Researchers discovered a unique sequence of geologic events that triggered Japan's devastating tsunami, including an unusual 'two-faced' rupture on the fault plane and extreme dynamic overshoot. This finding highlights the need to better understand similar earthquakes in other subduction zones around the world.
Researchers found that episodic tremors can reverse direction and travel back through fault lines much faster than the original rupture. The event was observed in the Pacific Northwest region, particularly in Washington state, and released as much energy as a magnitude 6.8 earthquake.
The study reveals the spatial compactness of the event, with a 250-kilometer-long fault experiencing significant slip, and high- and low-frequency seismic waves coming from different areas of the fault. This information will help scientists improve infrastructure and prevent loss of life through better application of seismological data.
Dr. Elizabeth Hausler receives award for sustainable reconstruction in developing countries, improving lives of millions through culturally accepted and economically viable buildings.
Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa used GPS data to find that a section of the eastern Andes is locked in place, allowing stress to build up and potentially leading to large earthquakes. The study suggests that earthquakes with magnitudes up to 8.9 are possible in the region.
Scientists have discovered new records of shelled amoebas living with methane seeps and ancient trilobites. Additionally, researchers have found evidence of micrometeorites in 240 million-year-old sediments and a deep biosphere community in the Atlantic Ocean.
In a 26-year study, marine invertebrates in Port Valdez have stabilized to resemble an undisturbed glacial fjord. This recovery was facilitated by the dominant species Capitellidae, known for their opportunistic nature.
Researchers found widespread soil liquefaction in Japan, exceeding expectations, and raising concerns about its impact on vulnerable locations such as Portland, Ore. and the Pacific Northwest. The phenomenon can cause structures to shift or sink, significantly magnifying damage.
The study found that Twitter users in disaster-stricken areas tended to tweet about their unsafe situation, while those in remote areas posted updates to let their followers know they were safe. The researchers also identified numerous unreliable retweets and low signal-to-noise ratio for messages using hashtags.
Kojiro Irikura will be honored with the Bruce A. Bolt Medal at the Seismological Society of America's annual meeting for his leadership in strong-motion earthquake data analysis in Japan.
Experts gather to discuss the state of knowledge about the New Madrid Seismic Zone, a region prone to large earthquakes with significant economic losses. Researchers also explore computer simulations of earthquake ground motion in the zone, aiming to understand and anticipate future events.
Peng, a 35-year-old Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech, will be honored with the Seismological Society of America's (SSA) Charles F. Richter Early Career Award for his work on physics of earthquakes and faults. Peng has made significant contributions to understanding earthquake triggering, non-volcanic tremor, and fault zone structure...
Tanya Rautian is a pioneer in seismology, recognized for her work on earthquake source, seismic coda, and nuclear explosions. She will be honored with the Seismological Society of America's Reid Medal for her contributions to science and society.
A new study by Weill Cornell and UC Davis foresees improvements in patient outcomes after a major earthquake through more effective use of information technology. The control tower-style telemedicine hub could boost the likelihood that critically injured victims will get timely care and survive.
Researchers used fossil coral reefs and sediment slides to detect historic earthquake patterns, creating an underwater map of the Red Sea floor. This method can be applied anywhere, including Japan and the west coast of the U.S., helping city engineers pinpoint high-risk locations ahead of potential earthquakes.
An Iowa State University engineer studied the devastating impact of a February earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, which killed over 160 people. The research highlighted the importance of regular building shape and structure symmetry in resisting earthquakes.
Researchers developed a new system, RTerg, that can identify tsunami earthquakes in real-time, giving local residents minutes to evacuate. The system uses algorithmic tools to analyze seismic data and sends alerts to warning centers, potentially saving lives.
A Virginia Tech engineer is leading a government team to investigate the geotechnical impacts of the magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. The team will focus on documenting extreme events and their effects on infrastructure.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found a statistically significant increase in microearthquakes after the Chilean earthquake in February. The study suggests that seismic waves from distant earthquakes can trigger events on the other side of the Earth, with secondary and tertiary waves playing a key role.
A new study dating back 1,000 years of earthquakes at the San Andreas Fault shows no correlation between lake changes and earthquake timing. Despite this, researchers warn of a likely buildup of tectonic stress, making a major quake possible for southern California in the near future.
Researchers found no repeated earthquakes on the same fault segment in China over 2000 years, suggesting a new fault system should be considered for future large earthquakes. Mid-continent earthquakes are linked to interacting faults across a large region.
