What would happen if a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs along the Wasatch fault?
Future large earthquakes will break segments of the fault about 20 – 40 miles long and produce displacements at the surface of up to 10 – 20 feet. Strong ground shaking could produce considerable damage up to nearly 50 miles from the earthquake. The strong ground shaking may be amplified by factors up to 10 or more on valley fill compared to hard rock. Also possible are soil liquefaction, landslides, rock falls, and broad permanent tilting of valley floors possibly causing the Great Salt Lake or Utah Lake to inundate parts of Salt Lake City or Provo.
