Why does pressure build up in the San Andreas fault?

Answer 1

This will cause deformation of the rocks around the fault zone. This stores energy in the form of elastic strain. Ultimately if the stress exceeds the shear strength of the fault, brittle deformation will occur and the stored energy will be released in part as seismic waves causing an earthquake.

Answer 2

The San Andreas fault marks the boundary between the North American and Pacific plates. The pacific plate is moving North relative to the American plate and so in effect the two plates are sliding past each other. This is known as a transform boundary and is a form of very large strike slip fault.

This boundary or fault is not perfectly smooth and so at some places the two plates become locked together. This causes the crust at these points to begin to deform due to the stress created by the continued movement of the plate surrounding the locked section. It is this locking of the fault and the continued movement of the plate around the locked in place section that causes the build up of stress.

Answer 3

Seismic activities and regular earthquakes.

Answer 4

An earthquake happens when pressure builds up causing them to press against each other. This how an earth quakes occur! :)

Answer 5

The movement of tectonic plates occur along fault lines. Earthquakes occur and sometimes mid oceanic ridges and mountain ranges form.