California's Salton Sea Drying Up, Potentially Delaying Next Big Earthquake

Southern California's Salton Sea is drying up, and this could be delaying the region's next big earthquake. Nearly all of California has a more than 95% chance of a damaging earthquake in the next century. A magnitude 7.5 quake on the Puente Hills fault, which runs underneath densely populated areas of Los Angeles, would be catastrophic.

The Salton Sea is a large, shallow lake in the southeastern corner of California. It was created in 1905 when the Colorado River flooded the area. The Salton Sea has been shrinking for decades because the Colorado River is now diverted for irrigation and other uses. As the lake dries up, it leaves behind large amounts of salt and other minerals, which can cause air pollution and other environmental problems.

The Salton Sea is also a major source of earthquakes. The weight of the water in the lake helps to keep the faults in the area inactive. As the lake dries up, the weight of the water is reduced and the faults become more likely to slip.

A study published in the journal Nature Geoscience found that the drying up of the Salton Sea could increase the risk of a major earthquake on the Puente Hills fault by up to 30%. The study's authors say that this is because the weight of the water in the lake is helping to keep the fault locked in place. As the lake dries up, the weight of the water is reduced and the fault is more likely to slip.

The findings of this study are a reminder that the drying up of the Salton Sea is a serious environmental problem with potentially catastrophic consequences. It is important to take steps to protect the lake and to mitigate the risks associated with its disappearance.