Overview

• The Cascadia Subduction Zone has a 15% probability of a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake within the next 50 years, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
• Such an earthquake could cause coastal land to sink by up to 6.5 feet, worsening the destructive impact of a potential mega-tsunami.
• Alaska, Hawaii, and the US West Coast, including Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, are all at heightened risk due to geological and environmental vulnerabilities.
• Historical events like the 1958 Lituya Bay tsunami in Alaska and the 1700 Cascadia earthquake illustrate the devastating potential of mega-tsunamis.
• Scientists are actively monitoring glaciers, volcanic slopes, and seismic zones to improve early warning systems and preparedness for these rare but catastrophic events.