Articles tagged with Earthquakes
A new study found that many residents in southern Spain do not take steps to prepare themselves against future disasters due to lack of information and financial resources. However, when the government is involved in awareness campaigns and housing subsidies, participants finally take steps toward disaster preparedness.
Scientists have made new discoveries about fault development, which could lead to more accurate predictions of earthquake hazards. By analyzing fault geometry, researchers found that the efficiency of faults increases as new ones grow and link, but never reaches the same level as straight faults.
Researchers have discovered a mechanism for generating glass spherules through the combination of lightning and volcanic ash. The study, published in Geology, reveals that high heat generated by lightning discharge can transform volcanic ash particles into spheres of glass, forming fulgurites in geologic deposits.
Researchers have discovered a distinct inner-inner core with different iron crystal alignment and behavior compared to the outer layer. This finding could reveal information about the planet's formation and evolution
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a material that can sense and manipulate sound and elastic waves. This technology could lead to advancements in imaging, military enhancements such as elastic cloaking, and super-resolution sensors.
Researchers analyzed data from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and found that sediment in affected river catchments remained for decades, longest where landsliding was highest. They also discovered low friction in the fault zone, contradicting previous observations.
A team led by UW-Madison is investigating the Laguna del Maule volcanic field in Chile's Andes, where a mega-eruption could be as large as Mount St. Helens. The team aims to document the volcano's behavior before an eruption using geology, geochemistry, and seismology techniques.
A University of South Florida-led team has discovered that subtle shifts in the earth's offshore plates can predict the size of future disasters. The researchers used high precision GPS to measure slight shifts on a fault line in Costa Rica, finding that slow slip events can release stress and strain before major earthquakes and tsunamis.
The Lake Van drilling project provides a unique 600,000-year archive of climate fluctuations and natural hazards, including six cycles of warm and cold periods. The analysis reveals the region's high risk for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Research finds that the Darrington-Devils Mountain fault zone is prone to strong earthquakes, with evidence of a M 6.7 to 7.0 quake 2,000 years ago and another at 8,000 years old. This suggests a right-lateral slip sense during past earthquakes, which may be related to ongoing clockwise rotation in the region.
Recent great earthquakes have provided unprecedented insights into seismic activity, highlighting the complexities of ruptures and interactions with surrounding regions. The study focuses on Cascadia, where advances in technology and scientific capacity enable a better understanding of future earthquake risks.
A study found hydraulic fracturing triggered a series of small earthquakes in Harrison County, Ohio, coinciding with operations at nearby wells. The 10 positive magnitude earthquakes, ranging from 1.7 to 2.2, revealed an east-west trending fault beneath the gas wells.
Four urban sections of the San Andreas Fault system have stored enough energy to produce major earthquakes, according to a new study. Three fault sections – Hayward, Rodgers Creek and Green Valley – are nearing or past their average recurrence interval, indicating they are overdue for a significant quake.
Scientists develop new avalanche monitoring method using infrasound detectors to detect and track deadly snow slides. A community-driven framework for climate reconstructions aims to study the past 2000 years' paleoclimate.
Researchers used fiber-optic cables to measure Antarctic ice loss in real-time, with potential implications for global sea levels. In another study, scientists explored the Indian Ocean's legacy and future research efforts. Meanwhile, Oregon landslides were found to be more susceptible to catastrophic failure during earthquakes.
Researchers identify jarosite minerals in Ius Chasma canyon wall, suggesting atmospheric sulfur trapped in ice formed glaciers. The discovery provides evidence of past glaciation in the Valles Marineris on Mars.
A UT Arlington professor will use a $400,000 CAREER grant to team with Teach for America and create a geophysics-based curriculum for secondary school teachers. The project aims to improve scientists' preparation and increase predictability of hazards associated with future earthquake events.
Seismologists attribute the dramatic rise in earthquakes to deep wastewater injection. The Raton Basin saw a significant increase in seismicity after major fluid injection began in 1999, with 16 magnitude > 3.8 earthquakes recorded between 2001 and 2011.
