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Nanoscale observations simplify how scientists describe earthquake movement

Researchers at the University of Illinois used single calcite crystals with varying surface roughness to simplify the physics of fault movement. The study found that friction can increase or decrease with sliding velocity depending on mineral types and environment, providing a fundamental understanding of rate-and-state equations.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 3, 2022

Years-long collaboration helps geophysicists better understand severe earthquake-tsunami risks

Geophysicists and computer scientists collaborate to better understand the dynamics of earthquakes and tsunamis. The team has identified three major characteristics that play a significant role in determining an earthquake's potential to stoke a tsunami, including stress along the fault line, rock rigidity, and sediment layer strength.

SourceGauss Centre for Supercomputing·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 7, 2022

Undersea rocks yield earthquake clues

A University of Delaware study of ocean rocks has informed earthquake science by understanding the properties of underwater faults and their impact on seismic activity. Researchers have found that seawater infiltration in these faults weakens the rock, allowing it to flow faster and potentially reducing the risk of large earthquakes.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 9, 2021

Gas pressure depletion and seismicity

A new study published in Geology has shed light on the mechanisms driving induced subsidence and seismicity in gas-producing sandstone reservoirs. Researchers analyzed drill core samples from the Groningen field, finding evidence of elastic strain plus inelastic compression of weak clay films within grain contacts.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateJan 4, 2021

Sinking sea mountains make and muffle earthquakes

A new study found that underwater mountains pulled into subduction zones can set the stage for powerful quakes and create conditions that end up dampening them. Researchers used a computer model to simulate the effects of seamounts on surrounding rock and sediment, finding that the brittle rock ahead of the seamount creates powerful ea...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 2, 2020

'Melting rock' models predict mechanical origins of earthquakes

Engineers at Duke University have developed a model predicting mechanical behaviors and origins of earthquakes in various rocks, providing insights into unobservable phenomena deep beneath the Earth's surface. The model accurately reproduces how friction decreases as rock speed increases, shedding light on earthquake mechanisms.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 17, 2020

Earthquake symmetry

A recent study analyzed 100,000 localized seismic events to search for patterns in the data. Researchers found that earthquakes of differing magnitudes share more similarities than previously thought, suggesting predictable characteristics may aid forecasting.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateSep 4, 2019

Induced seismicity and fluid injection

Researchers developed a model forecasting earthquake hazards in Oklahoma due to fluid injection, highlighting the importance of pore pressure diffusion and poroelastic stresses. The study found that mandatory reduction in injection volumes substantially reduced earthquake probability in western Oklahoma but not central Oklahoma.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 29, 2019

New computer modeling approach could improve understanding of megathrust earthquakes

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed a new computer modeling approach to investigate the connection between tiny tremors and devastating megathrust earthquakes. The study shows that changes in crustal stress state occur before major earthquakes, providing valuable insights into the forces driving these events.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateJan 9, 2019

Mathematicians propose first continuous self-organized criticality model

Researchers present a new continuous model describing self-organized criticality, integrating areas such as economics and developmental biology. The model uses tropical geometry to describe the dynamics of critical systems, providing a universal solution for phenomena like earthquakes and sandpiles.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 12, 2018

Attacking aftershocks

Using deep learning algorithms, researchers have developed a system that forecasts aftershocks significantly better than random assignment. By analyzing earthquake data and physics-based models, they identified the second invariant of the deviatoric stress tensor as an important factor in predicting aftershock locations.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateAug 29, 2018

Do earthquakes have a 'tell'?

Researchers have discovered a potential method to predict nearby strong earthquakes by analyzing deep tremors. The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, found that changes in deep tremor patterns can signal an impending earthquake.