Research from the University of Alberta found that paraplegic women were left without necessary support, abandoned by their families after the quake. Women with spinal injuries faced a lack of care, including being left behind by husbands who remarried.
A Caltech-led team reports on the first high-resolution observations of the 2012 Sumatra earthquake, which ruptured along multiple faults at nearly right angles. The study provides fresh insights into the possibility of complex earthquakes occurring elsewhere, including California's San Andreas fault.
A new Geosphere study uses virtual fieldwork to analyze terrain data from the 2010 Haiti earthquake, revealing evidence of active faulting and ancient surface rupture. The research also explores the provenance of sandstones in the Colton Formation and the interactions between the Seattle and Saddle Mountain faults.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet used mobile data to predict population movements after a disaster, improving aid delivery accuracy. By analyzing patterns in anonymous user locations before and after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, they were able to accurately forecast people's whereabouts with 85% probability.
Researchers at George Washington University have received over $860,000 in federal funding to study the effects of earthquakes on nuclear reactor cores. The study aims to simulate fuel rod vibrations and assess potential damage during an earthquake, which could lead to radioactive material release.
A research team led by UCLA professor John Wallace is receiving a $1 million grant to examine the construction issues with modern buildings' structural walls after recent earthquakes in Japan, New Zealand, and Chile. The team will investigate design and performance limits for structural walls to improve building codes and resilience.
A new USGS study using LiDAR technology confirms the existence of previously suspected faults west of Lake Tahoe, increasing seismic hazard assessment for the region. The study also identifies an earthquake-induced landslide hazard along the fault-formed range front.
A WPI research team will conduct fire testing on a five-story building after simulating earthquakes on the nation's largest outdoor shake table. The goal is to gather data that will help engineers design better fire protection systems and provide safer buildings for people and property.
Researchers at Caltech have created a dynamic computer model that reproduces the physics of a fault segment, showing both seismic and aseismic behavior. The model predicts changes in earthquake frequency and location, shedding light on the seismic cycle and potential forecasting of earthquakes.
Researchers found that the earthquake's aftermath saw the resurgence of species on sandy beaches, while coastal armoring led to beach loss and decline in intertidal diversity. The study highlights the potential effects of natural disasters on sandy beach ecosystems worldwide.
The study found that Chile's sandy beaches experienced lasting changes due to the earthquake and tsunami, with uplifted beaches showing rapid recolonization of intertidal species. The data provides insight into human-altered coastal landscapes, which could inform future projects.
A collaborative study found that earthquakes and tsunamis can revive habitats and bring back species thought extinct, while also exacerbating coastal erosion. The research highlights the importance of preserving sandy beaches as barriers against sea level rise and conservation.
Scientists at GFZ used high-precision GPS data to determine earthquake magnitude and tsunami source in under 3 minutes. A GPS shield concept can provide accurate tsunami early warnings for regions with earthquake risks, correcting traditional seismic method limitations.
The University of Nevada, Reno's GPS technology will be used by NASA to monitor strong earthquakes along the West Coast. The system can detect changes in ground positions greater than 10 centimeters in real-time.
New research from Aachen University suggests the Possidi peninsula in northern Greece is at risk of significant tsunami waves due to its proximity to earthquake-prone areas. The study also highlights the need for updated tsunami hazard calculations, particularly in densely populated and tourist regions.
Researchers used gravity and seismic geophysical methods to study the San Juan volcanic field in Colorado, revealing new constraints on its development. In Alaska, subducting plate geology was studied during three great earthquake ruptures, providing insights into tsunamis and future earthquake hazards.
A review of the initial medical response after a Christchurch earthquake found that careful preparation and effective triage helped reduce death rates and the burden of injury. The response was critical due to the city's only hospital being damaged, but radiotelephones and mobile phones were used to keep staff updated.
Scientists present latest seismological research on earthquake hazards in San Diego, focusing on the Rose Canyon fault system and offshore faults. The study aims to improve understanding of seismic hazard and define a level of hazard for future large earthquakes.
Researchers at UC San Diego are conducting a two-week series of tests on the world's largest outdoor shake table to assess a five-story building's resilience to earthquakes and fires. The tests aim to improve understanding of nonstructural systems' performance during earthquakes, with a focus on medical centers.
David Shelly has made a dramatic impact on the field of seismology through his pioneering work detecting and locating deep tectonic tremor. He is recognized for his outstanding contributions to seismology, challenging prevailing theories and providing new insights into earthquake behavior.