A new study on the Indian Ocean reveals that Sri Lanka and surrounding regions are susceptible to large tsunamis with varying time periods between events. Researchers analyzed sediment cores, finding a 1000-year period without a tsunami, nearly twice as long as the lull period prior to the 2004 earthquake.
Researchers used leaf vein density to study stratified forests with canopy-dominant flowering plants. They found that venation density is higher in leaves from the forest canopy and decreases towards lower levels. This pattern suggests that flowering plants emerged in the upper forest canopy by the Paleocene, around 58 million years ago.
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.
Researchers used clumped isotope thermometry to reconstruct the Zhada basin's paleo-elevation history, finding a significant drop of over 1 km in elevation between three and nine million years ago. This suggests that the modern high elevations were not recently developed but rather a continuation of higher elevations prior to the Indo-...
Scientists at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution used GPS technology to track uplift caused by the severe drought, estimating a water deficit of 62 trillion gallons. This has resulted in an average uplift of 4 millimeters across the western US and up to 15 millimeters in California's mountains.
A study published in BSSA found induced earthquakes generate lower shaking intensities, except within 10 km of the epicenter. The damage from injection-induced earthquakes is more concentrated near the event epicenters.
A UT Arlington geophysicist is using new technology to examine the relationship between dynamic loading and rock fragmentation. His research aims to create physics-based models that predict rock fracturing based on strain applied and rock makeup.
A 70-foot-long, 52-ton concrete bridge survived multiple simulated earthquakes in the University of Nevada, Reno's lab, exceeding design standards. The experiment showcased the new rocking bridge-bent accelerated bridge construction system, developed to reduce earthquake damage and speed up construction.
A new paradigm for understanding friction has been developed, showing that how things break and slide are intimately intertwined. This breakthrough study provides a fundamental description of the mechanics driving earthquakes.
A new study published in Science finds that subsurface wastewater injection is likely causing the dramatic increase in earthquakes in central Oklahoma since 2009. The research suggests that adherence to standard best practices can reduce the risk of inducing seismicity.
Researchers from Imperial College London and GNS Science have discovered that tsunami earthquakes may be caused by extinct undersea volcanoes causing a 'sticking point' between tectonic plates. This release of energy led to the formation of large tsunamis, as seen in rare events off New Zealand's north island in 1947.
Researchers develop a new framework for risk assessment that incorporates sociological perspective and human risk perception, leading to more effective mitigation plans. The framework helps decision-makers understand public perception of natural hazards, resulting in better policy decisions.
A new study suggests that the Bay Area may experience a cluster of major earthquakes, releasing as much stress as the Great 1906 San Francisco earthquake. This cluster occurred between 1690 and 1776 on multiple faults, including the Hayward and San Andreas faults.
Groundwater pumping has raised Sierra Nevada mountain range by up to 6 inches over the past 150 years. The seasonal changes in the Central Valley aquifer have been linked to microquakes on the San Andreas Fault.
Research suggests that wastewater disposal can induce earthquakes tens of kilometers away from the wellbore, complicating seismic hazard assessments and maps. The study's findings have significant implications for critical structures such as dams and nuclear power plants.
Scientists can use the seismic signals to better understand glacier behavior and track changes in real-time. The Alaska Earthquake Center has recorded over 2,800 glacial events, which could provide new insights into glacier dynamics and potential advances in field studies.
A new study suggests that the maximum earthquake magnitude scales with the maturity of a fault, putting limits on seismic hazard for less mature parts of fault zones. The study found that older sections of transform faults produce the largest earthquakes, such as the North Anatolian Fault Zone and the San Andreas Fault.
Researchers analyzed the Chile earthquake of February 2010, finding that fluid pressure in rocks affects earthquake rupture processes. The study revealed that mechanical coupling between plates controls stress build-up and seismic energy release, with fluid pressure variations linked to subduction zone dynamics.
