Articles tagged with Earth Tremors
Scientists have developed a method to identify where Earth's biggest earthquakes are most likely to occur, focusing on subduction zones. The approach uses GPS measurements to detect locked regions along faults, which store energy until a major earthquake triggers. While the method cannot predict tsunami size or timing, it can narrow do...
Researchers validated Japan's seismic design guidelines through full-scale shaking table tests, revealing hidden vulnerabilities in cable trays. A simple steel-wire reinforcement method significantly improves seismic performance in new and existing buildings, enhancing public safety and business continuity.
A Southwest Research Institute-led study proposes a connection between an asteroid collision and an inner-solar-system-wide bombardment episode 800 million years ago. The research suggests that the catastrophic breakup of the Eulalia parent body may have led to widespread impacts on Earth, coinciding with biological and geological chan...
Researchers from Kyoto University and ETH Zurich analyzed large earthquake sequences in Japan, finding that b-values are controlled more by mainshock location than time-dependent changes. The study suggests local geological conditions play a key role in shaping earthquake size distributions.
Research on the 2025 Myanmar earthquake reveals that small differences in fault movement over time can build uneven stress, influencing where quakes start and spread. This study challenges the seismic gap hypothesis and suggests a broader shift in understanding earthquake hazard, enabling better quake risk estimates for major faults.
Researchers discovered a massive magma intrusion on São Jorge Island in the Azores, which stalled just 1.6km below the surface, avoiding an eruption. The study used seismometers and satellite data to reconstruct the underground movement of magma, revealing how it rose through a main fault system.
Researchers at Kyoto University discovered a previously unrecognized feature in near-fault seismic records of large earthquakes: a distinct stopping phase. This phase represents a systematic signal associated with the termination of rupture, demonstrating that many near-field recordings contain this coherent stopping phase.
Researchers developed an AI model to create highly photorealistic 3D reconstructions of ground-level damage after earthquakes. The LoRA-Enhanced Ground-view Generation diffusion model can recognize complex visual patterns and predict where structures may be damaged, even in densely populated urban areas.
Researchers have identified a global map of rare continental mantle earthquakes, which will help scientists understand the mechanics of these events and potentially improve knowledge of risks from common earthquakes. The study, published in Science, used a new method to distinguish between mantle and crustal earthquakes.
Researchers have developed AI-powered forecasting tools that can predict the risk of aftershocks within seconds of an initial earthquake, offering a significant improvement over current methods. The new models trained on global earthquake data demonstrate comparable accuracy to existing systems while providing near real-time results.
A team of researchers has identified a new mechanism behind the 2025 Santorini earthquakes, finding that magma intrusion waves triggered the seismic unrest. The study used advanced machine learning techniques to analyze ground vibrations recorded by seismometers and inferred the movement of pressurized magma with unprecedented detail.
A recent study published in Science reveals that Myanmar's Sagaing Fault produced a supershear earthquake with speeds up to five kilometers per second, causing widespread destruction. The researchers attribute this phenomenon to the fault's ideal geometry and contrasting rock properties.
Geosciences researchers discovered that extra stress can build up on faults due to millions of years of inactivity, resulting in a single release. This acceleration causes earthquakes to occur despite textbooks suggesting otherwise. The study has important implications for the future use of subsurfaces.
Scientists have detected tremor signals at the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania, revealing details about magma movement and volcanic activity. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of magma movement and offer a step forward for volcano seismology.
An earthquake swarm in Santorini was triggered by magma displacement, generating over 28,000 recorded earthquakes. The study reveals the chain of events that led to this seismic activity, including a hydraulic connection between two volcanoes.
Researchers at MIT have traced the energy released by 'lab quakes' and found that 80% of a quake's energy goes into heating up the region around the epicenter, while only 10% causes physical shaking. The study's findings could help seismologists predict earthquake vulnerability in regions prone to seismic events.
Researchers used a Taylor Swift concert as a unique opportunity to study seismic activity and engage the public in science. The 'SwiftQuake' was detected more than 100km away from the stadium, showcasing how cultural events can enhance scientific understanding.
