Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 6, 2026

Asperity (faults)

An asperity is an area on an active fault where there is increased friction, such that the fault may become locked, rather than continuously slipping as in aseismic creep. Earthquake rupture generally begins with the failure of an asperity, allowing the fault to move.

Last revised
Jul 6, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
101 w
Citations
1
Source

An asperity is an area on an active fault where there is increased friction, such that the fault may become locked, rather than continuously slipping as in aseismic creep. Earthquake rupture generally begins with the failure of an asperity, allowing the fault to move.1

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Asperity on a Fault". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
External links