The Cascadia Subduction Zone: Scientists Discover Leak That Could Lead to Catastrophic Earthquakes

Scientists Discover “Pythia’s Oasis” Spring in Cascadia Subduction Zone

Scientists from the University of Washington have discovered a new mineral-rich water leak 2.5 miles beneath the ocean floor at a plate boundary that is said to be a fault line we should keep an eye on. This leak has been named Pythia’s Oasis after the ancient Greek Oracle of Delphi.

This discovery was made during a weather-related delay for a cruise aboard the RV Thomas G. Thompson. Seeps of warm, chemically distinct liquid shooting up from the seafloor were found through observations made using sonar and an underwater robot. The team led by the University of Washington describes how the fluid leaving the seafloor through Pythia’s Oasis is 9°C warmer than the surrounding seawater and is believed to be coming straight from the Cascadia megathrust, regulating stress on the offshore fault.

The seeps occur near vertical faults that crosshatch the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and they’re not related to geologic activity at the nearby seafloor observatory. Loss of fluid from the offshore megathrust interface through these strikeslip faults increases friction between the oceanic and continental plates, resulting in more pressure and potentially causing tectonic plates to lock together.

Fluid released from the fault zone can be seen as leaking lubricant that can increase stress and result in damaging earthquakes. For this reason, Pythia’s Oasis provides a rare window into processes acting deep in the seafloor, and its chemistry suggests that nearby faults regulate fluid pressure and megathrust slip behavior along the central Cascadia Subduction Zone.

The Big One: Earthquake Risks in Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest may soon suffer from a massive earthquake known as The Big One, also called the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. The last time this area was hit by a large quake was about 323 years ago, and scientists say we are overdue.

According to a recent study by the University of Washington, the subduction zone is leaking, indicating that the Pacific Northwest is closer to an inevitable quake along the fault. Coauthor of the paper, Evan Solomon, describes the potentially devastating implications of less lubricant and more stress building up at this new minor leak.

Scientists predict that there is about a 37 percent chance that a megathrust earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1+ will occur in this fault zone in the next 50 years. This prediction should act as a warning to government officials and residents of affected areas.

There have been around 3,500 seismic tremors of magnitude 2.5 or greater recorded in the Cascadia fault zone off the Oregon coast since 1970. It’s crucial to note that none of the extreme scenarios predicted by some on Twitter, such as an eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano or Los Angeles being wiped off the map, are supported by science.

Therefore, it’s essential to prepare for potential earthquakes and find ways to keep yourself and your family safe. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management recommends preparing emergency kits with supplies for up to two weeks and knowing evacuation plans.

Cascadia Subduction Zone: Understanding Earthquake Hazards

The Cascadia Subduction Zone located near Pacific Northwest poses a risk for potential earthquakes with magnitudes up to nine on the Richter scale. However, new studies have led to a better understanding of how these earthquakes happen.

One such discovery is Pythia’s Oasis spring found about 50 miles off Newport, Oregon by a team led by the University of Washington. The fluid leaving the seafloor through Pythia’s Oasis is believed to be coming straight from the Cascadia megathrust and originating from water 2.5 miles beneath the seafloor at the plate boundary.

The fluid release from the fault zone through Pythia’s Oasis regulates stress on the offshore fault, making it a valuable source of information to predict earthquakes. The discovery of the spring provides insight into processes that take place deep in the seafloor, and researchers believe that nearby faults regulate fluid pressure and megathrust slip behavior along the central Cascadia Subduction Zone.

In conclusion, understanding earthquake hazards can help mitigate their effects. Finding out more about Pythia’s Oasis and other such geological phenomena could help potentially save lives when these inevitable earthquakes occur.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons