Researchers at the University of Illinois used single calcite crystals with varying surface roughness to simplify the physics of fault movement. The study found that friction can increase or decrease with sliding velocity depending on mineral types and environment, providing a fundamental understanding of rate-and-state equations.
A University of California San Diego study finds that importers highly dependent on Japan increased total imports of those products after the 2011 earthquake, intensifying offshoring rather than reshoring. Global supply chains are difficult to untangle following a crisis, and firms opt for offshore production to keep costs down.
Researchers in China have developed new techniques for monitoring and predicting earthquake precursors using satellite observation and ground-based methods. These methods include earth resistivity, magnetotelluric, geomagnetic, and geoelectric field observations, as well as EM radiation and satellite observation.
Seismologists analyzed historical accounts of the 1860 Jour de Pâques earthquake sequence, which may have released strain in a key fault zone. The analysis suggests that two large events occurred in 1860, one magnitude 6.0-6.4 and another 6.6-6.9, releasing built-up stress before recent earthquakes.
A new approach based on deep learning AI detects weak gravitational signals, or PEGS, generated by large-mass motion in megaquakes. This allows for real-time tracking of earthquake growth after a magnitude 8 event.
Researchers simulated earthquakes in a lab and found that fine-grained gravel formed at fault boundaries can trigger powerful ruptures, contrary to previous beliefs about stable faults. The study used high-pressure and shear simulations to show that rock gouge weakens friction between plates, leading to intermittent slip.
A new method of detecting mega earthquakes uses deep-learning models to assess the magnitude of these events, providing an earlier warning for tsunamis. This approach leverages gravity waves generated by large earthquakes, allowing for more accurate estimation and faster response time.
Researchers compiled catalog of Lake Erie-area earthquakes between 2013 and 2020 to investigate potential connection to shifting water levels. The study found no conclusive correlation between earthquake rates and water levels.
Researchers analyzed stress perturbation on the Maqin-Maqu segment of the Eastern Kunlun fault after the 2021 Ms7.4 Maduo Earthquake, finding it likely to be substantially stressed and promote earthquakes on the seismic gap. The study predicts increased seismic activity in surrounding faults.
Researchers found a slow, shallow magnitude 8.16 subevent that contributed over 70% to the seismic moment of the 2021 South Sandwich Island earthquake. The event was 'invisible' at first glance and had unusual features, including a massive aftershock area and tsunamis across three oceans.
A regional collaboration has successfully installed earthquake early warning algorithms in four Central American countries, including Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. The system can produce warnings seconds before strong ground-shaking S waves arrive from offshore shallow subduction zone earthquakes.
A new device, Superconducting Earthquake Early-warning Device (SEED), could detect minute gravity fluctuations caused by earthquakes, potentially speeding up earthquake early warning systems. The device aims to detect large earthquakes within 5-10 seconds, complementing existing seismic wave-based systems.
Scientists are tracking changes in seismic wave velocity around the Mexico City Basin using ambient noise generated by urban activity. The study found a long-term increase in velocity at stations over compacting lake clay deposits, which can affect building stability during earthquakes. Additionally, seasonal variations and post-seismi...
Sediment cores suggest 15m of megathrust slip occurred offshore during the massive 1700 Cascadia earthquake, leading to 1m+ coastal subsidence. This finding will refine seismologists' understanding of this event and constrain coastline impact predictions.
Aftershocks form spatial clusters around mainshocks, with rates decreasing further from mapped faults and increasing with strain rate. Hardebeck's study improves models but falls short of capturing clustering density. Future research may incorporate crustal properties for better forecasts.
Researchers used teleseismic P waveform data to estimate rupture process and fault geometry simultaneously, identifying an irregular rupture sequence with diverse geometries. This approach mitigates potential modeling errors, providing a better understanding of complex fault systems.
Scientists discovered that earthquakes influence tectonic plate movement, altering frequency and patterns of quakes. This finding suggests improved earthquake risk models can be developed by incorporating feedback mechanisms after an earthquake.
A network of simple seismic stations hosted in volunteers' homes helped understand the Mw7.2 Nippes earthquake and its aftershocks. The citizen seismometer network contributed crucial data to characterize the event and forecast damaging aftershocks, highlighting the added-value of citizen seismology for rapid earthquake response.
Researchers at Cornell University have reevaluated earthquake models, discovering that fracture energy relates to how quakes stop rather than fault weakening. This breakthrough may help improve earthquake forecasting by understanding rupture styles and the role of seismic observations.
Researchers analyzed the 2018-2019 Bungo Channel slow slip event to gain insight into megathrust earthquake behavior. Despite its short duration, this event was larger in terms of slippage amount and slip velocity compared to past events, providing valuable information for predicting future earthquakes.
