Aseismic creep

A house sitting atop the Calaveras Fault. It was demolished in 2009.

In geology, aseismic creep is measurable surface displacement along a fault in the absence of notable earthquakes.

An example is along the Calaveras fault in Hollister, California. Streets crossing the fault in Hollister show significant offset and several houses sitting atop the fault are notably twisted (yet habitable). The city attracts geologists and geology students almost weekly. There is also significant aseismic creep along the Hayward fault in and north of Hayward, California, but this is insufficient to prevent a substantial earthquake.

Creep of the Hayward Fault has displaced this curb since its construction about 15 years prior. (Location: Fremont, California)

Offset in the California Memorial Stadium

External links

• Tour of the Hayward Fault - California State University at Hayward web site with images showing fault creep on the Hayward Fault.
• Fremont Earthquake Exhibit - The Hayward Fault Exposed msnucleus.org, K-12 math and science education site.