A new assessment by Professor Nicholas Ambraseys and Professor Roger Bilham reveals that corrupt building practices are responsible for most earthquake-related deaths globally. The study found a strong correlation between wealth and corruption, with less wealthy nations being the most corrupt.
Researchers create four new systems: hybrid yielding, standard augmented, advanced augmented, and collapse prevention, to control damage and provide life-safety for any size of earthquake. These systems use visco-elastic dampers and metallic yielding devices to minimize residual deformations.
Researchers are using an array of seismic sensors to study unfelt seismic tremor events, revealing a more complex relationship with potentially devastating earthquakes. By analyzing the movement of these tremors, scientists are gaining insights into the Cascadia subduction zone and its potential for massive quakes.
Researchers, like Virginia Tech's Russell A. Green, focus on paleoseismology and soil liquefaction to calculate annual probability of specific losses due to seismic events. This work aims to implement performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) concepts to reduce seismic risk.
Researchers will study whether changes in tremor activity precede earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault. The Berkeley Seismological Laboratory is installing earthquake detectors to monitor mysterious 20-40 km deep tremors that may signal an impending quake.
Tim Dixon received the 2010 George P. Woollard Award for his groundbreaking research in space geodesy, which has paved the way for studying earthquake hazard, volcanic processes, and climate change. His work has also contributed to understanding subsidence in Mexico City and the melting of the Greenland ice cap.
Researchers from Universidad Pablo de Olavide and Universidad de Sevilla have found patterns of behavior before an earthquake occur on the Iberian peninsula. The team used clustering techniques to forecast medium-large seismic movements with a sensitivity rate of 90%.
The 'M8' simulation, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault, shakes a larger area with greater detail than previously possible. The development of this simulation advances state-of-the-art in speed and efficiency for such calculations.
New data suggests that the Limon and Pedro Miguel faults in Central Panama have ruptured both independently and in unison over the past 1400 years. This indicates a significant seismic risk for Panama City and the Panama Canal, with displacements of up to 3 meters recorded.
The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, a magnitude 7.9 rupture, resulted in over 80,000 fatalities and left four million homeless. The event showcased China's capability to demonstrate its earthquake science program to the global community.
A Purdue-led research team found a previously unmapped fault, the Léogène fault, was responsible for the devastating Haiti quake. The newly discovered fault runs parallel to the Enriquillo fault and remains ready to produce large earthquakes, threatening Haiti's stability.
Conservation programs in China's Wenchuan County preserved forest cover after the 2008 earthquake, protecting endangered species like the giant panda. The research found that expansive national conservation efforts reduced natural disaster damage and human impacts.
The National Science Foundation has recognized three projects with Breakthrough Awards: an artificial retina restoring sight to the blind; a system using controlled rocking to help buildings withstand earthquakes; and a low-cost medical microscope for detecting malaria-infected blood cells.
Research finds that tsunamis can be triggered by moderate earthquakes on strike-slip faults, posing a significant threat to coastal cities. In Haiti's case, three-quarters of tsunamis are generated by submarine landslides, unlike the previously estimated 3% globally.
Research reveals a causal relationship between rainfall and earthquakes, with variations in rainfall affecting pore-fluid pressure at depth and triggering earthquakes. Ground motion patterns in the Santa Clara Valley are also studied, revealing complex geological structures that influence seismic wave propagation and amplification.
The University of Nevada, Reno's earthquake engineering lab is expanding with a $12.2 million grant from the US Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. The new facility will house the largest shake table in the US and enable researchers to simulate complex seismic tests.
Scientists have used a new seismic method to investigate the collision process between India and Tibet, revealing a more pronounced boundary between rigid lithosphere and softer asthenosphere. The study provides insights into the processes involved in the collision and aims to reduce earthquake risk in the region.
Researchers developed population-specific identification criteria for the Chilean population to determine stature and biological sex of skeletal remains. This will help identify victims of political violence under Pinochet's regime and aid in contemporary body identification efforts in Chile.
The February earthquake in Concepción, Chile, followed a predictable pattern of stress accumulation, correlating highly with GPS observations. This study offers an optimistic perspective on the predictability of earthquake magnitudes and fracture patterns, reducing the likelihood of future tremors in the region.
