Brightsurf Science News and Current Science News Events
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print RTD info digs below the surface of earthquakes

RTD info digs below the surface of earthquakes

December 09, 2004

Issue 43 of RTD info delves into the latest advances in European seismology as scientists grapple to crack the hidden secrets of earthquakes in their bid to minimise the devastating impact of this deadly phenomenon.

"The furies of the Earth can be awesome," begins a special 11-page report on earthquakes in the latest issue of RTD info. "What can science do in the face of such cataclysms unleashed from the very depths of the Earth? The first step is to know and understand the phenomenon."




The special dossier explores the relatively young science of seismology, and what hope it holds for helping us, one day, to limit the destruction left in the wake of earthquakes and volcanoes.

RTD info goes to Iceland to see how the earthquake-prone island is doubling up as an open-air European seismic laboratory. It examines whether scientists will ever be able to forecast ground tremors with any degree of reliability. The magazine also looks into the local 'site effects' of earthquakes and how much the impact of a single tremor can vary from one area to another.

One major fault line in dealing with natural disasters is insufficient public knowledge. RTD info investigates EU efforts to promote an educated awareness of the risks.

The latest issue drops in at some friendly neighbourhood 'science shops'. These grass-roots organisations carry out research tailored to the needs of the local community. We also find out how what were fed in the womb might help shape our entire lives.

Issue 43 learns more about an EU-backed project that is planting the seeds for more sustainable agriculture by digging into traditional farming practices, and browses through the albums of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) which has captured unique snapshots of an exoplanet.

As the Science and Research Directorate-General welcomes its new Commissioner Janez Potocnik, we bid goodbye to his predecessor Philippe Busquin. In an exclusive interview, the Commission's Science and Research Director-General Achilleas Mitsos talks frankly about the public debate surrounding ambitious plans for the future of European research.

European Commission, Research Directorate



Related Earthquake News Articles Earthquake News and Current Earthquake Events RSS Earthquake News and Current Earthquake Events RSS
Major flooding risk could span decades after Chinese earthquake
Up to 20 million people, thousands of whom are already displaced from their homes following the devastating Chinese earthquake, are at increased risk from flooding and major power shortages in the massive Sichuan Basin over the next few decades and possibly centuries.

New NIST publication series addresses design of earthquake-resistant structures
Where can you find some of the latest insights in designing earthquake-resistant buildings joined together with current information on building codes?

Magmatically triggered slow earthquake discovered at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Kilauea experienced a new dike intrusion, where magma rapidly moved from a storage reservoir beneath the summit into the east rift zone and extended the rift zone by as much as 1 meter.

Earthquakes may endanger New York more than thought, says study
A study by a group of prominent seismologists suggests that a pattern of subtle but active faults makes the risk of earthquakes to the New York City area substantially greater than formerly believed.

Severe, acute maternal stress linked to the development of schizophrenia
Pregnant women who endure the psychological stress of being in a war zone are more likely to give birth to a child who develops schizophrenia.

Durham scientist explores Sichuan fault
Durham University expert, Alex Densmore, is to explore the fault lines that caused the May 12th earthquake in China that killed 69,000 people.

Hebrew U. archaeological excavations uncover Roman temple in Zippori (Sepphoris)
Ruins of a Roman temple from the second century CE have recently been unearthed in the Zippori National Park in Israel. Above the temple are foundations of a church from the Byzantine period. The excavations, which were undertaken by the Noam Shudofsky Zippori Expedition led by of Prof. Zeev Weiss of the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, shed light on the multi-cultural society of ancient Zippori.

Region hit hard by 1993 floods showed economic resiliency, study indicates
With the first wave of clean-up efforts behind them, residents of communities affected by this year's Midwest floods may find hope in a University of Illinois study on the economic impact of the 1993 flood that devastated much of the same region.

