30-year mystery solved: US scientists find natural ‘brakes’ behind Pacific quakes

Researchers studying the Gofar transform fault in the Pacific found natural barrier zones that repeatedly stop earthquake ruptures at the same spots.

The barriers are shaped by fault geometry and seawater-filled fractures, which help limit how far ruptures can spread.

This explains why the fault keeps producing similar magnitude-6 earthquakes instead of larger events.

The study could improve earthquake models and seismic hazard assessments for oceanic transform faults worldwide.