How Did Scientists FigurOut Where the Fault Lines Are?
Scientists can use two methods to figure out where fault lines are located. A fault can be a
plate boundary, such as the one found between two plates that rub alongside one another,
resulting in earthquakes. One method is to simply look at the pattern of earthquakes (just as
you did in class). This will show where the faults are located because faults and earthquakes
often coincide and are found in the same places. A second method to find fault lines is to walk
around outside with a map, compass, and other geological tools. Geologists know how to spot
a fault and are able to find them with their eyes as they walk through a region. Finding a fault
requires that the geologists know what signs to look for. These scientists have been trained to
be able to identify faults, and once one is found, it can be plotted on a map, just like you plot
data on a graph.
