The Seattle Fault is described as an area of reverse faults or thrust, which runs through downtown Seattle in the Puget Lowland, located in the western part of Washington. In 1965 it was suggested by a group of geologists for the first time, that a significant fault passing through Seattle was present in the Puget Lowland. The fault is west-trending in nature. This significant geological fault of Seattle is a crack, which has been formed as a result of displacement in the earth's crust, on one side. The length of the Seattle Fault is 30 miles.
The precise location of Seattle fault, the history of its displacement, lateral geometry and slip rates are not well defined. In order to define these uncertainties, geologists have collected a vast network of marine high-resolution and seismic-reflection profiles throughout the Seattle fault. In this manner, ways of assessing earthquake hazards can be provided.
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In the region of Seattle fault there is a continuous problem, which is regarding the measurement of the magnitude of the slip. Certain geologic observations were used to restrain the quantity of slip, which occurred through the Seattle fault, when an earthquake had taken place some 1100 years ago.
If a Seattle Fault earthquake, ever occurs, it is going to be severely devastating. An earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 on the Seattle Fault can result in 8 times more destruction than the severe Nisqually earthquake of 6.8 magnitude. Some of the after effects of the Seattle Fault earthquake would be crumbling of the Seattle seawall, thousands of landslides and even the strongest buildings like those in Chinatown International District and Pioneer Square would collapse.
The Seattle Fault is one of the greatest subjects of study and research among geologists and other organizations, who are involved in disaster management.
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