Researchers in The Journal of Geology found that plain ocean waves, aided by strong storms, can move giant boulders inland. By comparing old maps to modern photos, the team showed that sections of the ridges have moved significantly since 1839.
Scientists at GFZ used high-precision GPS data to determine earthquake magnitude and tsunami source in under 3 minutes. A GPS shield concept can provide accurate tsunami early warnings for regions with earthquake risks, correcting traditional seismic method limitations.
New research from Aachen University suggests the Possidi peninsula in northern Greece is at risk of significant tsunami waves due to its proximity to earthquake-prone areas. The study also highlights the need for updated tsunami hazard calculations, particularly in densely populated and tourist regions.
Scientists present latest seismological research on earthquake hazards in San Diego, focusing on the Rose Canyon fault system and offshore faults. The study aims to improve understanding of seismic hazard and define a level of hazard for future large earthquakes.
The Pacific Northwest Tsunami Evacuation Zones online portal and free apps provide an at-a-glance view of tsunami hazard zones along the coasts of Oregon and Washington. Planning tools like this are essential to safeguarding lives and property.
Radioactive iodine found in New Hampshire's Mink Brook watershed is a result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility's explosion. The study shows minimal deposition in soil but doubling in stream sediments, with significant dilution expected.
An international research team found elevated levels of radioactive substances in the Pacific Ocean, reflecting the complex nature of the marine environment. While levels of radioactivity in marine life were below concern for humans and organisms, long-term impacts on the ecosystem remain unclear.
Researchers will use hydrodynamic computer modeling to evaluate tsunami currents and their effects on ports and harbors in California. The study aims to create hazard maps and determine safe evacuation depths to mitigate damage caused by these late-arriving surges.
A year after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster, scientists are lacking fundamental knowledge about how nuclear fuels behave under extreme conditions. A review article calls for a long-term national research program to study this topic.
Researchers highlight the need for better understanding of how water interacts with damaged fuel and radioactive material release in nuclear accidents. A new paper by Peter C. Burns and colleagues from the University of Notre Dame and others emphasizes the importance of increased research to develop predictive models.
Georgia Tech associate professor Hermann Fritz and his team are studying the impact of the 2011 Tohoku tsunami on the Sanriku coast using terrestrial laser scanners and eyewitness video. They have mapped the tsunami's height and flood zone, which could produce flooding forecasts to influence evacuation plans and building designs.
China's 2008 Wenchuan earthquake exposed significant shortcomings in emergency preparation, including inadequate risk awareness and disaster prevention plans. The country has made progress in forming coordination systems and providing effective medical care, but research is needed to improve response times and treatment procedures.
An independent investigation panel found that Japan's government and Tokyo Electric Power Company were unprepared for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident. The panel's report highlights human errors and systemic failures, including a lack of disaster planning and inadequate training.
The article explores the latest advances in earthquake forecasting, including probabilistic methods and visualization techniques. Despite limitations, these approaches provide valuable information for predicting earthquakes and can help reduce uncertainty.
A recent study by a University of Nevada, Reno geophysicist presents evidence that the Cascadia fault line could experience stronger ground-motions than observed in Japan's Tohoku earthquake. The risk is a grim reminder for those living in the Pacific Northwest to be prepared for an earthquake and tsunami.
A symposium on disaster recovery will focus on the importance of community preparation and collaboration in overcoming emergency hardships. The event aims to provide insights into strategies for resilience and faster recovery times.
A new study finds that seismic faults close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have reactivated after a magnitude 9 earthquake in March. The researchers warn of a higher risk of large earthquakes disturbing the region, which could potentially cause another nuclear disaster.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University have developed a market 'seismograph' to measure interconnections between stock markets globally. This method can detect early signs of global crisis and provide measures to mitigate its spread.
Researchers will monitor the Cascadia subduction zone's strain buildup using a new seafloor geodesy observatory. This data will aid in modeling fault slip and predicting tsunami heights, ultimately informing city planners and emergency response managers.
A team of researchers has found a new method by which seawater can corrode nuclear fuel, creating uranium compounds that could potentially travel long distances in solution or as tiny particles. The discovery highlights the need to consider this phenomenon in future nuclear operations.