A recent study by USGS and UPR Mayagüez researchers documented over 300 landslides and severe liquefaction in southern coastal regions after the magnitude 6.4 earthquake. The data provides a valuable resource for Puerto Rico, which lacks an island-wide hazard map for earthquake-triggered landslides or liquefaction.
Researchers identified a hidden magnitude-8.2 earthquake as the trigger for the worldwide tsunami, which was buried within complex seismic waves. The study reveals the importance of accurately characterizing big earthquakes to mitigate tsunami hazards.
Researchers identify three key regional factors controlling subduction zone earthquakes and tsunamis. The study's unified model explains the physical processes during a major earthquake and tsunami, accounting for complex fault geometry and rock behavior.
Researchers discovered a connection between earthquake characteristics and tsunami size, finding that shallow rupture can produce larger tsunamis. This study suggests reevaluating the use of earthquake magnitude in estimating tsunami threats.
Researchers deployed a seismic array in unused telecom fiber optic cable to detect dozens of aftershocks missed by permanent stations after a magnitude 5.1 earthquake in Tangshan, China. The findings demonstrate how 'dark fiber' can be used for ultra-dense seismic monitoring in urban areas.
Researchers have found evidence of joint ruptures, or shared earthquakes, between the San Andreas and san Jacinto faults in California. The Lytle Creek Ridge Fault, a small fault between the two major faults, acted as a passive marker during these events, with 20% to 23% of earthquakes on these faults being shared.
A large earthquake off the coast of south-central Chile in 1737 may have caused a substantial tsunami that was absent from historical records. Researchers analyzed sediments and found evidence of widespread sandy layers, dating to the same time as the earthquake, similar to deposits made by tsunami waves in other areas.
Researchers have documented a new type of slow earthquake in British Columbia, Canada, triggered by hydraulic fracturing. The events exhibit unique features suggesting they rupture more slowly than conventional earthquakes, challenging the current understanding of induced earthquakes.
A new dataset from Canterbury earthquakes provides over 15,000 case histories for liquefaction, significantly augmenting model training and testing. The dataset enhances hazard assessments and improves engineering solutions in earthquake recovery, benefiting society as a whole.
A recent study found that earthquakes and extreme rainfall lead to a significant increase in landslide rates in Nepal during the monsoon season. The research, published in Nature Communications, reveals that landscape damage caused by the April 2015 Gorkha earthquake increased landslide risk by six times.
A study using Google Trends and Wikipedia search volume found that public interest in earthquakes is dependent on the income level of the affected country. Earthquakes in developing countries receive less international attention than those in developed countries, with interest often dwindling within a week. However, interest persists f...
The research team developed a technology for remotely assessing the condition of a building during an earthquake based on the readings from the building's seismometer. The new method uses CNN machine learning to quickly assess damage levels and determine if a building can continue to be used.
A new machine learning-based tool enables automatic ground deformation detection at a global scale, improving earthquake detection and understanding tectonic fault behavior. The approach reveals slow earthquakes twice as extensive as previously recognized, shedding light on the physics of active faults.
Researchers explored wind turbine dynamics under simultaneous wind and earthquake excitation, finding a coupling effect between aerodynamic damping and blade stiffness. This knowledge can guide seismic design of wind turbines and inform determination of wind-earthquake combinations.
Scientists aim to develop computer models that can forecast earthquake chances and impact, like weather forecasting. The project will also train students and researchers from diverse backgrounds to work on computational geoscience.
Research suggests that earthquakes magnitude 5.0 and larger could cause ground displacement and liquefaction in Salt Lake City, increasing the risk of earthquake-related building damage. The study identified a complex zone of folding and faulting beneath downtown Salt Lake City, which may deform the ground during a large earthquake.
Researchers used seismic CT scans and supercomputers to study slow slip earthquakes in New Zealand's Hikurangi subduction zone. The study found that tectonic forces build up before releasing through slow motion tremors, revealing key processes involved in modulating slow slip.
Researchers found that a large earthquake could set off the eruption of Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano by relieving stress from magma influx, generating additional pressure and buoyancy. The study also identified movements along near-horizontal faults under the flanks as essential features of long-term volcano growth.
A joint research project by Shinshu University and Genesis Research Institute found that electromagnetic anomalies occur before earthquakes due to gas-electric interactions. The anomalies are caused by the trapping of fluid in a fault-valve, which eventually cracks and releases charged gas, generating a large current.
A University of Otago study found that the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake created an ecological opportunity for a previously South Island restricted seaweed species to colonize and establish itself in the North Island. This discovery highlights the potential of tectonic disturbance to shape biodiversity, including marine environments.
