A new optical sensor developed at Berkeley Lab can provide reliable information on building damage immediately after an earthquake. The Discrete Diode Position Sensor (DDPS) measures interstory drift and will speed up efforts to safely assess, repair, and reoccupy buildings post-quake.
Researchers at GEOMAR have directly measured tectonic strain build-up on the North Anatolian fault in the Marmara Sea, posing a significant threat to Istanbul's metropolitan region. The study suggests an earthquake with magnitudes between 7.1 and 7.4 could trigger catastrophic consequences similar to the 1999 Izmit earthquake.
The 2015 Gorkha earthquake filled a significant knowledge gap in understanding Himalayan seismicity, revealing that the Main Himalayan Thrust fault changes geometry along-strike. This finding improves understanding of earthquake hazards in India and Nepal by identifying potential locations for future earthquakes.
The 2015 Gorkha earthquake's rupture length was likely controlled by spatial variations in the Main Himalayan Thrust, according to a new study led by Prof. BAI Ling from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research. The researchers used seismic waveforms and waveform modeling to determine source parameters and velocity structures.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that historical earthquake stresses can predict future seismic activity. Researchers analyzed centuries-old written records of damage to reveal 97% of earthquakes occurred on positively stressed faults.
A new statistical analysis published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America has found no correlation between deep-sea fish appearances and earthquakes in Japan. Despite long-held folklore suggesting otherwise, researchers have only identified one potentially correlated event out of 336 sightings and 221 earthquakes.
A new sediment core from Zipingpu Reservoir provides direct evidence of the link between a large earthquake and its sedimentary signature. The study found that hydrological forcing played a crucial role in transporting debris downstream, even in proximal locations.
Researchers used satellite imagery to gather detailed information on earthquakes, including location, size of surface deformation, and proximity to population centers. This data improved analysis of earthquake impact and led to more accurate estimates of fatalities and economic losses.
A comprehensive catalog of earthquake sequences in the Fort Worth Basin reveals a decrease in seismicity rates since 2014, corresponding to reduced wastewater injection. New faults have become active, and seismicity continues at greater distances from injection wells over time.
A new study suggests that sleep disturbances are associated with mental health problems among survivors of a natural disaster, even two years after the event. The research found significant positive correlations between sleep disturbances and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of depression.
Researchers used supercomputers to simulate complex earthquake ruptures, documenting interactions between faults and analyzing results with advanced visualization software. The model helps understand how faults interact during earthquake rupture, enabling scientists to study past earthquakes and possible future scenarios.
Researchers have found a consistent pattern in GPS data that can detect signs of acceleration 10-15 seconds into an earthquake, potentially enhancing early warning systems. This discovery could strengthen the accuracy of seismic alerts, especially for magnitude 9 Cascadia subduction zone ruptures.
A Stanford geophysicist discusses how a geothermal energy project in Pohang, South Korea, caused a magnitude 5.5 earthquake that injured dozens and forced residents into emergency housing. The study highlights flaws in common methods for minimizing earthquake risk when harnessing Earth's heat for energy.
Researchers at Tufts University found that subsurface fluid injections can cause significant earthquake activity beyond the fluid diffusion zone. The study uses field experiment data and modeling of ground faults to support this hypothesis.
Researchers found signs of ground failure, including slumped road ramps and liquefaction, in the aftermath of the 2018 Anchorage earthquake. The study suggests that shaking from the quake did not reactivate past landslides, likely due to its short duration.
A recent study suggests that reinforced concrete walls in Seattle may experience up to 11% larger displacement and a higher probability of collapse during magnitude 9 earthquakes due to basin effects. The research highlights the need for updated building codes and retrofits to mitigate potential damage.
A new study catalogs nearly 1.8 million tiny tremors in Southern California, filling gaps in the earthquake record and shedding light on geophysical processes. The analysis reveals that about 495 earthquakes occur each day in the region, with most being small and imperceptible.
A comprehensive new earthquake catalog has identified 1.81 million quakes in southern California, 10 times more than previously detected, providing a more precise picture of stress evolution in fault systems. The catalog will help researchers detect and locate quakes more precisely, identifying key physical and geographic details to pr...
Researchers investigated surface deformation caused by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake using field investigations, geologic data, seismic reflection profiles, and earthquake relocation results. The study suggests the Pishan earthquake is a folding event that occurred in the upper crust.
