The San Andreas fault reached the highest stress level in 1,000 years, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Hawaii.
The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth, indicated that both the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults are registering unprecedented levels, leading scientists to wonder when the next large earthquake in California could occur.
The research suggests that the stress that is normally released during earthquakes has built up over the 160 years since the last major rupture occurred.
