Researchers successfully located the epicenter of the September 2017 North Korean nuclear test using regional seismic data. The study's findings confirm that subsequent seismic events were not also nuclear explosions.
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.
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.
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey's Mid-Atlantic Resource Imaging Experiment (MATRIX) provides new insights into gas hydrate features and structures below the seafloor. The research cruise acquires over 2,000 kilometers of marine seismic data, revealing shallow gas deposits and structural features beneath methane seeps.
A study of 1,826 adolescents found that higher current total activity was associated with lower VLDL and triglycerides, while longer-term activity showed similar results. The findings suggest that it's never too late to benefit from physical activity, but maintaining regular engagement is key.
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 at Harvard University have developed a new method to monitor water levels in underground aquifers using seismic noise. They were able to measure the water depth of an aquifer in California to within a centimeter, and estimated that half a cubic kilometer of water was pumped out during a drought. This technique has the poten...
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) will provide seafloor seismographs and technical support under a new cooperative agreement, starting August 1, 2018. The OBSIC replaces an earlier instrument pool, providing unique insights into seismic activity and ocean basins.
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.
A new model provides the clearest picture yet of the geology below the Tibetan Plateau, revealing tears in the Indian upper mantle layer. The research suggests that these tears are responsible for earthquakes in the region, shedding light on the complex geological processes at play.
Researchers from the University of Houston have reported a new understanding of deep earthquakes, finding they are hosted in anisotropic rocks. This discovery explains why deep earthquakes radiate seismic energy differently than shallow ones, offering insights into the causes of these events.
The study identifies at least three tears in the Indian mantle lithosphere underthrusting the Himalayas. This model explains patterns of crustal deformation and east-west extension in southern Tibet, providing insights into the region's seismic activity.
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 at UMass Amherst used advanced seismic imaging and data from the National Science Foundation's EarthScope program to construct a detailed model of the tectonic plate beneath the Adirondack Mountains. They discovered a 'pillow' of low-density, relatively light rock material that appears to have been squeezed up under the mou...
Researchers have developed a new approach to detect quakes by measuring optical phase changes in oceanic fiber optic cables triggered by seismic waves. This method can effectively detect quake activity and parameters, even in regions where seismic monitoring has been limited.
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.
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.
A study led by Drexel University's Amanda Lough has shown that East Antarctica is seismically active, contradicting the long-held assumption that its inactivity was caused by ice. The seismic array detected 27 earthquakes in 2009, tripling the total number of recorded events.
Haiying Gao will study five subduction zones across the globe to characterize differences and similarities in large earthquakes. Her advanced modeling techniques will rely on sensor data from land-based and deep-ocean seismic stations.
Scientists found that altering fluid injection rates near faults can reduce seismic events and magnitudes. Active pressure management may help control induced earthquakes in real-time, but more data is needed for specific site recommendations.
Researchers identified repeating seismic events at volcanoes in Costa Rica, offering insights into magma movement and gas activity. Drumbeat seismicity at Turrialba may have preceded a small eruption, while earthquakes halted repeating events at Poas by altering the stress field around the volcano.
Researchers at Nyiragongo volcano use a combination of seismic, infrasound, and satellite data to track the lava lake level, providing insights into magmatic system activity. The study helps improve eruption forecasting by understanding the relationship between pressure changes in the magmatic system and lava lake fluctuations.
Scientists use satellite radar imaging to pinpoint detonation site and yield of North Korea's latest nuclear test, which caused displacement and subsidence at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. The research provides a detailed view of the site, including the explosion's impact on the mountain above.
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.
The Thwaites glacier, part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, is under study due to its potential impact on sea levels. Researchers will use radar and seismic sensing to investigate the glacier's response over decades and centuries.
Researchers used supercomputer simulations to study the behavior of mantle plumes, a key factor in volcanic formation. The study provided new insights into how plumes interact with seismic waves and could help guide future experiments on the ocean floor.
A Rice University-led study has provided first clues about internal structure of the Galicia margin using a seismic probe. The data revealed seismic images of the S-reflector, a prominent detachment fault within the continent-ocean transition zone, which accommodated slipping along the zone.
Using computer modeling, University of Oregon scientists have unveiled a thick crustal transition zone that may control the movement of magma emerging from the Earth's mantle. This discovery provides a new explanation for the geology underlying recent seismic imaging of magma bodies below Yellowstone National Park.
Researchers at UEA are using silent marine robots to record underwater sounds, providing valuable information on sea-surface wind speed and monitoring storms. The robots can also eavesdrop on marine life, such as whales and dolphins, and detect human activities like marine traffic and seismic surveys.
Slow slip events (SSEs) release seismic stress at a lower rate than large earthquakes, potentially triggering megathrust earthquake events. The study analyzed waveform data from beneath Kanto, Japan, and found that seismic activity varied in response to SSEs, through episodic cycles.
Researchers developed a new measurement called Radiated Energy Enhancement Factor (REEF) to capture variations in earthquake rupture complexity, revealing regional patterns and differences in fault properties. This improvement could help seismologists better understand earthquake mechanics and hazards.
Researchers created synthetic specimens similar to upper mantle rocks and measured their rigidity under conditions simulating the Earth's mantle. This study challenges a long-held theory that defects involving water absorption in normally dry rocks control seismic wave speeds.
Researchers at MIT and Australian National University found that seismic waves are essentially blind to water in the Earth's upper mantle. The team's experiments showed that even tiny amounts of water have no effect on seismic wave speeds, contradicting previous assumptions.
Researchers are using seismic data collected through a novel real-time monitoring system to track the spread of carbon dioxide underground. The team aims to refine the picture of what's happening underground as carbon dioxide spreads and increases in concentration in different rock features.