A recent study by UC Irvine researchers reveals that large ruptures have occurred on the Carrizo Plain portion of the San Andreas fault every 45 to 144 years. The findings contradict previous reports and suggest a more complex earthquake recurrence pattern along the 810-mile fault.
A magnitude-8.1 earthquake triggered two major quakes of magnitude 7.8 within two minutes, affecting Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga, with water levels reaching 49 feet above sea level
Scientists discovered a rare 'triggered doublet' event where two great earthquakes occurred seconds apart on different faults. The initial earthquake triggered another massive event with a total magnitude of 8.0, causing devastating tsunamis that killed 192 people.
A magnitude-8.1 earthquake triggered two major quakes of magnitude 7.8 within two minutes, revealing a unprecedented pattern in the Samoa-Tonga region. The study suggests that normal fault earthquakes can trigger subduction zone quakes, affecting tsunami hazard calculations globally.
The University of Nevada, Reno has successfully mapped the bottom of Fallen Leaf Lake using a state-of-the-art multi-beam sonar system, revealing details of ancient trees and earthquake activity. The technology allows for high-definition mapping with several centimeter depth resolution.
An international team of scientists studied two Sumatra earthquakes, finding differences in sediment composition between the rupture areas. This difference may have contributed to a larger tsunami in the 2004 event, highlighting the potential for high tsunami hazards in this region.
Geologists found a lower density fault zone in the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, allowing it to slip over a longer segment and reach closer to the seafloor, generating larger tsunami waves. The study's findings could help improve hazard assessment and mitigation for this region.
Researchers have discovered synchronized faults in California's Mojave Desert and Nevada's mountains, which can lead to simultaneous big quakes. This phenomenon occurs when faults are near their breaking points and aligned in their seismic cycles, changing the way we assess earthquake hazards.
A 110-foot long, 200-ton concrete bridge model at the University of Nevada, Reno withstood a powerful earthquake simulation three times more intense than the 1994 Northridge quake. The design and components passed the test with 10 inches of deflection in support columns, remaining standing.
New analysis by Oregon State University scientists suggests a high probability of a magnitude 8.2 or higher earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, with 37% chance in southern segment and 10-15% in northern segment within 50 years. This risk is exacerbated by clusters of major earthquakes occurring every 250 years.
A rare opportunity to study how a critically endangered species copes with an earthquake- induced tsunami has been provided by researchers. The Devils Hole pupfish inhabit a small, shallow pool in the Mojave Desert, and the quake's impact on their habitat and behavior was documented on camera.
New research suggests that radio frequency identification (RFID) could be used to provide critical information on casualties and losses in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake. RFID readers installed at entry and exit points and around critical areas in a building could help rescue personnel locate trapped individuals more precisely.
Scientists discovered that aseismic slip in the Nazca tectonic plate can prevent earthquakes from propagating through certain areas. By analyzing GPS data and aftershock patterns, researchers found a 'patchwork' pattern of aseismicity, with some areas always slipping slowly and others rarely experiencing seismic activity.
The USGS is providing $7 million in funding for earthquake monitoring to support the development of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). This initiative will enhance the country's ability to detect and respond to earthquakes, ultimately saving lives and reducing economic losses.
The Seismological Society of America presents on earthquake forecasting, quantifying seismic event likelihood to provide communities with information about seismic hazards. The session also explores near-surface deformation associated with active faults and debates in earthquake science.
Researchers investigate the seismic potential of the Cascadia subduction zone, exploring temporal clustering of earthquakes and the likelihood of a next event by 2060. They also examine slow slip phenomena and landslides, shedding light on precursory patterns that may save lives.
Art Frankel led a team to update national seismic hazard maps, vastly improving public policy and building codes across the US. The new maps were used directly in building codes, enhancing earthquake safety nationwide.
David Boore developed a well-known method for computing estimates of ground motion from simulated earthquakes, known as SMSIM. His work has advanced understanding of strong-motion seismology and influenced seismic building standards worldwide.
Karen Felzer, a USGS researcher, has been recognized with the Seismological Society of America's Richter Early Career Award for her transformative and sometimes controversial research on earthquake physics. Her statistical approaches have challenged previously held theories and reshaped the way earthquakes are understood.
Researchers are working together to understand intraplate earthquakes in an effort to minimize the loss of life and property. By deploying seismic recorders and analyzing data from two large experiments, the team aims to advance knowledge of earthquake causes and hazards.