Ridgecrest earthquakes increased chance of large San Andreas temblor, study suggests

RIDGECREST, Calif. (KABC) -- A new study suggests the earthquakes in Ridgecrest last year may have increased the chances of a large earthquake on the San Andreas Fault.

The study says there is a 2.3% chance of a 7.5 or greater magnitude quake on the Garlock Fault, which runs along the north edge of the Mojave Desert, in the next 12 months.
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The authors of the study say that could trigger a quake on the San Andreas Fault.

Seismologist Lucy Jones, who was not involved in the study, agrees the chance of a San Andreas quake is up slightly if a Garlock quake occurs and if the scientific model is correct, but she says it's not yet proven.
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The study was published today in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.

Ridgecrest saw a 6.4 foreshock on July 4, 2019 followed by a 7.1 mainshock one day later.

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City News Service contributed to this report.