Chinese earthquake provides lessons for future
The May 12 Sichuan earthquake in China was unexpectedly large. Analysis of the area, however, now shows that topographic characteristics of the highly mountainous area identified the mountain range as active and could have pointed to the earthquake hazard. Topographic analysis can help evaluate other, similar fault areas for seismic risk, according to geologists from Penn State and Arizona State University.

Researchers distinguish waves from mine collapses from other seismic activities
Researchers have devised a technology that can distinguish mine collapses from other seismic activity.
More Earthquake News Articles


The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why
by Amanda Ripley

It lurks in the corner of our imagination, almost beyond our ability to see it: the possibility that a tear in the fabric of life could open up without warning, upending a house, a skyscraper, or a civilization. Today, nine out of ten Americans live in places at significant risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, or other disasters. Tomorrow, some of us will have to make...



Little Earthquakes
by Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner, whose novels Good in Bed and In Her Shoes earned her a place among women's book club aficionados everywhere, proves she still has the touch with Little Earthquakes, a tale of love, heartbreak, redemption, and friendship. Weiner's novel centers around four new mothers, all of whom must learn to adjust their lives and their marriages to deal with the challenges of raising children....



Dynamics of Structures (3rd Edition) (Prentice-Hall International Series in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics)
by Anil K. Chopra

Designed for senior-level and graduate courses in Dynamics of Structures and Earthquake Engineering. The text includes many topics encompassing the theory of structural dynamics and the application of this theory regarding earthquake analysis, response, and design of structures. No prior knowledge of structural dynamics is assumed and the manner of presentation is sufficiently detailed and...



Earthquake in the Early Morning (Magic Tree House #24) (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
by Mary Pope Osborne

The year is 1906, the place is San Francisco. Annie and her brother, Jack, have just traveled here in their magic tree house, on a mission from Morgan le Fay, the mysterious magical librarian from King Arthur's time. In an effort to save Camelot, the children have already found three special kinds of writing for Morgan's library: something to follow (Civil War on Sunday), something to send...



Amazing Grace
by Danielle Steel

On a warm May night in San Francisco, the Ritz-Carlton ballroom shimmers with crystal and silver as a glittering, celebrity-studded crowd gathers for a charity dinner dance. The evening is perfect–until, just minutes before midnight, the room begins to sway. Glass shatters. And as the lights go out, people begin to scream….In the earthquake’s aftermath, the lives of four...



Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 (P.S.)
by Simon Winchester

It may seem a stretch to connect a volcanic eruption with civil and religious unrest in Indonesia today, but Simon Winchester makes a compelling case. Krakatoa tells the frightening tale of the biggest volcanic eruption in history using a blend of gentle geology and narrative history. Krakatoa erupted at a time when technologies like the telegraph were becoming commonplace and Asian trade...



Nature in a Nutshell for Kids: Over 100 Activities You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less
by Jean Potter

Make bubbles that bounce! Stir up a tornado in a jar! Make elastic from a dandelion! Predict weather from cloud formations! Discover the beauty and wonder of nature all year round with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each activity in ten fun-filled minutes or less, and the clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every...



Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (Prentice-Hall International Series in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics)
by Steven L. Kramer

This is the first book on the market focusing specifically on the topic of geotechnical earthquake engineering. The book draws from the fields of seismology and structural engineering to present a broad, interdiciplinary view of the fundamental concepts in seismology, geotechnical engineering, and structural...



A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906
by Simon Winchester

Geologically speaking, 1906 was a violent year: powerful, destructive earthquakes shook the ground from Taiwan to South America, while in Italy, Mount Vesuvius erupted. And in San Francisco, a large earthquake occurred just after five in the morning on April 18--and that was just the beginning. The quake caused a conflagration that raged for the next three days, destroying much of the American...



Volcanoes! Mountains of Fire (Step-Into-Reading, Step 4)
by Eric Arnold

A volcano could be called a sleeping mountain--that is, until it wakes up! What is it like to witness the eruption of one of nature's majestic time bombs? Young readers can learn what makes volcanoes "tick," and read about some of the most famous eruptions in...

© 2008 BrightSurf.com