Purdue University professor Eric Calais recognized for his exceptional leadership in Haiti's earthquake reconstruction, providing critical information for seismic hazard assessment. He also raised awareness among the public and national authorities, building scientific capacity within Haiti.
Andy Michael, a USGS geophysicist, has been recognized for his transformative work on the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA), the premier seismology journal. His innovative refinements and modernization efforts have significantly impacted international scientific communication.
Researchers have converted the Tohoku-Oki earthquake's seismic waves into audio files, enabling the audience to hear pitch and amplitude changes, as well as familiar sounds like thunder, popcorn popping, and fireworks. This unique representation helps explain various aspects of the earthquake sequence, including mainshocks and aftersho...
China's 2008 Wenchuan earthquake exposed significant shortcomings in emergency preparation, including inadequate risk awareness and disaster prevention plans. The country has made progress in forming coordination systems and providing effective medical care, but research is needed to improve response times and treatment procedures.
The article explores the latest advances in earthquake forecasting, including probabilistic methods and visualization techniques. Despite limitations, these approaches provide valuable information for predicting earthquakes and can help reduce uncertainty.
A recent study by a University of Nevada, Reno geophysicist presents evidence that the Cascadia fault line could experience stronger ground-motions than observed in Japan's Tohoku earthquake. The risk is a grim reminder for those living in the Pacific Northwest to be prepared for an earthquake and tsunami.
A Simon Fraser University researcher discusses documented observations of spatial and temporal coincidences between fracturing and earthquakes east of the Rocky Mountains. The study highlights the need for more research, especially in earthquake-prone areas where injected fluids may trigger seismic activity.
A new study finds that seismic faults close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have reactivated after a magnitude 9 earthquake in March. The researchers warn of a higher risk of large earthquakes disturbing the region, which could potentially cause another nuclear disaster.
Researchers create comprehensive 3-D map of earthquake zone using LiDAR technology, revealing details of fault ruptures and deformation. The study provides insights into how earthquakes change the landscape, shedding light on minor faults that contribute to major earthquakes.
A team of scientists used LiDAR to create a detailed 3-D map of the earthquake zone, revealing deformation around small faults that caused the quake. The study provides insight into how multi-fault earthquakes occur and sheds light on the behavior of earthquake faults.
Shape-memory alloys exhibit unique properties that make them suitable for earthquake-resistant construction and retrofit applications. A Georgia Tech model assesses the behavior of these alloys under loading conditions, predicting internal temperature and stress distributions.
Researchers will monitor the Cascadia subduction zone's strain buildup using a new seafloor geodesy observatory. This data will aid in modeling fault slip and predicting tsunami heights, ultimately informing city planners and emergency response managers.
A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found that internet-based news and Twitter feeds were faster at detecting the onset and progression of the cholera epidemic in post-earthquake Haiti. Researchers used HealthMap, an internet tool, to capture coverage and mentions of cholera from various sources.
A study found that stress in the second and third months of pregnancy can shorten pregnancies, increase the risk of pre-term births, and affect the ratio of male to female births. Exposure to stress itself, rather than other factors accompanying it, appears to have this impact.
Researchers will subject concrete footings and steel columns to simulated earthquake stresses to understand their behavior. The study aims to make skyscrapers safer and less expensive to build by optimizing foundation design.
Researchers are using data from a Utah mountainous region to better understand the effects of topography on earthquake ground motions and seismic risk. The project aims to develop design-ready tools to account for these effects, potentially leading to modified building codes.
Scientists have developed procedures to determine earthquake source information for smaller earthquakes in central and eastern North America. This improved catalog provides detailed information on faulting styles and geometry for these regions, contributing to assessing seismic hazards and constraining ground motion.
Scientists have discovered tranquillityite in Australia's Eel Creek Formation, a mineral previously believed to originate on the Moon. Meanwhile, researchers in Hong Kong present the first three-dimensional seismic velocity model of the region, providing insights into crustal structures and earthquake activity.
Penn and Brown researchers discovered an aspect of friction on the nanoscale that may lead to a better understanding of earthquakes. The team used atomic force microscopy to simulate rock-on-rock contact with different materials, revealing stark differences in frictional aging.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded $6 million to three West Coast universities to create a prototype earthquake early warning system. The goal is to provide seconds to several minutes of warning before the ground shakes, saving thousands of lives and millions of dollars in the event of an earthquake.
