Slow slips, or silent earthquakes, are fractures of the Earth's crust that propagate slowly without producing seismic waves. The new database sheds light on the mechanisms behind these events and their potential to trigger regular earthquakes.
The InSight mission has unveiled Mars' internal structure, revealing a large liquid core and an altered crust. The study analyzed seismic waves from over 600 Martian quakes, identifying discontinuities in the crust and determining the upper mantle's structure.
The InSight mission provides clues to Mars' composition, mapping its crust, mantle, and core for the first time. Researchers find a multi-layered crust with an average thickness of 24-72 kilometers and a thick lithosphere beneath.
Researchers have determined the crustal thickness of Mars for the first time, with values ranging from 20 to 39 kilometers. This independent measurement allows for a precise map of the planet's crust across its entire surface.
Researchers conducted a large-scale experiment near Australia's Pilbara Coast and found no significant effects of seismic surveys on demersal fish abundance or behavior. The study suggests that seismic surveys may not harm tropical fishes, contrary to previous concerns.
New research has found that seismic surveys used in oil and gas exploration do not impact the abundance or behavior of commercially valuable fish species in north-western Australia. The eight-month experiment measured the effects of seismic airguns on the community of commercially important species, such as red emperor fish.
Researchers detected seasonal variations in seismic wave velocity due to changes in shallow permafrost ice content, attributed to temperature fluctuations. A linear decreasing trend in velocity was also found between 2009 and 2011, indicating an increasingly melted permafrost layer.
A new study concludes that wastewater disposal has not significantly altered the orientation of stress in the Earth's crust in southern Kansas. The researchers analyzed shear wave splitting data and found no evidence for a significant rotation in the fast direction, contradicting previous estimates.
Researchers used seismic sensors to study subglacial water flow on the Argentière glacier. The study revealed a complex drainage system with multiple cavities producing high water pressure, accelerating glacier movement.
A team of scientists from Hokkaido University used an ocean-bottom seismometer to detect continuous seismic radiation from a glacier sliding in Greenland. The study revealed that glacial basal motion can be monitored using underwater sensors, offering new opportunities for studying ice flow and calving processes.
Scientists recorded sound signals from March to June 2020 in Pennsylvania using underground fiber-optic sensors. They found a quiet period during the lockdown followed by a recovery of activity as restrictions lifted, with construction and vehicle traffic recovering sooner than pedestrian traffic.
Ajo-Franklin's lab is developing advanced fiber-optic sensors to monitor CO2 storage sites, allowing for the detection of small faults that could lead to leakage. The project aims to enhance safety and security at storage sites using distributed acoustic sensing technology.
A proposed project aims to detect seismic faults and fractures using 3D imaging to reduce the risk of injecting carbon dioxide. By imaging small-scale fractures, it's possible to estimate fluid leakage pathways.
Researchers used gravity-defying rock formations to determine the peak ground accelerations that could topple them, setting new design ground motion values for the Clyde Dam. The new values are similar to those used when the dam was built in the 1980s, but with a reduced risk due to modern regulations.
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 from Simon Fraser University and Canadian Space Agency will develop a new system to capture detailed seismic and gravimetric models of the lunar subsurface. This project aims to advance our understanding of the moon's geophysical properties and inform future exploration, potentially enabling human settlement.
Researchers found clear reflected seismic phases between 410-km and 660-km, indicating subducted oceanic plates are trapped at the bottom of the mantle transition zone. This discovery sheds light on mantle dynamics and circulation of deep materials.
Researchers used seismic waves to monitor groundwater dynamics in high mountains, tracking changes in soil saturation and predicting runoff. The study provides valuable insights into the function of the vadose zone as a link between precipitation and groundwater reservoirs.
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 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.
A study analyzing industrial and geologic data reveals that seismic activity surged due to wastewater injection stresses between 1993-2020. Variations in seismic activity across the basin may help explain why earthquakes occur in some areas but not others.
A University of California San Diego engineering professor has solved the mystery of deep-focus earthquakes, which originate between 400 and 700 kilometers below the Earth's surface. Her new theory explains how high pressures cause olivine rock to transform into denser spinel, leading to volume collapse and seismic waves.
The Marsquake Service has detected over 500 marsquakes, with most being high-frequency events occurring at great distances. Low-frequency events are less common and appear to decay more quickly than expected.
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.
Researchers are using 3D printed models to study ground motion after earthquakes, providing a novel platform for seismic experiments. The models replicate complex topographical features and allow scientists to simulate how seismic waves interact with the Earth's surface.
A new study by Rebecca Salvage and David Eaton found that hundreds of small earthquakes occurred in the Kiskatinaw area after oil and gas recovery shut down. The researchers suggest aseismic slip driven by trapped fluid from previous hydraulic fracture injections may be causing these latent earthquakes.
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.
A new method developed by University of Tsukuba researchers detects multiple landslides associated with Typhoon Talas, revealing smaller landslides detected hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter.
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 used coda wave interferometry to determine the location of underground chemical explosions and characterize damage caused by an explosion. The technique can improve estimates of larger explosion locations and put a limit on damage extent.
A recent study published in BMJ Neurology found that lockdown restrictions significantly reduced light activity associated with socialising and work. Moving your body for five minutes every hour can help counteract this inactivity.
The SIIOS team successfully tested its technology on Greenland's surface, detecting seismic waves comparable to those from ground-based seismometers. The findings could aid NASA's future missions to Europa and Enceladus, where subsurface liquid oceans are believed to exist.
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.
