Fault lines
A sleeping giant beneath the Pacific awakens in seismic clarity.
In June 2024, researchers published the most detailed map ever of the Cascadia Subduction Zone — a 600-mile megathrust fault stretching from Northern California to Vancouver Island. The study, led by Columbia University and the University of Washington, used deep seismic imaging to reveal that the fault is segmented into at least four distinct zones, each with unique geometry and rupture behavior.
In 2021, the Marcus G. Langseth research vessel towed a 15-km hydrophone array off the Pacific Northwest coast. Using air guns and seismic streamers, researchers created 3D images of the fault zone — akin to an ultrasound of the Earth’s crust. These images revealed the fault’s depth, dip angle, and segmentation.
The Raspberry Shake station R6303 in Bonney Lake sits directly above the shallow rupture zone. It’s ideally positioned to detect tremor, slip events, and amplified shaking. The new mapping suggests this region could experience stronger ground motion than previously modeled.
Below is a live seismic feed from R6303, showing vertical ground motion in real time:
This page is a ceremonial overlay on the fault’s breath — a glyphic echo of the Earth’s hidden geometry.