Articles tagged with Earth Structure
Researchers developed a global model of the geomagnetic field between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago, revealing that the current field does not resemble past excursions. The study suggests that future reversals or excursions cannot be predicted by analyzing present-day field structures.
A European team of scientists re-examines giant solar structures, finding they don't rotate like traditional tornadoes. By analyzing data from several years' worth of observations using the Doppler effect, researchers determine magnetic field direction and plasma movement.
Researchers at Penn State aim to protect critical structures from earthquakes and explosions using a new metamaterial. The team will use numerical and experimental studies to evaluate the effectiveness of their proposed material in filtering and dissipating surface waves.
The study found that the Northern Lenglongling fault was a more suitable seismogenic structure for the MS6.4 Menyuan earthquake. This is supported by field geological mapping and tectonic geomorphology analysis, which indicate the LLLF has been active since the Holocene.
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...
Researchers discovered that coconut walls can dissipate energy via crack deflection, thanks to a distinct, ladder-like design of the vascular system. This structure could be applied to functionally graded concrete to enhance its energy dissipation capacity and protect buildings against earthquakes and other hazards.
The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) has successfully transitioned to Phase B, paving the way for the deployment of a laser-based instrument on the International Space Station. This mission aims to provide high-resolution measurements of Earth's forest vertical structure, enabling scientists to better understand the globa...
A new study suggests that the Garlock fault in southern California experiences 'super-cycle' changes in strain over thousand-year timescales, leading to clustered earthquakes. The findings indicate a potential large-scale coordination of earthquakes along a single fault system.
Dr. James Davis is being honored by the geoscience community for his work in advancing earthquake hazards preparedness and mitigation in the US. He has helped shape how geoscientists communicate with the public about seismic environments, and has been instrumental in implementing the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act in California.
Research suggests that consecutive earthquakes occurring seconds apart can amplify ground motion and impact structures, leading to devastating effects. The study used the 2012 Emilia seismic sequence to simulate a scenario of triggered end-to-end earthquakes along adjacent fault patches.
A new zebra-striped structure of highly energized electrons has been discovered in Earth's inner radiation belt by an NJIT physicist. This structure, formed by the slow rotation of Earth, could pose a threat to humans in space and damage navigation and communication satellites.
Researchers from UT Austin conducted field research in Christchurch, New Zealand to develop new ground improvement methods for inhibiting liquefaction triggering. The study's goal is to determine the most cost-effective methods for improving residential structures' resiliency.
Purdue University researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of real-time hybrid simulations for testing magnetorheological-fluid dampers, which can reduce structural damage during earthquakes. The simulations allow for reliable and efficient testing of these devices, enabling the optimization of building design and construction.
David Shelly has made a dramatic impact on the field of seismology through his pioneering work detecting and locating deep tectonic tremor. He is recognized for his outstanding contributions to seismology, challenging prevailing theories and providing new insights into earthquake behavior.
Purdue University professor Eric Calais recognized for his exceptional leadership in Haiti's earthquake reconstruction, providing critical information for seismic hazard assessment. He also raised awareness among the public and national authorities, building scientific capacity within Haiti.
Shape-memory alloys exhibit unique properties that make them suitable for earthquake-resistant construction and retrofit applications. A Georgia Tech model assesses the behavior of these alloys under loading conditions, predicting internal temperature and stress distributions.
The EarthScope Transportable Array has reached a major milestone by installing its first station east of the Mississippi River in northwest Mississippi. This new station will continuously record ground motion from local, regional and global earthquakes for the next two years.
A new assessment by Professor Nicholas Ambraseys and Professor Roger Bilham reveals that corrupt building practices are responsible for most earthquake-related deaths globally. The study found a strong correlation between wealth and corruption, with less wealthy nations being the most corrupt.
