Faulting caused by groundwater level declines, San Joaquin Valley, California

Water Resources Research
By:

Links

Abstract

Approximately 230 mm of aseismic vertical offset of the land surface across the Pond-Poso Creek fault in the San Joaquin Valley, California, probably is related to groundwater withdrawal for crop irrigation. The scarp is approximately 3.4 km long and occurs in an area where the land subsided more than 1.5 m from 1926 to 1970. Modern faulting postdates the beginning of water level declines and associated subsidence. Movement detected by precise leveling surveys from February 1977 to March 1979 was seasonal, occurring during periods of water level decline. Fault offset was greater in the year with the lower seasonal low water level. The modern movement probably is caused by localized differential compaction induced by differential water level declines across the preexisting fault.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Faulting caused by groundwater level declines, San Joaquin Valley, California
Series title Water Resources Research
DOI 10.1029/WR016i006p01065
Volume 16
Issue 6
Year Published 1980
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Description 6p.
First page 1065
Last page 1070
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Pond-Poso Creek fault, San Joaquin Valley
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details