Dr. James Davis is being honored by the geoscience community for his work in advancing earthquake hazards preparedness and mitigation in the US. He has helped shape how geoscientists communicate with the public about seismic environments, and has been instrumental in implementing the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act in California.
A $1.2 million grant will support the creation of a real-time seismic imaging system that uses ambient noise to image shallow earth structures, such as those beneath Yellowstone National Park. The technology has the potential to inform homeowners about subsurface stability and detect natural hazards like volcanoes in real-time.
Researchers from MIT and Turkey analyzed 20 years of GPS data to predict a major earthquake near Istanbul. The analysis suggests that the next large earthquake will occur along a seismic gap beneath the Sea of Marmara, west of Istanbul.
Research suggests that consecutive earthquakes occurring seconds apart can amplify ground motion and impact structures, leading to devastating effects. The study used the 2012 Emilia seismic sequence to simulate a scenario of triggered end-to-end earthquakes along adjacent fault patches.
Experts argue that OEF is essential for reducing earthquake risk by providing authoritative information to policymakers and the public. Key findings include the potential for significant changes in earthquake probabilities over time, influenced by local seismic activity.
The Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology published a position stand on childhood physical activity, emphasizing the need for balance between benefits and risks. Key recommendations include assessing healthcare provider-prescribed restrictions before changing physical activity levels.
A long-lasting foreshock series in northern Chile controlled the rupture process of a magnitude 8.1 earthquake, which occurred in a region where the two colliding tectonic plates were partly locked. The study suggests that the unbroken regions north and south may break in separate smaller earthquakes.
A 2010 Chilean earthquake caused icequakes in Antarctica due to the continent's sensitive response to seismic waves. Researchers detected high-frequency signals at 30% of seismic stations, indicating repeated failure and fracturing of ice near the surface.
A study by University of California, Berkeley scientists analyzed 62 seismic events prior to a Louisiana sinkhole discovery. The analysis suggests that natural gas influx may destabilize pre-existing zones of weakness in the salt dome.
A recent study published in Nature found that draining of the aquifer for agricultural irrigation in California's Central Valley results in upward flexing of the earth's surface and surrounding mountains. The research also correlates with seismic activity on the San Andreas Fault.
Research suggests that wastewater disposal can induce earthquakes tens of kilometers away from the wellbore, complicating seismic hazard assessments and maps. The study's findings have significant implications for critical structures such as dams and nuclear power plants.
Scientists can use the seismic signals to better understand glacier behavior and track changes in real-time. The Alaska Earthquake Center has recorded over 2,800 glacial events, which could provide new insights into glacier dynamics and potential advances in field studies.
A new study suggests that the maximum earthquake magnitude scales with the maturity of a fault, putting limits on seismic hazard for less mature parts of fault zones. The study found that older sections of transform faults produce the largest earthquakes, such as the North Anatolian Fault Zone and the San Andreas Fault.
Researchers use NASA's SDO to map dynamic magnetic fields and brightpoints in the sun's atmosphere, revealing deep-seated activity and potential cells of flowing material. This breakthrough offers near real-time mapping of the sun's interior, affecting solar flares and other events.
Scientists have found that temperature variations deep within the Earth's mantle influence mid-ocean ridge elevation and volcanic hotspots, resolving a long-standing controversy. The study analyzed seismic wave data and rock chemistry to determine that higher mantle temperatures are associated with thicker crust and volcanic activity.
Researchers analyzed the Chile earthquake of February 2010, finding that fluid pressure in rocks affects earthquake rupture processes. The study revealed that mechanical coupling between plates controls stress build-up and seismic energy release, with fluid pressure variations linked to subduction zone dynamics.
A new study found that mothers' levels of physical activity are closely related to those of their preschool children. Only 53% of mothers engaged in 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at least once a week, with the amount of activity a mother and her child did each day being highly correlated.
A massive earthquake triggered a global 'stress shadow' where nearly all potential faults remained inactive for 95 days. This rare phenomenon suggests that large quakes can temporarily relieve stress on nearby faults.
Rapid urbanization exposes French cities to significant seismic risk, with old structures posing a major vulnerability. The study found that if the 1909 Lambesc earthquake were to occur today, the region would suffer serious consequences, including damage to over 15,000 buildings.
A new study published in Science has shed light on the structure of the Pacific Plate, revealing a compositional boundary that forms as rocks cool and change composition with depth. The research uses seismic tomography to image the interior of the plate and helps understand how it formed and evolved.
