Paleoseismic features as indicators of earthquake hazards in North Coastal, San Diego County, California, USA

Based on their regional extent, the paleoseismic features were likely caused by M ∼ 7+ tectonic events inferentially generated by the nearby offshore Newport-Inglewood/Rose Canyon fault system, or possibly by smaller, recently exposed, related and localized faults. Accordingly, the seismic hazard of the north coastal area of San Diego County may be substantially higher than previously assumed, and hence of concern owing to the rapid ongoing and projected population increase.