.

Think about what generally happens after a decent earthquake. Aftershocks. Lots and lots of aftershocks. It's going on

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times2 min read
Martin Scorsese Will Produce And Host A Docudrama Series For Fox Nation Streaming Service
NEW YORK — Martin Scorsese has landed in Fox Nation. The subscription streaming service owned and operated by Fox News Media announced Wednesday that it has signed the Oscar-winning director to produce and host an eight-episode faith-based docudrama
Los Angeles Times13 min read
Why Was 2023 Such A Deadly Year In Los Angeles County Jails? It Depends On Whom You Ask
LOS ANGELES -- It was well after dark, but Tawana Hunter lingered in the hospital parking lot, watching the minutes tick by on her phone. As midnight drew closer, she ran through all the things she wished had been different. She wished her father had
Los Angeles Times3 min readCrime & Violence
Editorial: On Medication Abortion, The Supreme Court May Actually Do The Right Thing
It always seemed farfetched that anti-abortion doctors could argue that they have the right to ask a court to severely restrict a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration simply because they don’t want to treat women who might experienc

Related Books & Audiobooks