A new method called MutMap enables plant scientists and breeders to develop new crop varieties in a year rather than five to ten years.
NOAA scientists predict debris from the Japanese tsunami may reach US shores this winter, posing a challenge for responders to track and predict its location. The agency is coordinating with partners to collect data and prepare for various scenarios.
A new study by Canadian researchers aims to dispel the myth of Murphy's Law by showing that human error can be minimized through rigorous testing and analysis. By implementing checks and balances, industries can improve reliability and safety, reducing the likelihood of catastrophic failures.
A new study analyzes radioactivity from the Fukushima nuclear power plants, revealing high levels of cesium-137 and iodine-131. While the releases are not a direct threat to humans or marine life, they raise concerns about radiation accumulation in marine sediments.
A new study analyzes radioactivity discharged from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plants and finds that while levels are high, they pose no direct exposure threat to humans or marine life. However, accumulated radionuclides in marine sediments remain poorly understood.
Researchers found that a 'merging tsunami' doubled in intensity over rugged ocean ridges, amplifying its destructive power before reaching shore. This discovery helps explain how tsunamis can cross ocean basins to cause massive destruction at some locations while leaving others unscathed.
A toxicologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is urging governments and industries to adopt more evidence-based risk assessments for nuclear radiation and chemical exposure. He argues that the current linear no-threshold model has questionable scientific foundations and should be objectively assessed.
Earthquakes result in massive death tolls due to trauma, crush injuries, and disruptions to medical services. Many victims succumb to complications, sepsis, or organ failure, while others experience mental health problems like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Christchurch earthquake ruptured a previously unmapped fault, causing widespread liquefaction-induced damage. Eight papers focus on structural and geotechnical damages associated with strong ground motion shaking.
Professor Marcel Stive is conducting a five-year project to produce long-term predictions for coastal change processes using a combination of satellite and video surveillance. The goal is to improve coastal zone planning and management by studying interactions on comprehensive time and space scales.
Arizona State University is developing a high-throughput system for rapid radiation biodosimetry to measure gene expression in individuals exposed to abnormal levels of radiation. The project aims to ensure medical responders have the necessary information to provide appropriate medical treatment and human health safety.
Researchers have uncovered a well-preserved example of a massive landslide triggered by a volcanic eruption on Tenerife. The study provides insights into the long-term effects of such events on hazardous pyroclastic dispersal, with potential implications for tsunami risk assessment and global preparedness.
Researchers found elevated levels of radioactivity in San Francisco Bay area rainwater after the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant accident, but at non-health-risking concentrations. The study collected samples from March 16th to March 26th and detected above-normal radioactivity starting on March 18th.
Experts analyze Fukushima's current and future impact, highlighting pressing government plans and challenging nuclear energy policies. The article also explores health impacts, media coverage, and the need for upgraded safety measures to prevent similar disasters.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory detected radioactive materials from Fukushima in the US, providing insight into the disaster's magnitude. The findings demonstrate huge advancements in nuclear monitoring technology.
Despite having one of the best health systems in the world, Japan's development assistance for health budget is only 2% of its foreign aid budget. The country must take center stage in global health to help other countries. Japan has the potential to make substantial contributions to global health by sharing its expertise and increasin...
The Lancet Series proposes human-security based reforms to maintain Japan's universal health coverage. Local governments must take more responsibility for healthcare resources and funding, while consolidated institutions will improve physician quality and provide opportunities for domestic and global health experts to interact.
Scientists have successfully observed a tsunami using high-frequency radar, which can detect changes in ocean currents and track wave movement. This innovation could lead to improved early warning systems for coastal regions like Southeast Asia and the East Coast.
Researchers measured a spike in radioactive sulfur in the air, revealing that 400 billion neutrons were released per square meter surface of cooling pools between March 13 and March 20, 2011. The levels reached California coast, but posed no threat to human health.
A NASA scientist and her colleagues observed for the first time that an earthquake and tsunami can break off large icebergs a hemisphere away. The Tohoku Tsunami in 2011 caused massive waves to reach Antarctica, calving off several chunks of ice that equaled about two times the surface area of Manhattan.
The INFORMS journal has announced a special issue on using logistics and analytics to improve responses to disasters and health crises. The studies featured include pre-positioning of emergency items, optimizing schedules for maritime humanitian cooperative engagements.