Researchers identified coral reefs in the Bahamas that are less stressed by rising sea temperatures, providing a hopeful strategy for conservation. The study suggests that specific geographic locations can better withstand climate change impacts, making them ideal candidates for marine reserves.
New data suggests that the Limon and Pedro Miguel faults in Central Panama have ruptured both independently and in unison over the past 1400 years. This indicates a significant seismic risk for Panama City and the Panama Canal, with displacements of up to 3 meters recorded.
Researchers have developed a web portal that allows seismologists to study noise for analyzing the Earth's structure, leading to better understanding of earthquakes. The system enables smaller groups to perform complex analysis previously limited to large organizations.
A researcher at the University of Illinois Chicago is using computer modeling to improve the durability of mud bricks and rammed earth structures. The project aims to provide insights into their structural behavior and design safer buildings.
Karen Felzer, a USGS researcher, has been recognized with the Seismological Society of America's Richter Early Career Award for her transformative and sometimes controversial research on earthquake physics. Her statistical approaches have challenged previously held theories and reshaped the way earthquakes are understood.
Art Frankel led a team to update national seismic hazard maps, vastly improving public policy and building codes across the US. The new maps were used directly in building codes, enhancing earthquake safety nationwide.
Researchers aim to improve understanding of earthquake mechanisms and volcanic eruptions using highly complex calculations on supercomputers. The QUEST project will provide a more detailed picture of the Earth's internal structure, enabling better modeling of earthquake scenarios.
A team of researchers will conduct the largest earthquake simulation on a wooden structure, exposing a seven-story building to forces of an ancient earthquake. The goal is to develop new design approaches for stronger and safer wooden buildings.
A new study evaluates expected ground motion in Seattle, Victoria, and Vancouver from earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 - 9.0, providing a tool to build or retrofit structures to withstand seismic waves. Ground motions are estimated for firm ground at the three sites, with a model that engineers can adjust for local soil conditions.
Researchers tested a one-story masonry structure with clay masonry veneer to evaluate its seismic safety. The test, which simulated earthquakes of up to 8.0 magnitude, showed the building performed well despite minor damage during initial shaking.
Researchers are re-evaluating earthquake potential in the Central Coast region, a high-risk area with significant population growth. Fresh data from multiple datasets will focus on faults including the Hosgri Fault Zone and highlight newly identified features such as a linear trend of seismicity and magnetic anomalies.
A massive earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park was analyzed by SSA researchers, revealing epicenter migration and sudden depth changes. The study suggests that hydrothermal fluids may be responsible for the swarm's source properties.
A simple, inexpensive method to strengthen buildings with partial-height walls has been developed, showing that replacing windows with ordinary masonry bricks can improve the structure's strength and stiffness by up to six times. The researchers used a three-story building in their study, which was subjected to forces simulating strong...
Researchers use simulated earthquake tests to improve seismic assessment tools and critical retrofit designs for non-ductile reinforced concrete frames with masonry-infilled walls. The project aims to assess the resistance of these structures under realistic seismic load conditions, developing reliable analytical models to evaluate the...
Researchers Jan Schmedes and Ralph J. Archuleta found that locally ground motion increases near the epicenter but not equally along the rupture plane of large earthquakes. A new method for estimating detection capability was also developed, providing a more complete picture of seismicity.
Researchers from UC San Diego and the University of Arizona conducted three months of rigorous earthquake simulation tests on a half-scale three-story structure, producing powerful jolts up to magnitude 8.0. The project aims to develop better designs for precast concrete buildings and improve their connections to resist earthquakes.
Thomas Hsu, a University of Houston civil engineering professor, has been recognized for his work on the 'Universal Element Tester,' a device capable of testing reinforced concrete under varied controlled forces. The UET allows engineers to predict seismic behavior and design cost-effective structures.
