Earthquakes and Seismology

By: S. N. Eldredge A beautifully designed and easy to understand publication discussing the geologic history of the Wasatch Fault and possible dangers it poses to anyone living nearby. This is a perfect introduction to the fault for anyone of all ages. Other Information:...

By: I. G. Wong, W. J. Silva, D. Wright, S. S. Olig, F. X. Ashland, N. Gregor, and G. E. Christenson This map illustrates the estimated intensity of ground shaking that would occur in a magnitude 7 earthquake on the Wasatch fault in Salt...

By: Steve D. Bowman and Walter J. Arabasz This map shows earthquakes known to have occurred within and surrounding Utah from 1850 through December 2016 and mapped Quaternary faults considered to be earthquake sources. The faults shown on the map have been sources of...

“Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country: Your Handbook for Earthquakes in Utah” is a comprehensive guide designed to help Utah residents understand and prepare for the seismic risks in their region. Published by the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, this handbook provides detailed information about...

By: S. N. Eldredge Large, damaging earthquakes can happen in many parts of Utah. Therefore, when choosing where to live in this state, we should be aware of the earthquake risk. It is important to know what potential earthquake hazards exist in an area,...

By: I. G. Wong, W. J. Silva, S. S. Olig, P. Thomas, D. Wright, F. X. Ashland, and N. Gregor The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is one of the most seismically hazardous urban areas in the interior of the western U.S. because of...

By: S. N. Eldredge and E. H. O'Brien This photo essay contains selected photos, brief text, and newspaper excerpts for four significant earthquakes in Utah, illustrating what happened and what could happen during an earthquake. Original photos were compiled by Edith H. O’Brien, Earthquake...

By: S. D. Bowman and K. Beisner This compilation of the 1938 Salt Lake Aqueduct Project includes 183 scanned aerial photograph prints (frames) taken as part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Salt Lake Aqueduct Project. The Salt Lake Aqueduct was constructed between...

By: UGS Staff This map shows the location of faults in the Hurricane fault zone adjacent to the towns of La Verkin and Hurricane and in the Washington fault zone adjacent to St. George and Washington. Back side of map includes information on faults,...

By: S. N. Eldredge This pamphlet is an introduction to Utah’s earthquakes and answers the commonly asked questions of where, why, and how often earthquakes occur in Utah; how big they are and how they are measured; and what may happen during an earthquake....

By: G. E. Christenson, L. D. Batatian, and C. V. Nelson The purpose of these guidelines is to outline appropriate surface-fault-rupture-hazard investigation techniques and report content to ensure adequate studies to protect the public, aid in land-use regulation, and facilitate risk reduction. Faults are...

By: S. Hecker This report consolidates and synthesizes information on Quaternary faulting, folding, and volcanism in Utah and characterizes recent tectonic activity throughout the state. The primary purpose is to provide a comprehensive reference on fault-specific seismic sources and surface rupture to facilitate the...

By: W. R. Lund, editorGeologic exposures in the Salt Lake City region record a long history of sedimentation and tectonic activity extending back to the Precambrian Era. Today, the city lies above a deep, sediment-filled basin flanked by two uplifted range blocks, the Wasatch...

The Paleoseismology of Utah series makes the results of paleoseismic investigations in Utah available to geoscientists, engineers, planners, public officials, and the general public. These studies provide critical information regarding paleoearthquakeparameters such as earthquake timing, recurrence, displacement, slip rate, fault geometry, and segmentation, which...

Summary This proceedings volume documents the results of the 2022 Basin and Range Earthquake Summit (BRES22) convened by the Utah Geological Survey in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 17–20, 2022. The summit was sponsored by the Utah Geological Survey, the Utah Division of...

By: W. R. Lund, T. R. Knudsen, G. S. Vice, and L. M. ShawThe St. George-Hurricane metropolitan area is one of the nation?s fastest growing regions. As land well suited for development becomes increasingly scarce, urbanization has moved into less favorable areas where geologic...

By: G. N. McDonald and F. X. Ashland Contains a 41-page report and a 1:150,000-scale map defining seismic site conditions for the Wasatch Front urban corridor. This mapping, partially funded through the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Hazards Reduction Program, provides a basis for predicting...

By: W. R. Lund, C. B. DuRoss, S. M. Kirby, G. N. McDonald, G. Hunt, and G. S. Vice Contains a 30-page report and 37-photo appendix of an investigation by the Utah Geological Survey of five recently discovered earth fissures in southwestern Utah. The...

By: UGS Staff This map shows the location of faults in Salt Lake County. Back side of map includes information on faults, effects of surface fault rupture, when and where surface rupture is likely to occur, and what can be done to protect homes....

By: UGS Staff This map shows the location of faults in Davis County. Back side of map includes information on faults, effects of surface fault rupture, when and where surface rupture is likely to occur, and what can be done to protect homes. Other...