Cascadia Subduction Zone

About Cascadia Subduction Zone:

• The Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) is a major geological feature located off the west coast of North America, stretching from northern California to southern British Columbia.
• It is an active convergent boundary where the Juan de Fuca Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate.
• This subduction process has significant implications for seismic activity in the region.

Earthquake and Tsunami Risks:

• The CSZ can produce massive earthquakes, including those of magnitude 9.0 or greater, which can generate tsunamis reaching heights of 100 feet or more.

A similar fault off Japan triggered the devastating 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Q1. What is a Strait?

A strait is a narrow waterway between two pieces of land that connects two large bodies of water. Well-known straits include the Bering Strait, which links the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea and separates the continents of Asia and North America at their closest point. The Strait of Gibraltar, located between Spain and Africa, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. The Strait of Magellan lies between the southern tip of South America and the islands of Tierra del Fuego and links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Source: Cascadia Subduction Zone, one of Earth's top hazards, comes into sharper focus