GFZ German research centre for geo sciences

SAFOD

San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth

SAFOD is the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth. The goal of SAFOD is to provide direct observational data on the composition, physical state and mechanical behavior of a major active fault zone at depth to test hypotheses pertaining to faulting and earthquake generation.

Within the framework of the International Contintal Scientific Drilling Programme ICDP we are currently active in the follwing projects:

  • Controlled source P- and S-wave tomography at the SAFOD site - direct imaging of petrological and fluid properties
  • further seismological measurements are Larse II and SAFOD/Tremor
  • Imaging the deep roots of the San Andreas Fault zone at Parkfield, CA, with magnetotelluric measurements (SAFOD/MT)
  • thermo-mechanical modellling.
back to top of main content