Articles tagged with Earthquakes
Researchers from Imperial College London and Arup have developed a new approach to designing tall buildings that uses the building's own mass to reduce movement in high winds and earthquakes. The system, which separates usable floors from the central core, reduces peak accelerations by up to 71% and base moments by more than 50%.
Researchers developed a method to detect water ice on the moon using seismic waves, which can travel faster through frozen soil. This discovery is critical for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to send crewed landings to the moon's south polar region in 2028.
Researchers found that sustained supershear earthquake ruptures produce stronger ground motion amplitudes and higher peak ground velocity up to 20 kilometers away from the fault. The duration of shaking also varies between subshear and supershear ruptures, with longer shaking near the fault due to a 'double punch' effect.
A new study uses a thermal analysis technique to distinguish between different sources of organic carbon transported by rivers after extreme events, such as earthquakes and storms. The findings show that these events can continue to influence carbon transport in river systems for over a decade.
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.
Researchers uncovered previously undetected slow slip events in Parkfield, California, and found that these silent fault movements systematically follow increased low-frequency earthquake activity. The discovery suggests that slow slip may play an important role in how stress evolves along active faults.
A single monitoring network developed by McGill University and partners detected multiple types of data in the Lower St. Lawrence, including underwater earthquakes, whale calls, ship noise, and tidal activity. The results show potential applications for conservation and marine policy.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo demonstrate that classic theory does not hold in areas with low dip angles, explaining why giant earthquakes can form in such areas. The study's findings provide a theoretical basis to extend observation efforts to previously overlooked features.
Researchers reconstructed the 2025 Kamchatka earthquake's rupture evolution using two methods, finding it extended about 500 km from its epicenter. The rupture overlap with the 1952 magnitude 9.0 event suggests local structural features control megathrust margin ruptures.
The study reveals a 250-kilometer-long linear cluster of about 1750 earthquakes marking the edge of the Yakutat microplate as it subducts beneath the North America plate. The new extent places it directly below the apex of curvature of the Alaska range and the Denali fault.
Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, analyzed new dataset to identify temporal variations in locking state of the Nankai Trough. Variability was found particularly in shallowest parts of plate boundary, influencing earthquake strength and size.
Researchers confirmed locations for nine well-below-Earth's-crust deep earthquakes, proving the existence of continental mantle earthquakes. The study revealed striking patterns, including extremely high temperatures and a heterogeneous structure in the Wyoming Craton.
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.
New models reconstruct the movement of faults during the 8.8 magnitude Kamchatka earthquake, revealing limited shallow rupture and affecting tsunami risk. The study provides valuable insights into predicting giant earthquakes and protecting coastal communities.
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 found that incorporating data from ocean bottom seismometers could improve ShakeAlert's detection time by 5-9 seconds. This technology has the potential to increase warning times for regional offshore earthquakes by up to 40 seconds.
A unique machine learning study identified over 60,000 earthquakes during the 2025 Santorini seismic crisis. The researchers found six times more earthquakes in the first 30 days compared to traditional monitoring, providing insights into fault networks and magma movement.
A new study suggests that a shallower Juan de Fuca slab beneath northern Oregon could increase estimated peak ground acceleration by 9-17% during Cascadia megathrust earthquakes. The research also identified a deep sedimentary basin beneath Tillamook, Oregon, which could amplify ground shaking and have been well-studied in other parts ...
The underground laboratory in Nevada has extensive faulting, with signs of rock displacement and slickensides observed throughout the facility. The faults' age is unknown, and their potential impact on seismic safety designs is unclear.
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 found that three-dimensional velocity models can reasonably reproduce observed ground motion, outperforming one-dimensional models. Averaging predictions from multiple models reduces systematic bias and improves results.
Researchers found the Cascadia Subduction Zone to be more active than previously thought, with signs of shallow earthquakes and fluid flow detected offshore. The study suggests variable fluid pathways could alter the behavior of large earthquakes on the fault, potentially influencing the severity of future events.
Researchers at MIT identify conditions that enable 'back-propagating fronts' in simple faults, which may have been undetected in past seismic data. The findings suggest boomerang quakes could be more common than previously thought.
Deformation mechanisms of serpentinite, a key research target for understanding plate boundaries, have been investigated. Grain boundary sliding dominates deformation, producing 'B-type' CPO patterns, which contribute to seismic activity and earthquakes.
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.
The study suggests that ionospheric charge variations could interact with pre-existing fragile structures in the Earth's crust, influencing fracture processes. Strong solar activity could generate electrostatic pressures comparable to tidal or gravitational stresses, potentially contributing to earthquake initiation.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake on the Island of Hawaiʻi in 2018 may have stalled episodes of periodic slow slip along a major fault underlying the volcano, according to scientists. The resulting 'stress shadow' could keep these events from happening again for decades.
A new study investigates the dynamics of a complex fault zone under Seattle, revealing that secondary faults rupture more frequently than previously thought. Researchers hope to refine their understanding of these faults and determine how much hazard they pose to Seattle's four million residents.
Researchers drilled up to 7,906 meters below the sea surface to investigate what caused the Tōhoku-oki fault to rupture and trigger the earthquake. The clay layer was found to be soft, slippery, and exceptionally weak, allowing it to act like a natural 'tear line' that caused the fault to form.
Researchers previously estimated a powerful earthquake on Chalke Island in 1843 caused up to 600 deaths and a tsunami. However, a new study finds the event was likely a magnitude 5.93 earthquake with no deaths or tsunami reported at the time.
