In 1987 a Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities was organized by the U.S. Geological
Survey at the recommendation of the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC). The
membership included representatives from private industry, academia, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The
Working Group computed long-term probabilities of earthquakes along the major faults of the San Andreas
fault system on the basis of consensus interpretations of information then available. Faults considered by the
Working Group included the San Andreas fault proper, the San Jacinto and Imperial-faults of southern
California, and the Hayward fault of northern California. The Working Group issued a final report of its
findings in 1988 (Working Group, 1988) that was reviewed and endorsed by NEPEC.
As a consequence of the magnitude 7.1 Loma Prieta, California, earthquake of October 17, 1989, a
second Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities was organized under the auspices of NEPEC.
Its charge was to review and, as necessary, revise the findings of the 1988 report on the probability of large
earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay region. In particular, the Working Group was requested to examine the
probabilities of large earthquakes in the context of new interpretations or physical changes resulting from the
Loma Prieta earthquake. In addition, it was to consider new information pertaining to the San Andreas and other
faults in the region obtained subsequent to the release of the 1988 report. Insofar as modified techniques and
improved data have been used in this study, the same approach might also, of course, modify the probabilities
for southern California. This reevaluation has, however, been specifically limited to the San Francisco Bay
region.
This report is intended to summarize the collective knowledge and judgments of a diverse group of
earthquake scientists to assist in formulation of rational earthquake policies. A considerable body of information
about active faults in the San Francisco Bay region leads to the conclusion that major earthquakes are likely
within the next tens of years. Several techniques can be used to compute probabilities of future earthquakes,
although there are uncertainties about the validity of specific assumptions or models that must be made when
applying these techniques. The body of this report describes the data and detailed assumptions that lead to
specific probabilities for different fault segments. Additional data and future advances in our understanding of
earthquake physics may alter the way that these probabilities are estimated. Even though this uncertainty must
be acknowledged, we emphasize that the findings of this report are supported by other lines of argument and
are consistent with our best understanding of the likelihood for the occurrence of earthquakes in the San
Francisco Bay region