A 2D and 3D Community Fault Model for the Cascadia Subduction Zone: Release of CRESCENT CFM Version 1.0
Earthquake hazard in the Cascadia region stems from numerous structures including faults within the upper (North America) and lower (Juan de Fuca) plates and the plate boundary megathrust. Active faults in this system occur throughout southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. Despite the significant seismic hazard associated with these faults, we lack a regionally comprehensive community fault model for Cascadia. Here we present Version 1.0 of the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT) Community Fault Model (CFM). The CFM is comprised of 2D and 3D representations of faults in both the North America and Juan de Fuca plates, models of the plate interface, and accompanying metadata for each fault. We include faults that exhibit evidence for nucleating and/or hosting slip during an earthquake since the Late Pleistocene (< 130,000 years) and also those that lack evidence for activity since the Late Pleistocene, but could become active under current stress conditions. The model has been constructed based on information published in peer-reviewed literature and underwent revisions based on evaluations by community members. Onshore faults build upon many sources including the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model 2023 fault sections database and state geological survey fault databases. Offshore, the CFM includes many recently imaged splay faults in the accretionary wedge that are important for understanding megathrust rupture behavior and tsunami hazard. In addition, the CFM is useful for many other applications such as seismic hazard analyses, multi-cycle rupture modeling, and providing constraints in the CRESCENT Community Velocity Model. The CFM can also be used to help identify faults that could be targeted in future studies to improve our understanding of their potential hazard. The CRESCENT CFM will continue to grow and improve through community engagement and feedback leading to future version updates.
Session: Linking Subduction Zone Processes and Cascading Hazards in Alaska, Cascadia, Chile and Beyond [Poster]
Type: Poster
Room: Exhibit Hall A+B
Date: 4/16/2026
Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)
Presenting Author: Rebecca Fildes
Student Presenter: No
Invited Presentation:
Poster Number: 126
Additional Authors
Rebecca Fildes Presenting Author Corresponding Author fildesr@wwu.edu Western Washington University |
Colin Amos amosc2@wwu.edu Western Washington University |
Emily Roland rolande2@wwu.edu Western Washington University |
Ashley Streig Ashley.Streig@dnr.wa.gov Washington Geological Survey |
Scott Bennett sekbennett@usgs.gov U.S. Geological Survey |
Alexandra Hatem ahatem@usgs.gov U.S. Geological Survey |
Anna Ledeczi ledeczi@uw.edu University of Washington |
Andrew Meigs andrew.meigs@oregonstate.edu Oregon State University |
Richard Styron richard.styron@globalquakemodel.org Global Earthquake Model Foundation |
Harold J Tobin htobin@uw.edu University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States |
A 2D and 3D Community Fault Model for the Cascadia Subduction Zone: Release of CRESCENT CFM Version 1.0
Category
Linking Subduction Zone Processes and Cascading Hazards in Alaska, Cascadia, Chile and Beyond
Description