The California Geological Survey studies earthquakes to help Californians plan and build earthquake resistant communities. We record the strong ground motion from earthquakes, study the distribution of historic earthquakes and evaluate faults that are the source of earthquakes. We combine that information to prepare maps showing the potential for ground shaking, fault rupture, liquefaction and seismically induced landsliding. Earthquakes shaking hazards are calculated considering earthquake magnitudes and rates, the decrease in earthquake shaking with distance, and amplification of shaking by soils. The result is expressed as the level of ground shaking that on average occurs every 500 years. These calculations for California are part of a cooperative project between USGS and CGS, and are part of the National Seismic Hazard Maps. These estimates of seismic hazards can be used to estimate the effects of potential earthquakes as planning scenarios and the potential for statewide earthquake losses.
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