A University of Michigan-led team is mapping surface ruptures and earthquake-triggered landslides in New Zealand using a combination of satellite imagery, drone footage, helicopter observations, and on-foot data collection. The high-resolution maps will help response teams assess landslide threats and prepare for future large earthquakes.
New research highlights the importance of including physical, political, cultural and socio-economic factors in natural hazard risk assessments. Syrian refugees living in seismically active regions of Turkey could boost the death toll from a major earthquake by up to 20 percent.
A recent study by University of Nevada, Reno geophysicists suggests that the Kathmandu region is vulnerable to a more powerful earthquake than the 2015 Gorkha quake. The research indicates that the Himalayan Frontal Fault has reached a stage of strain accumulation prior to a potential major thrust earthquake.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered a correlation between groundwater helium levels and stress on inner rock layers near the epicenter of earthquakes. The study found that high-stress areas had higher helium-4 levels in groundwater, suggesting a potential risk indicator for earthquakes.
A new 'smart metal' technology, developed by the University of Nevada, Reno, is being used for the first time in a real-world application on a busy downtown Seattle highway. The innovative materials, including memory-retaining nickel/titanium rods and flexible concrete composites, allow bridges to bend and remain usable after strong ea...
A new study confirms that the entire 2,400-kilometer Himalayan mountain range is seismogenic and can produce large earthquakes. Researchers discovered a major earthquake in Bhutan in 1714 using historical records and geologic data, shedding light on the region's potential for natural hazards.
New faults in Mt. Aso's magma chamber and volcanic cones alter spatial and mechanical properties of the volcano, potentially changing its eruption dynamics. The study suggests that the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake accelerated the timing of a future eruption by creating new channels for magma venting.
The collaboration aims to refine national seismic hazard models by sharing expertise and research topics. The focus section discusses different modeling approaches and primary audiences, providing insights into the consequences of similar megathrust earthquakes in each region.
A new fault has been identified in the Salton Sea area of Southern California, which could impact current seismic hazard models and earthquake risk assessment. The discovery provides much-needed information on the intricate structure of earthquake faults beneath the sea and may offer new insights into the region's earthquake cycle.
Researchers have discovered a new earthquake hazard in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, revealing that the Ghazaband fault is accumulating more than half of the relative motion between tectonic plates. This increases the potential for a high-magnitude earthquake and poses a significant threat to cities like Quetta.
A new study by Scripps Institution of Oceanography has discovered that large earthquakes on one fault can trigger large aftershocks on separate faults within minutes. This finding has significant implications for earthquake-prone regions like California, where complex fault systems may lead to mega-earthquakes.
A study found that geothermal energy production in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field increased the background seismicity rate, but not in other areas. The researchers used advanced models and earthquake data to analyze the connection between geothermal production and seismic activity.
A team of ASU researchers has found that major earthquakes can actually down-drop mountains while uplifting the surrounding foothills, challenging conventional wisdom on the mechanisms of mountain building. This new understanding may help anticipate seismic hazards in advance of devastating earthquakes.
Scientists found that sections of the West Napa Fault continued to slip after the primary earthquake, posing additional hazards to infrastructure. The afterslip caused certain areas to shift by as much as 40 centimeters in the month following the main earthquake.
Researchers found that calcareous sediments, not clay-rich sediments, are the most likely candidates for the first breakage of an earthquake. The study suggests that these sediments form a weak point in the rock sequence, leading to shallow earthquakes and tsunamis.
Researchers studied 7th-century A.D. temples in northwest India to reconstruct historic earthquakes, finding evidence of damage from magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 quakes. The study extended rupture zones for two major earthquakes, suggesting the region is prone to powerful earthquakes.
Researchers are analyzing data from the September 16, 2015 magnitude 8.3 earthquake in Illapel, Chile, to gain insights into the boundary's dynamics and predict future earthquakes. The study aims to map out strain release, identify active faults, and describe deformation of the top plate.
Researchers collected unique data set after 2014 South Napa earthquake, showing afterslip concentrated in loosely packed sediment. This helps address question: Can geology be used as proxy for fault behavior? The findings have significant implications for earthquake hazard models and planning response.
A University of Montana researcher has contributed to a groundbreaking study on the complexity of earthquakes and their forecastability. The research found that smaller and larger quakes contribute to the movement of the Himalayas, increasing the frequency but reducing the impact of earthquakes in the region.
