This paper provides a structured comparison of two major California earthquakes — the 1868 Hayward Fault earthquake and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake — across five key seismic hazard categories: shaking, liquefaction, rupture, landslide, and tsunami. Drawing on historical accounts and seismological records, the paper examines how each event manifested these hazards and then applies the analysis to assess the present-day earthquake risk facing San Jose, California. The paper concludes that shaking and rupture pose the greatest current threats, while liquefaction remains a concern near reclaimed wetland areas and landslides are a risk in areas with steep terrain.
This paper compares the seismic hazards produced by two major California earthquakes — the 1868 Hayward Fault earthquake and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake — across five key hazard categories: shaking, liquefaction, rupture, landslide, and tsunami. The findings are then applied to assess present-day earthquake risk for San Jose, California.
Definition: Shaking refers to the condition of tremors and jostling that occurs during an earthquake.
1868: The initial shaking was reported to have lasted more than a minute, and aftershocks were reported to have continued into the following month (Destruction 1868).
1906: The massive shaking was preceded and followed by strong ground movement. The earthquake itself lasted approximately 45 seconds.
Definition: Liquefaction occurs when the ground becomes water-saturated, damaging the foundations of buildings and other structures.
1868: Liquefaction at the time of the earthquake was reported to be substantial enough to have damaged several important structures.
1906: Liquefaction caused much of the damage following the quake. Most of the damage caused by liquefaction occurred in "reclaimed areas" that had once been bay or marshland.
Definition: Rupture occurs when a tear in the rocks moves along the fault plane until it dies out.
1868: The earthquake ruptured the southern segment of the Hayward Fault, from Berkeley to Fremont, CA — a distance of approximately 20 miles (Berkeley 2005).
1906: The earthquake measured approximately 8.0 on the Richter scale, creating severe rupture damage in San Francisco and the surrounding region.
Definition — Landslide: A landslide is a condition in which large masses of land move from one location to another.
1868: Landslide damage at the time of the earthquake is unknown; all documented damage to buildings was attributed to shaking and/or rupture.
1906: The extent of environmental damage caused by landslides is also unknown for this event.
"Environmental damage and ocean wave hazards"
"Current seismic risk assessment for San Jose"
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.