The San Andreas fault near San Francisco

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement "Is locked and therefore accumulating stress" refers to the fact that two plates on either side of the San Andreas fault are stuck and not moving, leading to an accumulation of stress along the fault line. This makes it a concern for potential future earthquakes. The other options are incorrect - A is partially correct in that the fault has been undergoing creep since 1906, but this is not the main point about its current state. B is incorrect because the fault is actually seismically active, just not always with large earthquakes. D is not entirely accurate - while the fault may only slip a few meters during each earthquake, multiple slip events can occur over time leading to significant displacement.

The San Andreas Fault near San Francisco