News From the Field
Does the Central Andean Backarc Have the Potential for a Great Earthquake?

May 8, 2011

The region east of the central Andes Mountains has the potential for larger-scale earthquakes than previously expected. Previous research had set the maximum expected earthquake size to be magnitude 7.5, based on the relatively quiet history of seismicity in that area. The new study by researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and colleagues contradicts that limit and instead suggests that the region could see quakes with magnitudes 8.7 to 8.9. Full Story

Source
University of Hawaii at Manoa

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