Hello everyone - I have a dumb question- how do the geologists know if this location has a fault or not?
@ridor9th that's a great question! I think I'll google for the answer.
@Bliss Please do share the links and answers! I'd like to know as well. I'm currently in a zoom with friends - we had been talking about how we detect the "aquifers" and fault lines. We are curious and we would like to know how.
US Geological Svc has great tools and info for all levels.
Here's the beginners section
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-fault-and-what-are-different-types#main-content
Here's the Advanced Faulting section.
https://www.usgs.gov/search
@Bliss My problem is - HOW did they know that stuff?
@Bliss My argument is: How did the geologists know there are faults in New Madrid, Charleston and Central Virginia?
@ridor9th Usually through surveying the area and looking at seizmic activity. They've been gathering data all over the place for decades.
@sentientdessert Not good enough - how did they know we have fresh water in aquifers down there?
@ridor9th Tectonic movements travel differently through different materials... that's one guess. there's also looking at stiation of ubheavals or drilling.
Not an expert, was just trying to be helpful...
@sentientdessert But that does not solve something else - in the east coast, there are few fault lines - how did they find out about that? IN the West Coast, it is easy to identify this, that and there but in the East Coast, how did they find out?
@ridor9th I think they can tell by the lay of the land, by looking at how earthquake waves from other areas pass through, or by detecting small earthquakes in that area itself.