Hi Don,

From piecing together bits from here and there regarding the Canadian seismicity, movement in Oregon and watching WA with rather intent eyes, it paints a rather grim picture of what could occur in the "short term" for this region.

From my point of view, which I will admit is somewhat limited, it is a puzzle and the pieces are slowly being placed where they belong. Taking a note of the dates as to when the aseismic slip took place, that was also during a time of high seismicity in the area of Turkey and Taiwan. The Turkey 7.4 occurred on 8/17/99, and the 7.6 Taiwan EQ took place on 9/20/99. So it brings this question to mind; Did the Far Field Aftershock from the Turkey EQ start this aseismic slip (8/18/99) and the Taiwan EQ stop this slip process? (9/22/99)

If that is a correct assumption, then one would presume that this area was at high risk when the Nisqually 2/28/01 earthquake occurred. The series of 5.0+ quakes off of Vancouver Island should have been a red flag that something significant was in the offing.

Today, the region remains unstable as evidenced from the continuing pattern of seismicity in the area. What does this mean the "short term to intermediate term?" Simply, more significant movement can be expected and certainly without question the probability that at least one volcano may begin the eruption process.

Ah, interesting, huh?

Petra