American scientists fear that a hole in a 600-mile geological fault at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean could trigger a megathquake on the west coast of the United States.
The hole, which is expelling hot liquid, is located 80 kilometers off the coast of Oregon, at the edge of the fault known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which extends from Northern California to Canada.
Scientists claim that this geological feature is capable of triggering a magnitude 9 earthquake in the Pacific.
The leak was first observed in 2015, but a new analysis led by the University of Washington (UW) suggests that the liquid may act as a kind of “lubricant,” allowing the plates to move smoothly. However, in the absence of the liquid, the “stress” between the plates may increase, potentially leading to more intense friction and a devastating earthquake.
The loss of the fluid is being closely monitored and studied by experts.
The Cascadia region encompasses several major metropolitan areas, including Seattle and Portland, but also touches parts of Northern California and Vancouver, Canada.
Source: Daily Mail