San Andreas Fault, Landsat/SRTM Image
The prominent linear feature straight down the center of this perspective view is the San Andreas Fault which will be used by geologists studying fault dynamics and landforms resulting from active tectonics. The fault is the active tectonic boundary between the North American plate on the right, and the Pacific plate on the left. Relative to each other, the Pacific plate is moving away from the viewer and the North American plate is moving toward the viewer along what geologists call a right lateral strike-slip fault. This area is at the junction of two large mountain ranges, the San Gabriel Mountains on the left and the Tehachapi Mountains on the right. Quail Lake Reservoir sits in the topographic depression created by past movement along the fault. The perspective view was created by draping a Landsat satellite image over an SRTM elevation model. The Landsat image was provided by the USGS EROS Data Center. Elevation data was acquired by the SRTM aboard the Endeavour, launched on February 11,2000.
Size: 4000px × 3000px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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