A new research paper suggests that the Himalayan region is experiencing a buildup of strain energy due to past earthquakes. Historical earthquakes and recent afterslip data indicate that only part of the fault moved during the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, leaving significant strain stored in the fault system.
A new study suggests that the Riasi fault in Indian Kashmir has been building up pressure for thousands of years, potentially leading to a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake. The fault's lack of recent seismic activity increases the likelihood of a major event, posing a significant threat to millions of people in the region.
A slow slip event in New Zealand's Hikurangi margin showed that subduction plates may be accumulating much more stress and strain than previously thought. This finding helps assess earthquake occurrence risk in coastal areas near subduction zones, especially at locations of shallow depth.
A team of researchers led by Chris Pantelides developed a new process to repair earthquake-damaged bridge columns in just a few days. The process uses concrete donuts lined with composite fiber material and can be used on not only bridges but also damaged columns around buildings.
Crowd-sourced information on felt earthquakes is being integrated with data collected by seismometers, providing a more complete picture of an earthquake event. Citizen seismology offers a new window into the aftermath of earthquakes, including infrastructure damage and personal experiences.
Researchers examine factors influencing induced earthquake locations and strengths in central US and western Canada. The USGS report estimates 7 million people live in areas affected by induced seismicity.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake in January's Iniskin event shook the Cook Inlet region of Alaska, prompting seismologists to revise their estimates of intermediate-depth earthquakes in the area. The quake's unusual depth of 123 km below the surface resulted in minimal damage, but could affect future hazard risk estimates in southern Alaska.
A recent NTU EOS study found a pattern to slow fault movements that may precede large earthquakes. This discovery could improve seismic monitoring and forecast large earthquakes in Southeast Asia.
Scientists have found that the North Anatolian Fault Zone can produce mega earthquakes of magnitude M8 exclusively in the east. In contrast, northwestern Turkey, including Istanbul, is not expected to experience such large earthquakes exceeding M7.5. The study suggests that the eastern region's older age and mature fault zone contribut...
Researchers pinpoint stress factor behind 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake by analyzing geological rock formations offshore of Japan. The study provides new insights into the hazard potential of large earthquakes at subduction zones.
A new study using MRI found that adult earthquake survivors with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had greater cortical thickness in certain brain regions and reduced volume in others compared to healthy survivors. Cortical thickness was positively correlated with PTSD severity, particularly in the left precuneus region.
Researchers found that small faults can link together along a 'keystone' fault, triggering larger earthquakes. The El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake showed this pattern, with seven smaller faults activated by the breaking of a central stone-like fault.
A Northwestern University class estimated the costs and benefits of securing water heaters against earthquake damage. The study concluded that investing in water heater protection would yield a low return on investment compared to buying lottery tickets with high jackpots.
A research team found that a geologic event known as diking can cause strong earthquakes, with the potential to pose hazards to nearby communities. The team investigated ties between two natural disasters in the Democratic Republic of Congo and discovered that a dike intrusion could have induced a magnitude 6.2 earthquake.
A team of researchers found that an earthquake initiating on one thrust fault can spread 10 times farther to a second nearby fault, vastly expanding the possible range of 'earthquake doublets.' This could lead to twice as much devastation in areas like Los Angeles, where multiple thrust faults are close together.
Scientists have discovered geological evidence of frequent large tsunamis in the Aleutian Islands, posing a new hazard to the Pacific basin. The study reveals that a creeping section of the Aleutian Subduction Zone fault could generate earthquakes great enough to trigger devastating tsunamis.
A recent study on the 2015 Nepal earthquake highlights the potential risks of landslides in the Pacific Northwest. The research team estimated tens of thousands of landslides, causing widespread damage and loss of life.
A kink in the regional fault line creates a ramp that raises the height of the mountains. The rupture on the fault stopped 11km below Kathmandu, indicating another major earthquake could occur within a shorter timeframe.
An international team of scientists discovered that fewer landslides occurred after the 2015 Nepal earthquake than initially thought. The research used satellite imaging to analyze the region and found no large floods from overflowing glacial lakes.
Fault slip during the 2005 Sumatra earthquake was stopped by the topography on the downgoing plate, with a 3-km high region strengthening the plate boundary and preventing rupture propagation. This finding is supported by seismic reflection data that mapped the shape of the downgoing plate across a long-lived segment boundary.
Walter J. Arabasz received the Frank Press Public Service Award for his public service in modernizing seismic monitoring in the US. He led the development of Utah's regional seismic network and played a key role in informing state seismic safety policies.