A modified rapid visual screening approach in Pakistan assesses the seismic vulnerability of buildings in high-risk areas, recommending retrofitting and strengthening measures. The study emphasizes the importance of community engagement and education to build a culture of preparedness and reduce seismic risk.
An international team of researchers proposes that a meteorite impact just west of Winslow, Arizona, created Meteor Crater and triggered a massive landslide in the Grand Canyon. The study found evidence of a paleolake forming at the same time, with driftwood dating back to around 55,000 years.
Researchers used SWOT satellite data to confirm that two mega tsunamis triggered by landslides caused trapped waves in the fjord. The study provides new insights into ocean extremes and how climate change affects remote areas.
A new study has investigated seismic signal shear-wave splitting to provide early warnings of dangerous eruptions. The research team discovered that the amount of splitting doubles before a larger, more explosive eruption, indicating a useful relationship between the parameter and the size of the eruption.
Geologists have connected a 120-million-year-old 'super-eruption' to its source, revealing insights into Earth's complex geological history. The discovery provides a more complete history of the Pacific Ocean basin and sheds light on volcanic activity in the region.
A series of small earthquakes in Surrey in 2018 and 2019 may have been triggered by oil extraction from a nearby well, according to a new study. The research used mathematical modeling to predict the frequency of earthquakes based on oil extraction timing and volume, finding a rough match with observed seismic activity.
Scientists have developed a new technique to study faults, which can improve earthquake forecasts by determining the origins and directions of past rupture events. By analyzing curved scratches left on the fault plane, researchers can pinpoint where earthquakes start and spread, providing valuable insights for modeling future scenarios.
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake in New Jersey triggered widespread alarm, but surprisingly, the epicenter showed minimal damage, while distant areas like NYC and Virginia experienced stronger shaking. An analysis of Lg waves revealed a previously unmapped fault with complex strike-slip motion and thrust, affecting regional hazard assessments.
A landslide in remote Greenland caused a mega-tsunami that sloshed back and forth across a fjord for nine days, generating vibrations throughout the Earth. The study used mathematical models to recreate the event and demonstrate how the sloshing of water would have continued, matching global seismic recordings.
A rare 'dual-initiation' mechanism led to Japan's violent Noto earthquake, which killed over 280 people and damaged 83,000 homes. The quake began simultaneously at two points on the fault, encircling a barrier and breaking it, releasing intense energy.
A new study by SMU seismologists confirms that earthquakes in the Permian Basin occurring before 2017 were causally linked to underground wastewater injection. The study uses advanced earthquake location methods to reveal a spatial and temporal correlation with shallow injection activities since 2009.
A new study reveals that the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, moves 6-8 centimeters once or twice a day due to slip events triggered by the Whillans Ice Stream. This movement has significant implications for understanding the stability of Antarctica's ice shelves and potential icequakes.
Research team identifies seismic signature of individual songs and determines strength of each song's tremor, finding that audience movement, not music, was the primary source of harmonic tremors. The study also compares data from Swift's LA concert to other Summer 2023 SoFi concerts.
SEIS-UK, a seismic monitoring facility at University of Leicester, has received £2 million funding over 7 years to continue providing state-of-the-art equipment to UK researchers and their global collaborators. This investment supports high-quality research in earth and environmental sciences.
Scientists at ETH Zurich develop a novel method to measure seismic tremors using fibre-optic networks' active noise suppression systems. The technique enables accurate earthquake measurements even on the ocean floor and in regions with limited resources.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed an AI algorithm that accurately predicted 14 earthquakes within about 200 miles of their location and strength, with only one false warning. The system detected statistical bumps in real-time seismic data and paired them with previous earthquakes to make predictions.
Soil liquefaction, a destructive phenomenon during earthquakes, is redefined by this groundbreaking study. Liquefaction can now be understood to occur in drained conditions with low seismic-energy density levels, triggered by seismic shaking facilitating interstitial fluid flow within the soil.
