The College of Letters and Science Magazine

Is California’s “Big One” overdue?

Not exactly, says UC Davis geologist Michael Oskin.

At a recent Davis Science Café, Oskin unpacked what scientists know about California’s major earthquakes — from why another “Big One” is inevitable to why it could actually be smaller than other historic earthquakes.

He also explained why where an earthquake happens matters, what the San Andreas Fault can tell us about future earthquakes, and why scientists still can’t predict exactly when one will strike.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

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Image description #1: Residents overlook downtown San Francisco as fires break out across the city after the 1906 earthquake.

Image description #2: A view of the San Gorgonio Mountain from the South Fork Trail. Text overlay reads "California Earthquakes and What the Next ‘Big One’ Could Look Like"

Image description #3: Aerial view of the San Andreas Fault, on the Carrizo Plain. On the left is the Pacific Plate. On the right is the North American Plate. These are two of the largest tectonic plates on Earth.

Image description #4: Geologist Michael Oskin, wearing a hat, takes a selfie while standing in a desert-like environment.