By now, most of us are familiar with the basic mechanics of earthquakes: there are cracks in the earth's crust, and movement along those cracks or faults makes for quakes.

Scientists expect a major earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and it may give a warning. Research shows swarms of small quakes may act as harbingers of much bigger seismic events.

Oregon State University Professor John Nabelek in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences worked on the research project into the Blanco Transform Fault. He joins us to explain the implications.