Tag Archives: earthquake physics

Could LA’s Big One be even bigger than we thought? Now explosive helium is leaking from massive earthquake fault under Los Angeles

Posted by aurelius77 on
  • Indicates Newport-Inglewood fault more important than previously thought
  • Risk in the next 30 years of ‘big one’ increased from about 4.7% to 7.0%
  • However, study says risk of smaller quakes has actually gone down

A huge fault in the Earth’s crust near Los Angeles is leaking helium, researchers have found.

They say the unexpected find sheds new light on the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone in the Los Angeles Basin.

It reveals the fault is far deeper than previously thought, and a quake would be far more devastating.

It follows a report from the U.S. Geological Survey has warned the risk of ‘the big one’ hitting California has increased dramatically. Continue reading →