A new 3D model of the fault beneath the Marmara Sea reveals where a future major earthquake could take place, helping improve earthquake forecasts. The study uses magnetotelluric measurements to identify distinct high-resistivity and low-resistivity zones, shedding light on ongoing processes of fault mechanics.
Researchers tracked tiny earthquakes to better understand the complex region where the San Andreas fault meets the Cascadia subduction zone. The study reveals five moving pieces, including two out of sight from the Earth's surface, which contribute to the seismic hazard.
A new seafloor study revealed that a thin, clay-rich layer hidden beneath the seafloor enabled the 2011 Japan earthquake to rupture all the way to the trench, producing massive displacement. This finding could help scientists better understand and respond to other intense earthquakes and tsunamis.
New research simulates 10,000 years of seismic activity to show how underground temperature and sediment patterns control where earthquakes start, spread, and stop. This study provides a more accurate picture of the Main Marmara Fault's behavior, essential for building codes, emergency planning, and infrastructure decisions.
Researchers confirm that a 30-meter-thick layer of soft and slippery pelagic clay at the Japan Trench enabled the earthquake to rupture all the way to the trench, producing a massive tsunami. The discovery sheds new light on why the 2011 earthquake behaved so differently from predicted models.
A new study found that deep underwater earthquakes can spur massive phytoplankton blooms at the ocean surface. Phytoplankton are microscopic, plant-like organisms that float in upper ocean layers and serve as the foundation of the oceanic food chain.
Researchers used satellite data to study the 2025 Myanmar earthquake, which struck along a geologically 'mature' fault. The study found that the energy released by the earthquake was highly focused and came right to the surface, potentially leading to more intense ground shaking near the fault line.
Researchers identified key building code features that impact hazard resilience, including prioritizing structural elements like lateral support. Smarter regulation and stronger structures can work together to create safer homes, but local expertise is crucial in places with independent-minded populations.
Scientists at The University of Osaka reproduced multiple statistical characteristics of slow earthquakes using gel jelly beads on a liquid surface. The study suggests that slow earthquakes exhibit anomalously long and small slips adjacent to regular earthquakes, with potential implications for probabilistic earthquake assessments.
A satellite deployed to measure ocean surface heights captured the first high-resolution track of a great subduction zone tsunami. The track shows an unexpectedly complex pattern of waves dispersing and scattering across the ocean basin.
A new study by Montana State University professor Eric Boyd explores how Yellowstone's earthquakes impact microbial life and the planet's earliest ecosystems. The research reveals that earthquakes allow fresh minerals to be exposed, replenishing the energy source for microbes, which could provide insights into life on other planets.
Seismic activity in Yellowstone's subsurface microbial communities led to changes in chemical energy and planktonic cell concentrations. The study found that kinetic energy from earthquakes can change the geochemical and microbial compositions of aquifer fluids.
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.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that rocks on fault lines can glue themselves back together within hours after a seismic event. This discovery challenges current models of fault behavior and suggests that cohesion may play a crucial role in major earthquakes.
Machine learning models detected subtle signals that emerge just before the onset of laboratory earthquakes. The key predictive factor is the evolution of shear stress on creeping regions of the fault.
Researchers found that Kīlauea's magma system started behaving anomalously about a year before the 2018 eruption, suggesting a blockage formed between the volcano's summit magma reservoirs. Continuous monitoring data accumulated, gaining insights into Kīlauea's inner workings and its long-term behavior.
Climate changes in Lake Turkana influenced fault activity and magma production, rewriting the story of human evolution. Researchers found that lower lake levels led to increased melting and faulting, with potential implications for future volcanic and tectonic activity in East Africa.
A new study explores how emotions play a crucial role in communicating natural disasters, finding that balancing fear with positive emotions like fascination and confidence can improve disaster preparedness. The research highlights the importance of recognizing and channelling emotions to promote self-efficacy and motivation.
Citizens' smartphones can be used to create highly detailed site amplification maps, providing critical input for seismic hazard assessment and supporting earthquake emergency response. The new approach, based on the Earthquake Network initiative, aggregates thousands of measurements to yield reliable high-resolution amplification maps.
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.
Researchers estimate a medieval tsunami struck Anegada between 1381 and 1391, based on analysis of coral skeletons. The finding supports efforts to prepare for future tsunamis in the Caribbean region.
Researchers found similarities in timing and structure of turbidite layers in cores from both fault systems, suggesting seismic synchronization between Cascadia and San Andreas faults. The study, led by Chris Goldfinger, suggests that earthquakes on one fault could draw down resources across the country.
Researchers created a high-resolution 3D liquefaction hazard map using machine learning and geotechnical data. The model accurately predicted soil properties and liquefaction risk, identifying high-risk areas in reclaimed coastal zones and river floodplains with unprecedented clarity and precision.
A recently discovered chain of events in a Chilean earthquake was found to have supercharged its strength, breaching temperatures above 650 degrees Celsius and leading to increased shaking. The study's findings have implications for future earthquake hazard assessments and could support emergency response and long-term planning.
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.
The UN University attributes the high death toll to decades of conflict, diplomatic isolation, and poor construction, which left buildings vulnerable to moderate earthquakes. The analysis calls for improved disaster relief frameworks to ensure humanitarian aid reaches all populations, regardless of government sanctions.
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.