Researchers have detected unusual earthquake sequences in central Utah's Black Rock Desert, highlighting the region's active volcanic system. The quakes were shallower and produced lower-frequency seismic energy than usual, suggesting a different origin than other Utah earthquakes.
Researchers successfully detected storm swell events and earthquakes across a nine-month observation period using the Curie cable's telecommunications data. The approach transforms the ocean's fiber optic network into a continuous, real-time earthquake and tsunami monitoring system.
Researchers used fin whale songs to create images of the Earth's crust layers by recording vibrations on seismometers. This method offers a novel approach to seismic research, particularly in areas where traditional methods are expensive or impossible to obtain.
Researchers use fin whale songs to probe Earth's crust at seafloor, producing lower-resolution results than traditional air-gun signals. The method complements conventional techniques and avoids harming ocean life caused by powerful blasts.
A new study reveals common seismological equipment is vulnerable to cyberattacks, posing risks to data collection and processing. Seismic networks may be exposed to security breaches if devices use non-encrypted data, insecure protocols, and poor user authentication mechanisms.
A systematic review of smartphone fitness apps and wearable activity trackers found they increase physical activity levels in healthy adults by an average of 1850 steps per day. The interventions that were most effective included text-messaging prompts, tailored features, and goal-setting tools.
Researchers developed a state-of-the-art model that revealed high complexity in rupture processes even in simple oceanic faults. The study used seismic data from around the world to build a model of the 2020 Caribbean earthquake, finding variations in rupture speed and direction.
Researchers provide a 4D image of an active linkage zone between two major faults, offering insights into fault behavior and implications for seismic hazard assessment. The study highlights the importance of reevaluating 'silent' seismogenic sources in assessing earthquake risk.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered a mantle plume beneath central Greenland that melts the ice from below, bolstering understanding of volcanic activities and global sea-level rising.
Research suggests that some parts of the Alpine Fault, particularly around Hokitika and Greymouth, may experience strong ground shaking more often than previously thought. The study found evidence of a 19th-century earthquake along the fault's northeastern end, indicating that smaller earthquakes could occur between large rupture events.
Scientists warn that seismic guidelines in Canada's national building code may be inadequate for Metro Vancouver's unique geological conditions, particularly the Georgia sedimentary basin. This could put taller, older buildings at greater risk during a magnitude-9 Cascadia earthquake.
A new study has created the first high-resolution seismic images of a rocky tectonic plate within Earth's mantle transition zone. The research provides evidence that the slab hasn't completely mixed with the surrounding mantle, shedding light on the processes that shaped Earth's surface over billions of years.
Researchers decoded the origin of love waves, generated by ocean storms, which travel through the solid Earth. Stanford University geophysicist Lucia Gualtieri's study suggests that Love waves originate within the Earth itself, not on the seafloor.
Researchers observed two distinct seismic discontinuities in the mantle transition zone, representing the upper and lower boundaries of a subducted Pacific high-velocity slab. The study suggests a compositionally layered slab with high-water contents beneath the slab, challenging existing knowledge on slab interfaces.
A new model has been developed to predict earthquake propagation speeds, resolving a long-standing inconsistency between theory and observations. The 3D model overcomes the limitations of previous 2D models and accounts for oblique sliding, making it more accurate in predicting seismic wave behavior.
Researchers measured rocks formed by seismic slips in central Japan's subduction zone to identify conditions leading to earthquake faulting. This study provides insights into the thermal fracturing process, which could contribute to generating frictional melt and accelerating seismic slip.
Researchers are using a new technology to monitor the movement of thawing Arctic permafrost. A 1.5-kilometer fiber-optic cable will be turned into a long line of vibration sensors to collect seismic data and predict future behavior of the thawing permafrost.
Researchers developed a hybrid sliding-rocking bridge design that sustains less damage compared to conventional bridges. The new design allows for quick and cost-effective repairs, making it more beneficial in the long run.
Researchers have found that the Earth's mantle has a different composition to its upper layer, contradicting long-held assumptions. Lab experiments and seismic wave analysis suggest that silicon is present in the lower mantle, not the core.
Scientists have discovered that a tiny amount of molten rock, less than 0.7% by volume, is present in the asthenosphere under all oceanic plates, reducing the viscosity and 'decoupling' them from the underlying mantle. This research improves our understanding of plate tectonics and how it drives plate movement.
Paleoseismic trenching reveals three surface-rupturing earthquakes occurred approximately 8,800, 4,200, and 1,000 years ago on the Gales Creek fault. The study suggests that earthquakes occur about every 4,000 years on the fault, posing significant seismic hazard to the Portland metro area.
Researchers developed a new method to distinguish between small earthquakes and low-yield nuclear explosions in the US West. By comparing local magnitude and coda duration magnitude measurements, seismologists can identify seismic events caused by human activity more accurately.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake triggered by hydraulic fracturing in a Chinese shale gas field occurred along a fault about one kilometer deep. The event challenges current understanding of seismic risk for shallow faults, highlighting the need to reassess evaluation strategies.
Researchers found that reinforcing bushing systems with steel stiffeners reduces damage by up to 33-55%, resulting in lower costs for repairs and recovery. The study provides new insights into mitigating the impact of earthquake damage on power networks.
Scientists have found that part of the acoustic energy released from a solar flare emanated from about 1,000 kilometers beneath the solar surface, suggesting that flares can create seismic activity. This discovery may lead to the development of a new method to forecast the size and severity of solar flares.
New seismic data gathered by Stanford University researchers provides the first west-to-east view of the subsurface where India and Asia collide. The study suggests two competing processes are operating beneath the collision zone: movement of one tectonic plate under another, as well as thinning and collapse of the crust.