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Search results for “Seismic Activity”

1,000+ results for "Seismic Activity"

Origin of Alps-size Antarctic mountain range unknown

A U.S.-led team of scientists will use advanced radar and seismic tools to explore the Gamburtsev Mountain range in Antarctica. They hope to determine how this massive mountain range formed, defying geological understanding, and whether it played a role in shaping the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Tip sheet for October issue of BSSA

Researchers Jan Schmedes and Ralph J. Archuleta found that locally ground motion increases near the epicenter but not equally along the rupture plane of large earthquakes. A new method for estimating detection capability was also developed, providing a more complete picture of seismicity.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateOct 2, 2008

FEMA awards grant to study New Madrid seismic zone

Researchers Theresa Jefferson and John Harrald will study social vulnerability in response to an earthquake involving the New Madrid fault. The grant from FEMA enables them to focus on displaced persons, shelter needs, commodity requirements, and special needs in Phase III of the Mid America Earthquake Center research agenda.

Tipsheet for June issue of BSSA

Numerical earthquake models are providing a means to understand physical processes and predict earthquakes, reducing damage and loss of life. Simulations show that surface-rupturing earthquakes absorb more seismic energy than buried ones, resulting in less ground shaking.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateJun 4, 2008

Possible link found between earthquakes along the Cascadia and San Andreas faults

Researchers have found a potential link between seismic activity on the southern Cascadia Subduction fault and major earthquakes along the northern San Andreas Fault. The study suggests that Cascadia earthquakes may trigger San Andreas earthquakes, with an average recurrence rate of approximately 220 years for both faults.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateApr 3, 2008

Why do earthquakes stop?

Researchers understand that a smooth decrease in stress at the end of a primary fault reduces the likelihood of an earthquake jumping to another fault. This study highlights the importance of slip gradient and rupture front acceleration in determining fault jump probability.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateFeb 5, 2008

BSSA tipsheet for October 2007

Researchers identify correlation between 3D basin geometry and observed shaking in previous earthquakes, leading to improved construction and seismic hazard assessments. A new tool for evaluating site conditions is also proposed, which could aid in risk assessment for earthquake-prone regions worldwide.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateOct 5, 2007

News from BSSA's June issue -- Identifying nuclear blasts, examining earthquakes, and more

Scientists developed a new technique to discriminate between small earthquakes and mine blasts, achieving a success rate of 97%. Researchers also created the most detailed 3D model of the Hayward Fault System in Northern California, revealing that it poses the greatest risk for major quakes in the next 30 years.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateJun 4, 2007

AGU Journal Highlights -- May 3, 2007

A new report suggests that ocean warming may cause changes to the planet's rotation, potentially shortening the length of day by approximately 0.12 milliseconds. Additionally, researchers have found a link between seasonal seismicity in the Himalayas and fluid infiltration, which could modulate earthquake generation.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 3, 2007

Atoms under the mantle

Researchers in France have successfully modeled the defects responsible for deformation in the Earth's mantle layer, a 2900-kilometer-deep region that has long puzzled geophysicists. By studying dislocations at the atomic scale, they gained insights into the layer's deformation and its effects on convection movements within the mantle.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateMar 6, 2007

University of Nevada scientists gauge earthquake hazards through study of precariously balance rocks

Researchers at the University of Nevada used precariously balanced rocks to test seismic hazard predictions, measuring forces and angles to determine when an earthquake has not occurred for a long time. The study provides important information on seismic hazards in areas throughout the West, including data on ground-motion probability ...

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Reno·JournalAmerican Scientist·DateFeb 28, 2007

Scientists observe drumlin beneath ice sheet

Researchers have discovered a drumlin, a mound of sediment and rock, actively forming and growing under the ice sheet in Antarctica. The study, using time-lapse seismic surveys, reveals the drumlin grew ten times faster than expected, providing new insights into the drag on the underside of the ice.

SourceBritish Antarctic Survey·JournalGeology·DateJan 23, 2007

Listening in on the birth pangs of Earth's crust

Researchers at Brown University and Columbia's Earth Institute recovered two lost ocean-bottom seismometers, providing unprecedented insights into the process of seafloor spreading. The data from the instruments reveals increasing seismic activity before a major episode of seafloor creation, offering a unique 'ear to earth's belly'.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2006