The study ranked top 10 states based on seismic activity, with Nevada ranking third, behind Hawaii and Alaska. The rankings were determined by analyzing earthquake data from 1898 to 2005, including data from the USGS catalog of significant U.S. earthquakes from 1568-1989.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are testing a new damping system to reduce damage in woodframe structures during earthquakes. The NEESWood project uses fluid-filled shock absorbers to absorb energy and reduce strain on the structure, mimicking the effect of shock absorbers in cars.
Researchers used a large centrifuge to mimic the effects of Hurricane Katrina on levees, finding that earth sliding along a weak clay layer helped bring down the 17th Street structure. The study is part of a nationwide 'co-laboratory' of earthquake engineering facilities and aims to help prepare for future national disasters.
A geologist is proposing a new approach, called GeoTraverse, to select study sites for the NSF-funded EarthScope project. This approach aims to facilitate greater scientific collaboration and public engagement by selecting areas that can be connected into one or a few east-west transects.
A new study reveals that earthquake recurrence times exhibit self-similarity, with smaller clusters of earthquakes grouped together within larger clusters. This critical phenomenon may improve risk estimation by showing a clear statistical dependence between earthquakes.
The Charleston earthworks, built in 1862-1863, are gradually eroding at a rate of about five millimeters a year. Researchers have been documenting the pattern and rate of this degradation to better understand natural hillslope evolution.
A University of Michigan professor is developing new computer animations to help students better understand the Earth's structure and internal processes. His approach complements existing techniques, allowing students to progress from simpler models to more complex representations.
Scientists tested a synthetic earthquake on a half-real building with conventional and simulated steel support columns. The experiment, called the 'Multi-Site Online Simulation Test,' used grid-linked machines to create a realistic simulation of an earthquake, producing a profusion of real-time data.
The Cornell laboratory will be a national center for calculating earthquake effects on structures, including soil deformation and seismic damage. The facility will use customized testing structures and actuators to apply displacements and loads, enabling researchers to study the behavior of structures during earthquakes.
Researchers will use shake tables, centrifuges, and tsunami wave tanks from desktop workstations to conduct experiments. The virtual laboratory, NEESgrid, will connect researchers and facilities across the US, fostering collaboration and accelerating seismic design and hazard mitigation.
A new device called a magnetorheological damper has been tested on a model building set atop an earthquake-simulating shake table, showing promise in minimizing damage in earthquakes. The device reduces the peak acceleration by 50 percent, and is designed to be inexpensive, straightforward, and powered by a battery.
The research describes a cone-like deformation as the basic building block of a crumpled object, found in mountains and wrinkled materials. The study also reveals that crumpling is dominated by bending rather than stretching in its initial stages.
Researchers are developing new designs and technologies to make public buildings, homes, and infrastructure safer from natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The Architectural Surety initiative applies lessons learned from nuclear security to create more resilient structures.
The University of Colorado at Boulder's archaeological team, led by Professor Payson Sheets, is developing a five-year conservation plan for the ancient village of Ceren. The plan aims to preserve the site's structures, artifacts and agricultural features using ground-penetrating radar and climate-controlled environments.
The Bluff site, a Pueblo great house in the Four Corners region, shows signs of occupation well after the Chaco culture collapsed. The discovery suggests possible religious revival and potential movement of people from Chaco Canyon to the Aztec site.
Qaisar Shafi's research proposes two distinct components of dark matter, with the 'cold' component residing in galaxy haloes and the 'hot' component gravitationally trapped by large-scale structures. This new understanding could guide experimental work and incorporate dark matter into models of the universe.
Researchers at the University of Illinois used advanced computer modeling to study the purple bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The team created a three-dimensional model depicting how the light-harvesting complexes aggregate in a ring around the photosynthetic reaction center, shedding light on efficient energy capture. This breakthro...
The discovery provides evidence of a thriving agricultural practice before the village was buried by volcanic ash 1,400 years ago. The remains of the first chili bushes ever discovered at a Mesoamerican archaeological site reveal the villagers used sophisticated techniques and had a high biodiversity of crops.