A new method combines seismic data with crowdsourced information from the internet, smartphones, and Twitter to detect earthquakes more quickly. This approach reduces detection time for felt earthquakes to just 1-3 minutes, improving situational awareness.
A new study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America has revealed signs of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake in a high-resolution map of the offshore northern San Andreas Fault. The map shows two large zones of slope failure on the seafloor, indicating that the fault ruptured in multiple strands.
A team of geophysicists from LMU München used simulations to study the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, which ruptured over 20 fault segments. The model showed that a weakly loaded fault was boosted by gradual slippage and low frictional resistance.
A new study by Chiara Cornelio finds that fluid viscosity directly impacts an earthquake's force. Laboratory tests and simulations show a clear correlation between fluid viscosity and earthquake intensity.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new way to sense earthquakes using gravitational signals, which can detect seismic waves ahead of time. The method has been proven reliable with 7-sigma accuracy and could lead to improved early warning systems that save lives.
Researchers used hourly water level records from tide gauges to detect episodic tremor and slip patterns in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The study found that these events occurred every 14.6 months between 1996 and 2011, but not during the pre-GPS era, suggesting a potential change in the pattern over time.
Researchers found rough topography on the 660-km boundary, rivaling the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, using data from a massive Bolivian earthquake. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the Earth's formation and function.
The study found that the Palu earthquake propagated unusually fast, identifying it as a supershear. Supershear earthquakes release more energy in a shorter time due to the rapid movement of the rupture along the fault.
Researchers analyzed the Sulawesi island earthquake to identify its propagation speed of 4.1 km/s, which falls between seismic wave speeds. The study's findings suggest that steady rupture at unexpected speeds can occur on damaged rocks and may enhance cascading effects.
A mathematical model of a train's movements during the 1906 earthquake suggests ground shaking was equivalent to at least a 'severe' level. The calculations are consistent with previous simulations and provide insights into future earthquakes in the region.
A 2-month lasting ultra-slow earthquake occurred south of Istanbul, coinciding with moderate-sized seismicity at shallow depth. The study sheds light on the interaction between aseismic slow deformation and seismically released energy, enhancing regional seismic risk assessment for the densely populated city.
University of Arizona professor Robert Fleischman is leading an integrated research and teaching program in earthquake engineering at the University of Salento in Lecce, Italy. He will focus on retrofitting historic buildings and developing modern techniques for ancient structures.
Researchers from ETH Zurich developed a new model that simulates earthquake cycles in the Himalayas, predicting powerful earthquakes with a periodicity of 400 to 600 years. The model shows that medium-sized earthquakes can create conditions for even larger ones, leading to complete stress release in the rupture zone.
Childhood malnutrition remained stable in Nepal's hardest hit areas despite the devastating 2015 earthquake. Household food insecurity decreased significantly, with child wasting rates declining by nearly half.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed a new computer modeling approach to investigate the connection between tiny tremors and devastating megathrust earthquakes. The study shows that changes in crustal stress state occur before major earthquakes, providing valuable insights into the forces driving these events.
Researchers analyzed historical data to determine the sources of destructive Indonesian earthquakes, finding that intraslab earthquakes were responsible for many damaging quakes. The study suggests that Indonesia's 2010 and 2017 seismic hazard assessments perform well in predicting ground motion in key Javanese cities.
Researchers are exploring answers to fill crucial gaps in understanding intra-slab earthquakes, which can be large magnitude and felt over a broad area. They found that local geology can dramatically change the earthquake's effects, highlighting the need for hazard assessments to include information about the deep earth.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo developed an AI-powered simulation that accurately models earthquake physics in urban centers, achieving a fourfold increase in speed. The new code adapts to precision needs and reduces computational power, enabling more efficient disaster response.
A study using algae deaths reveals the amount of uplift during the 2016 magnitude 7.6 Chiloé earthquake was approximately 25.8 centimeters, confirming a 3-meter maximum fault slip. This finding helps assess seismic hazards in the Chilean Subduction Zone and informs efforts to predict future major earthquakes.
Researchers from GFZ found micro-earthquakes prior to a 4.2 magnitude earthquake in June 2016, south of Istanbul. The study suggests that analyzing these small events could extend warning times for future earthquakes in the region.
Researchers found a deep, rupturing subduction zone earthquake that defies existing models, indicating the need for reevaluation of hazard maps and building codes. The study suggests seawater infiltration may have accelerated cooling in the Cocos plate, making it susceptible to tension earthquakes.
