What goes around, comes around. I don't think it will happen. We need people who live there, like Peggy, to stimulate our minds with environmental trash.
Do you mean the whole state just snapping off the continent in one full swoop? Probably not. Since California sits on the Ring of Fire, areas west of the San Andreas fault are creeping northward. If California did all the sudden fall into the ocean, it would be a catastrophic event for the whole planet. If anything, depending on what type of seismic event happens, there is just enough energy that California will gain land rather thank loose it.
The area west of the San Andreas fault is moving about 2 inches per year, so it would not happen for a very long time.
EDIT: I think I should add more because it seems like people are confused about the possibility. Take a look at the Gulf of California--this is essentially the same process that is going on with California but it has already opened up enough that the ocean has flooded in. As the rifting continues northward, it is reasonable to expect that west of the San Andreas Fault Zone the same thing will happen. In fact, it is already happening--the Salton Sink area near the Imperial Fault Zone and San Andreas Fault is already more than 200 feet below sea level. If this region were connected to the ocean it would already be under water. At two inches per year, that's a foot every 6 years, a mile every 32000 years, so if the rift needs something like 600 miles to go, then we'd expect western California to be ripped from the mainland in about 19 million years. This is only an order of magnitude, don't take it too seriously.
Everything EAST of the San Andreas fault is going to fall into the Atlantic. CA will be just fine.
Edgar Cayse was wrong, it's geologically impossible. Of course the anti-science cadre here (Sagebrush, Billy et al) will maintain otherwise
In about 100 million years, California will be no more. About the time this global warming stuff really kicks in. There, now your inane question is on topic.
And actually, California will not break off, it's not attached to the N American plate. It is attached to the Pacific plate. it will be ground away.
No, the relative movement of major plates do not indicate that outcome.
That does not mean there will not continue to be earthquakes, perhaps massive earthquakes.
Of more immediate concern is what happens if an underwater tremor causes a tsunami that breaches the San Onofre or Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors on California's coast.
? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_his...
? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_D...
? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_dispo...
There are many sites to at risk due to a variety of factors:
? http://www.euronuclear.org/info/encyclop...
? http://www.theguardian.com/environment/i...
And more are on the way:
? http://csis.org/program/proliferation-pr...
? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_nu...
Are nuclear reactors safe? No. The unfortunate truth is that those who build and operate nuclear power plants have a clear history of building them at convenient edge of the sea sites without any regard for the inherent danger from tsunamis or earthquakes. The propensity for human beings to put profits before people is unlikely to change any time soon.
Actually, Earthquakes make mountains. Where do you think the Rocky's came from?
-Nah... That's probably the ONLY Thing that isn't going to Happen to It in the next 100 Years ! :)
So where is the link to the moron that predicted this
I heard california is slowly moving up north, but then people say someday it's going to break off into the ocean. What do you guys think? Will california break off into the ocean or not?
NO, that wont happen now. Mike
No
No i don't