Researchers confirm fracking triggers tremors, which can be used to track fluid movement and monitor fault activity. This finding has implications for sustainability and climate science, as carbon sequestration through fracking may reduce atmospheric emissions.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo and Stanford University analyze slow and fast earthquakes, showing that their magnitudes vary with time. The study confirms the scaling law for slow earthquakes, which defines the relationship between magnitude and duration, and reveals physical processes governing events.
Researchers have detected a complex variety of seismic tremor signals at Mefite d'Ansanto, a non-volcanic carbon dioxide emission site in southern Italy. The analysis reveals three main types of tremor signals over different frequencies, which may be related to fluid discharge and changes in flow velocities.
Scientists have discovered a layer of fluid rock at the bottom of the upper mantle, which may explain some observed phenomena in seismology. The discovery was made by analyzing data from GPS sensors on islands after a deep earthquake in the Pacific Ocean.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered a frictional phenomenon that governs how quickly faults heal after an earthquake. This discovery could help scientists understand when and how violently faults move, providing valuable new insights into the causes and potential for large earthquakes.
The study found that earthquake-accelerated landslides (EALs) can maintain accelerated motion for a long time after the earthquake, causing particularly serious human casualties in seismically active areas. Satellite radar observations detected and investigated EALs in Central Italy, leading to the first ever complete EAL inventory.
A novel three-dimensional model of the fluid stored deep in Earth's crust along the Cascadia Subduction Zone provides new insight into how the accumulation and release of those fluids may influence seismic activity. The study's findings have applications for increasing understanding of seismic activity along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
A new study of rocks from nearly 2 miles under the surface suggests that the San Andreas fault's central section has hosted many major earthquakes, including some that could have been fairly recent. The researchers found altered compositions in sedimentary rock, indicating more than 100 quakes with potential magnitudes over 6.9.
Scientists discovered that low-frequency energy from earthquakes travels in a four-leaf clover pattern near the fault, while higher frequency waves travel in all directions. This finding could improve building designs and mitigate earthquake damage by prioritizing vulnerable areas within the pattern.
Researchers from Northwestern University used a crowd-sourced platform to analyze seismic recordings and found that citizen scientists can classify earthquakes with 85% accuracy, outperforming machine learning algorithms. Citizen scientists also successfully identified tectonic tremors, which AI could not do previously.
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 used dense seismograph network to map near-surface geology around Old Faithful, discovering a reservoir of heated water that fuels the geyser. The study also reveals how ground shaking behaves between eruptions and finds an underground feature affecting seismic waves in a specific area.
Researchers found near-continuous tremor activity and 1,300 low-frequency earthquakes in the region, suggesting a connection to damaging earthquakes. The study used a novel 'beam back projection' method to track slow earthquakes minute-by-minute, revealing clusters of tremor sources with distinct properties.
Seismologists have identified a zone deep in the crust where temperatures hover around 350 degrees Celsius, varying along the San Andreas strike. The zone separates shallow earthquakes from deeper low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs), with a puzzling five-kilometer wide gap between them.
A new method for calculating seismic risk incorporates social factors like crime rates and healthcare, providing a more accurate assessment of urban areas. The approach, developed by Spanish scientists, uses fuzzy logic theory to incorporate qualitative information from expert opinions.
Researchers are using an array of seismic sensors to study unfelt seismic tremor events, revealing a more complex relationship with potentially devastating earthquakes. By analyzing the movement of these tremors, scientists are gaining insights into the Cascadia subduction zone and its potential for massive quakes.
Researchers investigate seismic activity in the Midwest US, shedding light on causes of intraplate earthquakes. The study reveals insights into stress within fault zones and the impact of glacial rebound on earthquake frequency. Key findings also highlight correlations between mantle density structures and topographic uplift.
A UM Marine geology and geophysics student has been awarded the prestigious MARGINS Student Prize for her research on slow slip and slide dynamics in the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Her study revealed a 'slow slip event', where energy is released over several weeks instead of seconds, sparing damage to the surface environment.
Using a mathematical approach similar to that used for measuring seismic activity, researchers have pinpointed characteristics of abnormal cardiac activity in pigs. The study's findings may lead to the development of better antiarrhythmic drugs and more intelligent pacemakers.