Wikimedia CommonsThe San Andreas Fault, as seen from above in San Luis Obispo County, California.A recent study says that the San Andreas and San Jacinto fault lines are under more stress than at any point in the past 1,000 years. Heres what that means.Its been a long-held fear for many Californians. This time, it might actually be real.Anyone who has lived in Southern California knows the reality of existing in a place with many earthquakes. The first time you experience an earthquake, you panic after the 50th, you barely stop sipping your matcha.However, theres a longtime fear in the minds of many Californians that, one day, theres going to be another big earthquake. The last major earthquake experienced by residents of Los Angeles was in 1994, when the magnitude-6.7 Northridge earthquake claimed the lives of at least 57 people.Now, some evidence suggests that another earthquake of at least that size could be around the corner.What Did Scientists Recently Discover About The San Andreas And San Jacinto Faults?Scientists have just found that the San Andreas fault line is under the most pressure that its ever been in and it is now lined up with a second fault line right next to LA that could rip open at the exact same time, popular TikTok user Nick Jackson (@niickjackson) says in a recent video summarizing the recent study.@niickjackson/TikTokPopular TikToker @niickjackson brought attention to a recent, concerning study about the San Andreas and San Jacinto fault lines.While Jackson is slightly exaggerating the study says its under the most pressure its been in over the past 1,000 years, not forever the findings are still dramatic.One of the major findings of this study was about an area called Cajon Pass, where two fault lines meet. This place can, according to researchers, act as an earthquake gate.Theyre saying that whenever both fault lines are stressed to the same level, that gate can open and let a rupture jump from one fault line straight onto the other, Jackson summarizes.If this occurs, the outcome will likely be dramatic and devastating.@niickjackson TikTokA map of Southern Californias fault system shows pressure building along the San Andreas Fault.Theyre saying that both fault lines are loaded to almost the exact same point, so they could rip together or even all at once across three different branches, Jackson explains.The last big one that happened in 1857 tore over 200 miles, but it stopped right at that gate, he adds. This time, if it were to happen again, the area it would hit is packed with millions of people.Jackson closes by noting that scientists still cannot predict if or when such an earthquake would occur.How High Is Californias Risk Of An Earthquake In The Near Future?As outlandishly frightening as this news may sound, it is indeed real though there are some important caveats.The study comes from the University of Hawaii at Mnoa and was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth.By modeling 1,000 years of earthquake data, researchers were able to determine that stress levels on multiple fault segments are now at or above the highest values seen in the past millennium and that the region may be capable of a large through-going rupture involving both fault systems, according to the studys lead author Liliane Burkhard.Importantly, the study does not say that these faults being at a critically loaded state means that an earthquake is imminent or that any resulting earthquake would be as devastating as the one that occurred in 1994.National ArchivesSome of the devastation following the great earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco.Instead, the study simply uses modeling to show that, historically, it has been possible for Cajon Pass to act as a sort of gate and link two fault events. When this happens, the outcome can be devastating though it is not guaranteed to happen at all, let alone in the near future.What we can say is that the system is critically stressed, and that physics-based models like this one give us a clearer picture of the range of scenarios we should be prepared for, Burkhard stated.Why Some Californians Arent Living In Fear Of The San Andreas FaultWhile some Californians have expressed fear about this news, many have approached the topic with a mix of skepticism and fatigue.Born in LA 65 years ago. Heard this only a thousand times, reads one comment under Jacksons video.Theyve been saying this since the 80s. Dont stress over it, echoed another comment on Reddit. Geologically your life time is a split second. This huge earthquake they talk about might not happen for over 200 years.Wikimedia CommonsThe San Andreas Fault runs 750 miles across the state of California.Others advised that, regardless of whether a massive earthquake is imminent, people should be ready.Dont stress about it, but you need to have a plan and prepare, reads a further Reddit comment. I dont think people realize how disruptive these events are in the days/weeks following. Widespread power outages, fuel shortages, communications down, damage to water systems, bridges down, collapsed roads, supply chain (e.g. food) disruptions.Have a earthquake kit in a safe place with food/water for roughly a week, first aid supplies, etc., the user continues. Have a family plan on what to do, where to meet, in the event that people are at work/school/wherever when it happens. @niickjackson SO THATS INSANE original sound Nick Jackson All Thats Interesting reached out to Jackson via email and Instagram direct message.To see the worst that earthquakes can do, relive Japans Great Kant Earthquake of 1923, which launched a series of events so devastating it left more than 100,000 dead. And from American history, read up on the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that left the city on fire for days.The post The Time To Prepare Is Now: Californias San Andreas Fault Is At Its Highest Stress Level In 1,000 Years appeared first on All That's Interesting.