The University of Washington is developing an early earthquake warning system with a $2 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The system will place sensors along the coast to record the first signals from a major earthquake on the Cascadia subduction zone, providing warning for very large coastal earthquakes.
New research suggests that ozone gas emitted from fracturing rocks could indicate impending earthquakes. Different types of rocks produced varying amounts of ozone, with rhyolite producing the strongest emission.
The Christchurch earthquake ruptured a previously unmapped fault, causing widespread liquefaction-induced damage. Eight papers focus on structural and geotechnical damages associated with strong ground motion shaking.
A recent study found that teenage girls and senior students suffered high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a major earthquake. The research suggests that young people, particularly those aged 16+, require prompt psychological support to avoid long-term mental health problems.
Researchers have made significant findings on the San Andreas Fault and Japan's 1944 Tonankai earthquake. The study reveals that seismic slip can propagate to shallow levels along megasplay faults, while another discovery sheds light on osmium behavior in a subduction system using chromian spinel from Bonin Island beach sands.
Researchers found that fault surfaces in earthquake zones come into contact only at microscopic points between scattered bumps called asperities. This creates intense heating, known as flash heating, which can reach temperatures of up to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit.
UC Davis researchers compare seven different earthquake forecasts to identify the most accurate methods for predicting earthquake locations. The study finds that all seven forecasts showed some utility in forecasting earthquake locations, with the UC Davis group's forecast being the most accurate.
Researchers used a 16-foot-high steel bridge and four hydraulic shake tables to test the seismic behavior of a curved bridge with vehicles in place. The results will be used to frame changes to current codes and lead to safer bridges during strong earthquakes.
Geophysicists at UC Riverside are developing large-scale computer simulations to investigate earthquake fault systems. The simulations aim to provide abundant data for analyzing plate motion and earthquake events over 10,000 years.
A magnitude-7.3 earthquake in 2009 devastated the Belizean Barrier Reef, causing widespread destruction and killing off dominant coral species. The reef's recovery is unlikely due to previous losses and the need for improved management of reef resources, including consideration of extreme events.
Researchers monitored two million anonymous mobile phones after Haiti's earthquake and cholera outbreak, providing real-time data on population movements. The method improved humanitarian aid delivery by tracking the migration patterns of people in need of help.
A study using mobile phone positioning data tracks population movements after disasters, providing more accurate estimates than ad hoc methods. The method can be used for close to real-time monitoring of population movements during outbreaks, leading to better allocation of relief supplies.
The study shows that the fault involved in the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake was simple on the surface but complicated at depth. Researchers used a combination of GPS data, remote sensing techniques, and seismological data to produce an extremely well-resolved model of the earthquake.
A NASA scientist and her colleagues observed for the first time that an earthquake and tsunami can break off large icebergs a hemisphere away. The Tohoku Tsunami in 2011 caused massive waves to reach Antarctica, calving off several chunks of ice that equaled about two times the surface area of Manhattan.
Scientists at University of Nevada, Reno observed an upper limit of three on the number of fault jumps through which an earthquake is likely to rupture. This finding helps reduce uncertainties in estimating earthquake sizes in complex fault systems.
Scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno conducted a series of earthquake tests on a 5-story building in Japan to demonstrate the effectiveness of seismic isolation technology. The goal is to make critical facilities safer and more resilient to extreme earthquakes, such as those that occur every 2500 years on the West Coast of the ...
Scientists at Georgia Tech analyzed data from the March 11 Japan earthquake, finding that subsurface materials were weakened by as much as 70%, affecting how faults deliver movement to buildings and bridges. The study could improve building design and help predict effects of rare and extremely powerful events.
Researchers found evidence of coincident timing between ancient Salton Sea flooding and fault rupture, potentially triggering large earthquakes on the southern San Andreas Fault. The study suggests heightened preparedness for a major quake immediately following smaller quakes in the stepover zone is warranted.
A thick plateau of hard, compacted sediments helped spread the rupture from tens of kilometers below to just a few kilometers below, unleashing larger tsunami waves. The study suggests locations with large thicknesses of sediments may promote more significant tsunamis during great earthquakes.
Rice University is hosting 25-30 Japanese students for a summer research program amid the country's recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunamis. The Reverse NanoJapan program offers labs in Japan the opportunity to send students to Rice for three months.