San Diego - Tijuana Earthquake Scenario
This scenario shows a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that ruptures a 65 km long section of the Rose Canyon fault that lies just offshore the cities of San Diego and Tijuana. In this scenario produced by the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter is near the northern end of the fault so the rupture moves southward towards the more densely populated area. While this scenario is just one of many possible realizations of what a rupture of the Rose Canyon fault might produce, it nonetheless highlights the destructive nature of seismic waves that are created during fault rupture, including the strong rupture directivity effects that would impact the densely populated regions near San Diego and Tijuana.