Active Faulting

Active faulting refers to faults—cracks in Earth's crust—that are currently experiencing movement or have moved recently, indicating ongoing or recent tectonic activity. These faults result from tectonic forces that cause rocks on either side to slide past each other. Such movement can produce earthquakes, especially if accumulated stress is suddenly released. Active faults are significant because they mark regions prone to seismic activity, and their movement helps scientists understand the Earth's dynamic processes and assess earthquake risk in affected areas.