The US Geological Survey, University of Washington and Washington Emergency Management District activate the ShakeAlert system on May 4, sending advance warning of impending earthquakes to millions of people. The system provides seconds to minutes of warning time for earthquakes above magnitude 4.5 or 5.
Researchers at NTU Singapore discovered a 32-year 'slow-motion' earthquake that led to the catastrophic 1861 Sumatra earthquake. The study highlights potential missing factors or mismodelling in global earthquake risk assessments.
A recent study by GEOMAR scientists has provided a comprehensive understanding of the northern Chilean subduction zone, shedding light on the relationship between earthquakes and tsunamis. The data set, obtained through a unique deployment of ocean-bottom seismometers, revealed that aftershocks were located both beneath and above the p...
Researchers developed a global GNSS seismic monitoring system that can rapidly assess earthquake magnitude and fault slip distribution within seconds. This system can provide early warnings for large earthquakes and tsunamis, buying more time for evacuations and infrastructure shutdowns.
Scientists have developed a new method to assess earthquake and tsunami hazards in offshore subduction zones, finding that hazards might be systematically underestimated. The study's findings have important implications for the mitigation of risk in affected areas worldwide.
Researchers developed DeepShake, a deep spatiotemporal neural network trained on over 36,000 earthquakes, which analyzes seismic signals in real time and provides advanced warnings of strong shaking. The model was tested using the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake, sending simulated alerts up to 13 seconds prior to high-intensity ground shaking.
A network of off-the-shelf smartphones deployed in Costa Rica detected and alerted on five earthquakes, outperforming scientific-grade warning systems. The system, called ASTUTI, uses accelerometers built into phones to provide early warnings for potential disasters.
Researchers suggest that the 1700 Cascadia earthquake could be part of a longer-lived sequence of earthquakes, potentially spanning many decades. This hypothesis has significant implications for how earthquake hazard maps are created for the region, and may help explain why there is little geologic evidence of the event in some areas.
Researchers found a naturally occurring 'earthquake gate' on New Zealand's Alpine Fault that decides which earthquakes grow into magnitude 8 or greater. The study suggests this gate could change the stress and break larger earthquake chains.
A shallow locked region south of Cartagena city suggests significant earthquake and tsunami hazard, with a magnitude 8.0 earthquake capable of occurring every 600 years. Researchers urge continued densification of the GPS network to better understand and evaluate this hazard potential.
Researchers identified eight California faults with higher rates of magnitude 4 earthquakes before a magnitude 6.7 quake, predicting their likelihood for future large earthquakes. So far, only one such event has occurred since the forecast was made in 2017.
Scientists have discovered that current methods for calculating stress received by underground pipelines during an earthquake are inaccurate, leading to a significant risk assessment. The new theory of seismic wave propagation addresses this issue, highlighting the need for modernization and replacement of existing pipelines.
Scientists from Tohoku University found a decrease in atmospheric radon concentration before the 2018 Northern Osaka Earthquake, contradicting earlier research. This discovery suggests more complex processes are at play before earthquakes and could lead to the development of a radon-based earthquake prediction system.
Researchers studied historical data from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami to better understand the effects of COVID-19 on adolescents' mental health. They found that limited physical exercise can help reduce mental health issues, contradicting previous studies that showed worsening psychological status during lockdowns.
Researchers uncovered a hidden fault mechanism in the Shumagin Islands region of Alaska, which led to an unexpected strike-slip earthquake. The discovery suggests that areas considered uncoupled or safe from earthquakes may actually be prone to other types of seismic activity.
Researchers developed a new method to model complex earthquake rupture processes affecting systems of multiple faults. The approach was applied to the magnitude 7.9 Gulf of Alaska earthquake, revealing irregular behavior linked to pre-existing ocean floor features, including fracture zones and plate-bending faults.
A novel convolutional neural network, FMNet, was developed to determine the source focal mechanism of earthquakes rapidly using full waveforms. The method proves effective in calculating parameters within one second with minimal computing resources.
Researchers analyzed data from dense seismic, geodetic and tsunami networks to understand the 2011 quake. The study found that a large coseismic fault slip ruptured into a shallow part of the Japan Trench's megathrust fault.
The US Intermountain West region experienced four significant earthquake sequences in 2020, with research characterizing the tectonics of the area and gaining insights into fault systems. The focus section papers discuss the Magna, Stanley, Monte Cristo, and Lone Pine earthquakes, providing new knowledge on seismic activity.
Scientists have analyzed radon concentration data before and after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake to better understand the relationship between radon changes and earthquake occurrence. The study suggests that periodic loading on the earth's crust due to tides may trigger changes in radon concentration.