Researchers recorded tsunami airglow signature using camera system in Maui, Hawaii, one hour before the event. The observation confirms a theory that tsunamis can produce atmospheric gravity waves detectable by satellite imaging.
A thick plateau of hard, compacted sediments helped spread the rupture from tens of kilometers below to just a few kilometers below, unleashing larger tsunami waves. The study suggests locations with large thicknesses of sediments may promote more significant tsunamis during great earthquakes.
The elderly are more vulnerable to negative impacts of floods and natural disasters due to age-related disabilities and social circumstances. Research highlights the importance of considering age-related needs in emergency preparedness planning to ensure better outcomes.
Researchers discovered a unique sequence of geologic events that triggered Japan's devastating tsunami, including an unusual 'two-faced' rupture on the fault plane and extreme dynamic overshoot. This finding highlights the need to better understand similar earthquakes in other subduction zones around the world.
The study reveals the spatial compactness of the event, with a 250-kilometer-long fault experiencing significant slip, and high- and low-frequency seismic waves coming from different areas of the fault. This information will help scientists improve infrastructure and prevent loss of life through better application of seismological data.
Professor Richard Wakeford critiques the comparison of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station to Chernobyl, highlighting key differences in radiological hazard and Japanese authorities' response. He notes that lessons learned from Chernobyl have guided actions taken in Fukushima, including evacuation zones and iodine tablets.
Twitter played a vital role in getting medical assistance to patients affected by the tsunami, particularly those with pulmonary hypertension. Meanwhile, a team of doctors successfully transferred 600 dialysis patients from Iwaki to Niigata hospital within a short timeframe, providing them with life-sustaining care.
Scientists have discovered new records of shelled amoebas living with methane seeps and ancient trilobites. Additionally, researchers have found evidence of micrometeorites in 240 million-year-old sediments and a deep biosphere community in the Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers found that untrained operators can accurately judge a robot's size relative to an opening but overestimate their driving skill. With practice, participants improve their driveability judgments, reducing the likelihood of robots getting stuck.
In a 26-year study, marine invertebrates in Port Valdez have stabilized to resemble an undisturbed glacial fjord. This recovery was facilitated by the dominant species Capitellidae, known for their opportunistic nature.
A study by University of Washington psychologists found no correlation between positive emotions and stress/depression in Asian college students, suggesting therapies focusing on positivity may not work. Instead, mindfulness approaches that acknowledge both good and bad emotions may be more effective.
The study found that Twitter users in disaster-stricken areas tended to tweet about their unsafe situation, while those in remote areas posted updates to let their followers know they were safe. The researchers also identified numerous unreliable retweets and low signal-to-noise ratio for messages using hashtags.
Projections predict tsunami debris will spread out eastward, reaching Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in a year and US West Coast in three years. The debris will then enter the North Pacific Garbage Patch, where it will break into smaller pieces.
Researchers developed a new system, RTerg, that can identify tsunami earthquakes in real-time, giving local residents minutes to evacuate. The system uses algorithmic tools to analyze seismic data and sends alerts to warning centers, potentially saving lives.
Researchers study island settlements to understand human resilience and capacity for colonization. Mobility, social networks, and knowledge of the local environment helped indigenous people survive in the face of natural disasters and climate change. The findings inform how we adapt to vulnerabilities and rebound from catastrophes.
Researchers have identified a molecular cause of post-traumatic stress syndrome and developed a treatment that calms brain chemicals. The new drug, MPEP, was found to prevent the condition when administered within five hours of a traumatic event, offering hope for early intervention.
A new satellite-based global map of mangrove forests reveals they make up less than previously thought, sparking motivation for stronger conservation efforts. The map also shows 75% of the world's mangroves are concentrated in just 15 countries.
Research finds that tsunamis can be triggered by moderate earthquakes on strike-slip faults, posing a significant threat to coastal cities. In Haiti's case, three-quarters of tsunamis are generated by submarine landslides, unlike the previously estimated 3% globally.
The University of Louisville School of Nursing has received a $792,000 grant to create a comprehensive nursing informatics education program. The program will prepare students for the increasing use of technology in healthcare and provide continuing education for practicing nurses.