Scientists have found that maximum observed earthquake magnitudes on transform faults generally scale with offset across the faults, but for some earthquakes, a larger coseismic stress drop occurs. This study contributes to developing refined building codes and risk mitigation concepts along major transform faults.
Researchers used 3D laser scanning to measure surface deformation after the 2014 South Napa earthquake, revealing complex deformation patterns that challenge traditional notions of topography formation. The study also found evidence of 'afterslip' effects that can occur hours to years after an earthquake.
Scholz has made significant contributions to seismology, bridging laboratory studies of rock mechanics with fundamental research on crustal-scale deformation. He has developed influential models for earthquake prediction and helped create regional seismic hazard maps.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have discovered a previously undetected earthquake that occurred just 12 seconds after a magnitude 7 earthquake in Chile. The 'closely-spaced doublet' increases the risk of larger-than-expected tsunamis, complicating tsunami early warning systems.
Researchers are using the Titan supercomputer to create physics-based earthquake simulations to better understand earthquake systems and predict ground shaking in large earthquakes. The team has completed its highest resolution simulation map for Southern California, providing a tool for engineers to design and build critical infrastru...
Researchers found that areas with previous strong earthquakes were more likely to produce landslides after a second earthquake hit. The study's findings could lead to improved predictive models considering historical occurrences of past earthquakes.
Using historical intensity data from Japan, researchers found that uniform and randomized versions of earthquake hazard maps outperform published maps in predicting shaking. The study aims to provide a more accurate understanding of how these maps work and their limitations.
A study published in Seismological Research Letters found that the 2015 Nepal earthquake produced less damage than expected, with researchers attributing this to the Kathmandu valley's ancient lake bed sediments. The shaking was reportedly amplified by these sediments for small and moderate earthquakes, but not as much for larger ones.
Researchers found that triggered earthquakes change the elastic properties of the Earth's crust in regions up to 6,000 kilometers away. This dynamic and interconnected system can create a cascading sequence of events thousands of kilometers away.
The Geological Society of America is hosting a special session on the Nepal earthquake, bringing together scientists to discuss recovery and forecasting. Researchers are using various techniques, including GPS measurements, to gain insights into the region's tectonics and develop more accurate predictions for future earthquakes.
A team of geologists from GEOMAR and Spanish institutions presented an explanation for the smaller-than-expected 2014 Iquique earthquake. Seamounts in the region, which subduct under the South American plate, actively deformed the interface and reduced stress buildup, resulting in a smaller earthquake.
The National Science Foundation awards UC Davis a five-year, $5 million grant to utilize the large earthquake-simulating centrifuge for natural hazards engineering research. Researchers can build complex models and conduct accurate scale-model studies of soils and soil-structure systems.
Researchers have recalculated the frictional strength of subduction zone faults worldwide, revealing low stresses in these areas despite potential for large earthquakes. The study suggests that even weak faults can accumulate stress to produce significant quakes.
Large earthquakes cause catastrophic landslides that can persist up to 20-fold after the earthquake, then gradually decrease over time. The magnitude of this response is linked to the size of the earthquake, with shaking-induced damage near Earth's surface and active healing processes playing a key role.
After strong earthquakes, landslides decrease due to an internal healing process of the landscape, returning to pre-earthquake levels in months to years. The destabilization caused by the quake gradually recovers as cracks close and are filled with sand and earth.
Researchers used computer models to simulate a tsunami generated by an earthquake in the Ventura basin, finding that it could inundate parts of the regional coastline several kilometers inland. The study highlights the potential for significant tsunami hazards in the area and emphasizes the need for full hazard assessments.
Scientists have found a way to detect internal damage in Utah's natural arches that could lead to their collapse. A study also reveals how a 16th-century Italian earthquake changed the course of the Po River over thousands of years. Researchers explore the effects of smaller rivers from Canada's Arctic islands on the North Atlantic.
The study provides the first complete account of the Gorkha earthquake's physical process, revealing a contained rupture at depth. The findings suggest that while the earthquake did not cause widespread destruction, it increased stress on an adjacent portion of the fault, potentially leading to future earthquakes.
Researchers found a unique insight into megathrust earthquakes through GPS data and radar measurements. The study revealed a pulse-like rupture that occurred over six seconds, with an extremely fast rupture velocity of approximately 3.2km/s.
Researchers found that interaction between the San Jacinto and San Andreas faults weakened earthquake ground shaking near them, preserving precariously balanced boulders. This discovery has practical implications for earthquake planning scenarios in the region.