Scientists have identified a large, deep magma chamber below Kilauea volcano using seismic data. The crustal magma reservoir is composed of 'magma mush' and is similar to those found beneath mid-ocean ridges, posing significant hazards to the volcano.
Deep-sea fault zones in subduction zones can transport large amounts of water from the Earth's oceans to the upper mantle. Researchers estimate that these zones could carry up to three and a half times the total amount of ocean water to the mantle.
A new technique developed by Stanford scientists uses weak ocean vibrations to predict the ground movement and shaking hazard from real quakes. The approach was used to confirm a prediction that Los Angeles will experience stronger-than-expected ground movement if a major quake occurs south of the city.
Experts developed a step-by-step guide to minimize seismic survey impacts on whales and other marine species. The study presents the most thorough approach to minimizing and monitoring risk of harm during intense sound surveys, primarily used by oil and gas companies.
A massive landslide in a Utah copper mine generated seismic waves that were recorded by instruments over 400 km away, producing earthquake-like signals. The study found that the landslide triggered seismic activity, including small earthquakes with characteristics similar to tectonic earthquakes, in the days following the event.
Lekic's work has improved the understanding of Earth's large-scale inner structure, revealing key features such as a low-velocity layer internal to continental plates. His research also explores neutrino geoscience and seismic attenuation, providing new insights into plate tectonics and continental evolution
Kerry Sieh's pioneering work transformed the study of earthquakes, revealing frequent but irregular recurrence. His research led to the development of paleoseismology and improved seismic hazard assessment.
A team from MIT and Stanford University identified a 'runaway process' in which the sliding of rocks at great depths causes surrounding temperatures to spike. This influx of heat encourages more sliding, generating an earthquake.
Researchers have recorded GPS measurements showing West Antarctic bedrock being pushed sideways by East Antarctica's harder mantle. The movement is significant for understanding current and future ice loss on the continent. The discovery highlights extreme differences in mantle properties between East and West Antarctica.
Scientists have discovered current volcanic activity beneath West Antarctica's massive ice sheet. The seismic swarms indicate a subglacial volcano with active magma moving below the ice.
Guoquan Wang, a UH professor, has received an $168,000 NSF grant to develop GPS and LiDAR education at the university. The project includes creating an upper-level applications course and augmenting field methods courses with real-time GPS and seismic instruments.
A new study suggests upgrading technology and relocating seismic stations in California can improve the warning time, particularly in areas poorly served by the existing network. In Taiwan, a low-cost sensor experiment has created a high-density network that can issue early warnings within 20 seconds of an earthquake detection.
Scientists propose iron in Earth's core weakens dramatically just before melting, affecting seismic wave speeds. This discovery provides a compelling explanation for observed wave velocities at the Earth's inner core.
A tiny MEMS accelerometer chip used in smartphones can detect moderate to strong earthquakes when located near the epicenter. The technology has the potential to increase coverage and accuracy in monitoring strong motion during earthquakes, making it possible to create an urban seismic network that transmits real-time ground motion data.
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck deep beneath the Sea of Okhotsk, with seismic waves detected by thousands of stations worldwide. The event released three times as much energy as the next largest recorded earthquake and involved rapid shear faulting.
Recent studies examine sea-level change offshore New Jersey, the geological processes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and post-subduction magmatism in northern California. These articles provide new insights into the geological history of these regions and their ongoing tectonic activity.
Researchers used seismic waves to discover long 'fingers' of heat in Earth's upper mantle, stretching thousands of miles. These finger-like structures carrying heat interact with tectonic plates and hot plumes, influencing the formation of hotspot volcanoes.
Scientists have detected previously unknown channels of slow-moving seismic waves in Earth's upper mantle, helping explain the formation of hotspot volcanoes like Hawaii and Tahiti. The discovery provides an important piece of the puzzle in understanding these volcanoes' complex interactions with plumes and the shallow upper mantle.
Researchers develop new tomographic approach to image shallow seismic velocity structure, revealing subducting continental crust for the first time. This allows for early detection of landslides and earthquakes in Central Asia.
A new study on carbonado diamonds reveals the presence of a 3D connected pore network, while another paper discusses sea-level change off New Jersey and ancient Sierra Nevada faulting. Meanwhile, volcanic activity in Hawaii is examined through core-seismic-log integration.