Mathematicians at National Research University Higher School of Economics have found a link between earthquakes and currency jumps, using the Japanese ETAS approach. This method predicts financial risks with 40% accuracy, comparable to traditional econometric models.
A team of geophysicists and atmospheric scientists has discovered a new way to identify the movement and intensity of hurricanes, typhoons, and other tropical cyclones using seismometers. By analyzing 13 years of data from the northwest Pacific Ocean, they found statistically significant correlations between seismic data and storms.
Researchers from GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel identified a stratification of the seafloor as responsible for at least one landslide in the region. The discovery was made by combining drilling and seismic data, which revealed a layer of clay overlying ooze composed of fossil planktonic organisms.
A new study maps induced earthquake risk in the Permian Basin of West Texas, highlighting areas prone to seismic activity from fluid injection. The detailed stress map provides quantitative data for oil companies to inform more effective drilling operations and reduce the probability of larger earthquakes.
University of Oregon geologists discovered unusual seafloor structures indicating heightened worldwide magmatic activity 66 million years ago after the Chicxulub meteor struck. The research suggests seismic waves from the impact triggered accelerated volcanism globally, contributing to a mass extinction event.
Research analyzes earthquake sequences in eastern Ohio from 2013-2015, finding that hydraulic fracturing increases seismic hazard with maturity of activated faults. Deep earthquakes tend to be larger and persist after HF ceases, suggesting a long-term impact on seismic hazards.
A new study suggests that wastewater injection depth is a critical factor in inducing earthquakes. Simulations using an advanced computer model reveal that limiting depth to 500 meters above the basement can reduce seismic energy release by a factor of 2.8.
Researchers at the University of Arizona and partnering universities are working on a NSF-funded project to develop buildings that won't collapse under major earthquakes. The focus is on lateral force transfer through steel collectors, which horizontally transmit earthquake forces.
Researchers found a correlation between seismic tremor and lunar cycles before a surprise eruption of Ruapehu volcano in 2007. The study suggests that tidal forces could provide advanced warning of certain types of volcanic eruptions, which are otherwise hard to predict.
Researchers identified specific factors causing seismic activity in Alberta's Duvernay play, finding that increased hydraulic fracturing fluid volumes in susceptible locations trigger earthquakes. The study aims to improve earthquake prediction and mitigate induced seismicity in the region.
Researchers used new dating methods to study dynamic sediment remobilisation processes triggered by seismic activity in the Japan Trench. The methods enabled precise analysis of organic matter in individual sediment layers, revealing key findings about the history of earthquakes and the carbon cycle in the deep ocean.
Scientists developed a model to estimate the maximum magnitude of an earthquake caused by wastewater injection from hydraulic fracturing. The model takes into account the energy stored on nearby faults and predicts the distance an earthquake can propagate beyond an injection site.
Researchers are developing a new method to monitor hurricane intensity using seismic data, analyzing pressure changes on the surface that generate seismic waves. The technique, called beamforming backprojection, can detect even when the storm is still out at sea, offering a remote way to track storms.
A team of researchers is mapping areas at risk from liquefaction, a devastating form of seismic phenomenon caused by earthquakes. The LIQUEFACT project aims to assess community resilience to liquefaction-induced disasters, producing a framework for building vulnerability evaluation and mitigation strategies.
The ShakeAlert system, developed for the US West Coast, is fine-tuning a U.S. prototype that could be in limited public use in 2018. Key components include dense networks of seismic stations and education/training on using alerts.
Scientists analyzed seismic data from Japan's Hi-net network to identify changes in subsurface conditions before and after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. These changes, including slowed seismic velocity, may signal impending earthquakes or volcanic activity.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab successfully deploy dark fiber for seismic monitoring, detecting earthquakes and changes in permafrost conditions. The technique uses distributed acoustic sensing to measure seismic waves, providing comparable results to conventional seismometers.
New study reveals that frequency and magnitude of large Himalayan earthquakes depend on tectonic plate collision rate, which controls temperature and earthquake generation areas. The team found a link between plate collisions in the Alps and Himalaya, with slower collisions increasing earthquake hazard.
Researchers have discovered a faster method for estimating large earthquake magnitudes by analyzing 'elasto-gravity' signals, which travel at the speed of light. These signals consistently arrive before seismic wave counterparts, allowing for near-real-time magnitude detection and more accurate estimates.
Researchers have observed weak gravity signals related to earthquakes and found they are sensitive to the magnitude of quakes. These signals may aid in early identification of major earthquakes.
Recent North Texas earthquakes occurred on faults inactive for at least 300 million years, supporting the assertion they were induced by human activity. The study discriminates between natural and induced seismicity using classical structural geology analysis techniques.
A Rutgers-led study has detected a massive upwelling of warm rock beneath central Vermont and western New Hampshire, contradicting established notions of how continents behave. The phenomenon, revealed through seismic data, is thought to be driven by the movement of tectonic plates.
Researchers suggest that the Parkfield segment of the San Andreas Fault must host occasional large earthquakes to balance its seismic moment deficit. The study found that the probability of an earthquake magnitude 6 or more is around 43% over 30 years and 96% over 200 years.
Researchers found that water in minerals can split up under extreme pressure, liberating oxygen to combine with iron and create a novel mineral. This discovery could have implications for the Earth's geologic history and potentially explain the Great Oxygenation Event.
A Chinese research team used the Sunway TaihuLight to simulate a devastating 1976 Tangshan earthquake. The simulation created detailed 3D visualizations and informed engineering standards for buildings in seismic zones.
A new study found that more physical activity and higher intensities can decrease the risk of death in older women by 60-70%. Brisk walking was associated with a 60-70% lower risk of death, compared to light physical activity.