Elsinore Fault Zone
Encyclopedia
The Elsinore Fault Zone is a large right-lateral strike-slip geological fault structure in Southern California
. The fault is part of the trilateral split of the San Andreas fault
system and is one of the largest, though quietest faults in Southern California.
. The projected interval between major rupture events is 250 years.
The last major rupture event on the main Elsinore fault was in 1910 with a 6 MW
earthquake centered just Northwest of the city of Lake Elsinore.
region between El Centro
and San Diego
, northwest to the Chino Hills range
and Chino Hills
. On the southern end of the fault zone is the southeastern extension of the Elsinore fault zone, the Laguna Salada Fault
. At its northern end, the Elsinore fault zone splits into two segments, the Chino Fault
and the Whittier Fault
. In Lake Elsinore the fault is split into strands with the Glen Ivy North and Glen Ivy South faults to the Northwest and the Wildomar and Willard faults to the Southeast.
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The fault is part of the trilateral split of the San Andreas fault
San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is a continental strike-slip fault that runs a length of roughly through California in the United States. The fault's motion is right-lateral strike-slip...
system and is one of the largest, though quietest faults in Southern California.
Fault Characteristics
The Elsinore fault zone, not including Whittier, Chino, and Laguna Salada faults, is 180 kilometres (111.8 mi) long with a slip-rate of 4.0 millimeters/year (0.15 in/yr). It is estimated that this zone is capable of producing a quake of 6.5 - 7.5 MWMoment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
. The projected interval between major rupture events is 250 years.
The last major rupture event on the main Elsinore fault was in 1910 with a 6 MW
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
earthquake centered just Northwest of the city of Lake Elsinore.
Fault Segments and Geography
The fault runs from the mountainous Peninsular RangesPeninsular Ranges
The Peninsular Ranges are a group of mountain ranges, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, which stretch from southern California in the United States to the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula; they are part of the North American Coast Ranges that run along the Pacific coast from Alaska...
region between El Centro
El Centro, California
El Centro is a city in and county seat of Imperial County, the largest city in the Imperial Valley and the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also...
and San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, northwest to the Chino Hills range
Chino Hills
The Chino Hills are a mountain range on the border of Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties, California, with a small portion in Riverside County...
and Chino Hills
Chino Hills, California
Chino Hills is a Los Angeles suburb located in the southwestern corner of San Bernardino County, California, United States. The city borders Los Angeles County on its northwest side, Orange County to its south, and Riverside County to its southeast...
. On the southern end of the fault zone is the southeastern extension of the Elsinore fault zone, the Laguna Salada Fault
Laguna Salada Fault
The Laguna Salada Fault is a geological fault between the United States and Mexico. About to long, it straddles the Imperial County-California–Baja California border.-Earthquakes:...
. At its northern end, the Elsinore fault zone splits into two segments, the Chino Fault
Chino Fault
The Chino Fault is a fault that extends along the eastern Chino Hills range region, from Corona in Riverside County to the Los Serranos, Chino Hills area of San Bernardino County in Southern California.-Geology:...
and the Whittier Fault
Whittier Fault
The Whittier Fault is a geologic fault located in eastern Los Angeles County in Southern California, that is one of the two upper branches of the Elsinore Fault Zone, with the Chino Fault the second.-Geology:...
. In Lake Elsinore the fault is split into strands with the Glen Ivy North and Glen Ivy South faults to the Northwest and the Wildomar and Willard faults to the Southeast.
Nearby Communities
- Temecula
- Lake ElsinoreLake Elsinore, CaliforniaFor the lake see Lake Elsinore.Lake Elsinore or LE is a city in western Riverside County, California. The population was 51,821 at the 2010 census...
- JulianJulian, CaliforniaJulian is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,502, down from 1,621 at the 2000 census.Julian is an official California Historical Landmark No. 412...