A study published in Science found a strong correlation between seismic activity and operations at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field in southern California. The researchers tracked earthquake activity with production data for the geothermal power plant and found that seismicity increased as operations expanded.
Dr. Steve Holbrook receives Walter Munk Award for his pioneering work in Seismic Oceanography, providing novel insights into internal waves and ocean dynamics. He is honored for his research and service to foster interdisciplinary collaboration in the field.
Researchers have identified a 30km-long fault zone near Istanbul as a potential starting point for a strong earthquake. The area, located just 15-20km from the historic city center, has shown no seismic activity in recent years.
Researchers identified the 'Caldas tear,' a break in a slab separating two subducting plates, which accounts for seismic activity patterns and high-grade mineral deposits. The tear is thought to be caused by the Panama plate's collision with Colombia, resulting in an accumulation of stresses that could trigger strong motion events.
A study published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America uses seafloor seismic data to analyze fin whale calls, revealing new information on their movement patterns and communication habits. The research also sheds light on the animals' feeding behaviors and potential collisions with ships.
Researchers are exploring new methods for detecting transient seismic activity, such as slow slip earthquakes, using GPS network data. The study aims to improve the accuracy of forecasting likely seismic activity by accurately detecting and assessing these low-frequency signals.
Researchers analyzed pre-eruption seismic activity before the 2009 Redoubt volcano eruption, which deviated from common patterns. Advanced analysis revealed a protracted period of slow magma ascent followed by rapidly increasing pressure, enabling improved forecasting techniques.
A global murmur, then unusual silence: A recent study found that following a major Indian Ocean earthquake, global seismic rates increased for days but subsequently dropped to zero for over 95 days. Researchers attribute this quiet period to the event causing short-term dynamic stressing of a global faulting system.
Researchers are working to extend earthquake risk estimates globally, studying hundreds of M≥7 mainshock events in 21 regions. Initial results show that remote triggering has occurred at least once in half of the regions studied during the past 30 years.
A study by University of Utah researchers found that superstorm Sandy caused significant seismic activity along the East Coast as well as in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm's 'standing waves' created energy at the seafloor, detectable by seismometers across the US.
Katsuichiro Goda, a renowned civil engineer, has been awarded the Charles Richter Early Career Award for his groundbreaking work in seismic risk assessment and mitigation. His research has developed new ground-motion equations and spatial correlations models to estimate seismic losses, enabling practical solutions in risk mitigation.
Researchers alter mouse brain activity to mimic schizophrenia changes, revealing a causal link between brain activity and cognitive problems in normal mice. Decreased thalamic activity disrupts communication between the thalamus and prefrontal cortex, leading to working memory deficits.
Research by David Alexander and Cees van Leeuwen reveals that brain activity is not limited to specific areas, but rather follows a wave-like pattern across the entire cortex. This challenges traditional views of brain function and highlights the complex, dynamic nature of brain activity.
Large chunks of the Farallon oceanic plate are still present under parts of central California and Mexico, according to new research. The researchers used seismic tomography and other data to show that part of the Baja region and part of central California sit atop 'fossil' slabs of the Farallon plate.
Researchers studied two hoodoos in Red Rock Canyon to estimate the force necessary to break sandstone shafts, shedding light on ground motion during recent earthquakes. The study suggests median or low-level ground motion despite large quakes in the area, providing valuable constraints for probabilistic seismic hazard assessments.
Researchers developing geo-electric technology aim to enhance seismic monitoring of CO2 injection, allowing for better tracking of the gas's movement. The technique has the potential to increase safety and public acceptance of carbon sequestration operations.
A University of Rhode Island graduate student is using ocean waves to study the geologic structure beneath the Earth's surface. By analyzing seismic wave velocity near an underwater plateau, scientists can infer its formation process.
Research in the Russian Far East has revealed a seismic and volcanic hotbed, with potential to trigger tsunamis that affect the entire Pacific Basin. Thousands of people were killed in tsunamis due to earthquakes in the region, highlighting the importance of studying these hazards.
A new study by seismologists at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory suggests that North Korea's alleged 2010 nuclear tests were probably false alarms. The researchers found no evidence of seismic waves consistent with the detonations, citing the region's dense network of seismic stations.
A recent study reveals Ottawa's unique geology amplifies seismic waves, exceeding expected National Building Code of Canada values. The area has experienced moderate shaking from earthquakes, but some areas have higher ground motion than others during larger events.