The world's largest outdoor shake table at UC San Diego will now test heavy structures with complex ground motions, enabling researchers to gather critical data on tall wooden buildings and retrofitting systems.
Researchers in India used GPS and satellite data to track crustal deformation around reservoirs, finding that seasonal filling can reduce the strength of nearby faults and trigger earthquakes. Even small reservoirs can cause significant deformation capable of triggering an earthquake if there are critically stressed faults in the region.
Researchers developed a method to estimate seismic risk by modeling various earthquake scenarios and identifying common impacts. The study suggests that most scenarios produce lower impacts than the worst-case scenario, with urban areas posing less risk than rural western Nepal.
Researchers developed a new seismic risk modeling approach to assess earthquake impacts and identify common hazards across multiple scenarios. The 'ensemble modeling' method provides critical information on likelihood and probable scale of future earthquakes' impacts, enabling targeted disaster mitigation resources distribution.
A joint British-Italian team has shown that the clustering of three deadly quakes in Italy's Apennine mountains may have been caused by a cross-cutting network of underground faults. The research found that smaller faults prevented a single massive earthquake from occurring and also triggered later earthquakes.
Researchers from Columbia University and USGS develop a physics-based model that replicates California's statistical seismic hazard model. This breakthrough marks a turning point in earthquake forecasting, providing accurate hazard estimates for engineers and regulators to make informed decisions on building codes and construction costs.
Researchers from EPFL and ENS Paris have discovered that highly pressurized water in the vicinity of an earthquake can reduce its intensity. This finding contradicts previous theories and highlights the importance of considering fluid pressure in geothermal models to accurately predict earthquake behavior.
Scientists at Oregon State University analyzed 44 years of seismic data and found clear evidence that tremors of magnitude 6.5 or larger trigger other quakes of magnitude 5.0 or larger.
Scientists have discovered regions with lower seismic wave velocities beneath both ends of the Cascadia fault zone, indicating rising pieces of the Earth's upper mantle. These anomalies could modulate plate coupling forces and influence the location, frequency, and strength of earthquake events.
Researchers at Tohoku University studied the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake to understand the causal mechanism. They used seismic tomography and found that both the upper Okhotsk plate and lower Pacific plate contributed to the formation of a hard patch responsible for the earthquake.
Researchers have discovered a nearly 15.5-mile-long fault zone with two parallel master faults and hundreds of smaller cross faults at the southern tip of the San Andreas Fault. The 'Durmid Ladder' structure may be the site of the region's next major earthquake, posing an increased surface-rupture hazard.
A global collaboration, CSEP, has been studying earthquake forecast models to assess their performance and predict future seismic activity. The experiments have shed light on the predictability of earthquakes, with some models proving useful for real-time warnings during major earthquakes.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery of accelerating activity before a 2016 earthquake in central Alaska. The study found evidence for very low-frequency earthquakes, which do not typically exhibit the usual P and S waves associated with typical earthquakes.
A new Stanford study has re-examined the relationship between seismic data and earthquake prediction, concluding that foreshocks are unlikely to provide accurate warnings of impending earthquakes. Researchers found no evidence supporting the idea that slow slip or cascade models can be used for predictive purposes.
Researchers find that a flat continental shelf off Mexico's coast efficiently traps edge waves, leading to unusually long-lasting tsunami waves. This phenomenon could pose a significant tsunami hazard in other regions with similar shelf shapes, such as the Pacific Northwest and northern Japan.
Seismologists reexamine the risk of megathrust earthquakes in the Caribbean, considering tsunami scenarios for a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and its potential impact on emergency management planning.
Following the Kumamoto earthquake, investigators found a high risk of venous thromboembolism in people who remained seated in cars overnight. In many cases, this led to pulmonary thromboembolism, emphasizing the need for preventive measures and public awareness campaigns.
Researchers reexamined historical seismograms from the 1906 Meishan earthquake to uncover a new mechanism that better fits fault rupture and damage patterns. This discovery will help improve understanding of complex fault systems in the region.
Researchers have detected small earthquakes caused by migrating gases in the underground, particularly in the Istanbul-Marmara region. The study found that natural gas reservoirs near tectonic disturbances can trigger weaker earthquakes as a result of gas escaping and moving upwards.
A 2017 Mw 5.4 Pohang earthquake in South Korea is believed to have been triggered by fluid injection at a nearby Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) site, the largest-induced quake ever recorded at an EGS location.