Researchers from Purdue University and the University of Texas at Austin have conducted field trials to test four shallow-ground-improvement methods aimed at increasing structural resilience in soils prone to liquefaction. The results show that rapid impact compaction, rammed aggregate piers, low-mobility grouting, and double row of ho...
New laboratory experiments reveal that turbidity currents can enter cohesive muddy seabeds without losing their shape. A major earthquake at Lake Vättern, Switzerland, occurred around 11,500 years ago, and high-grade gold mineralization is linked to fault-valve processes in Papua New Guinea. Additionally, discoveries include the Ediaca...
Researchers detected a swarm of earthquakes on Augustine Island 36 hours before the volcano's 2006 eruption. The quakes were triggered by a clogged magma conduit, indicating increasing pressure. Scientists believe these ' warning signs' can alert the public to an imminent eruption.
Researchers have uncovered geologic evidence supporting two earthquakes in 1838 and 1890 that match historical accounts. The team used LiDAR technology to map the active fault trace and found ax-cut wood chips, tree stumps, and charcoal fragments confirming the quakes.
Deep-sea fault zones in subduction zones can transport large amounts of water from the Earth's oceans to the upper mantle. Researchers estimate that these zones could carry up to three and a half times the total amount of ocean water to the mantle.
A new technique developed by Stanford scientists uses weak ocean vibrations to predict the ground movement and shaking hazard from real quakes. The approach was used to confirm a prediction that Los Angeles will experience stronger-than-expected ground movement if a major quake occurs south of the city.
A study reveals that the Georgia Basin, a rigid soil bowl beneath Vancouver, can amplify earthquake effects, causing potential devastation beyond building codes' preparedness. The basin's unique geography traps and amplifies seismic waves, predicting extended shaking times for shallow quakes.
New research reveals that Vancouver's Georgia basin amplifies seismic waves, increasing ground motion in the area. This finding poses a significant risk to tall buildings and long-period structures, such as bridges and pipelines, which may experience greater shaking than previously thought.
A massive landslide in a Utah copper mine generated seismic waves that were recorded by instruments over 400 km away, producing earthquake-like signals. The study found that the landslide triggered seismic activity, including small earthquakes with characteristics similar to tectonic earthquakes, in the days following the event.
New research extends our understanding of seawater chemistry by ~300 million years with direct measurements of mid-Neoproterozoic marine sulfate concentrations. Additionally, studies reveal spatial variation in 10Be erosion rates and increasing relief in the southern Rocky Mountains, USA.
Recent studies published in Geophysical Research Letters reveal the potential link between magma chamber inflation and powerful earthquakes at Kilauea Volcano. Additionally, researchers found that seal-borne sensors provide valuable data for studying ocean conditions in the Southern Ocean.
Lekic's work has improved the understanding of Earth's large-scale inner structure, revealing key features such as a low-velocity layer internal to continental plates. His research also explores neutrino geoscience and seismic attenuation, providing new insights into plate tectonics and continental evolution
Kerry Sieh's pioneering work transformed the study of earthquakes, revealing frequent but irregular recurrence. His research led to the development of paleoseismology and improved seismic hazard assessment.
Researchers discovered that a record-breaking landslide at a Utah copper mine triggered 16 small earthquakes due to two massive rock avalanches. The slide was the largest nonvolcanic landslide in modern North American history, covering New York's Central Park with about 20 meters of debris.
A team from MIT and Stanford University identified a 'runaway process' in which the sliding of rocks at great depths causes surrounding temperatures to spike. This influx of heat encourages more sliding, generating an earthquake.
Researchers have developed a new global map to predict giant earthquakes at subduction zones, including the Australian region. The study identified several regions capable of producing massive earthquakes, while others are not predicted to experience such events.
Intermediate-depth earthquakes, accounting for one in four quakes worldwide, occur at depths of 30-190 miles. Stanford scientists studied the Bucaramanga Nest in Colombia, where quakes are clustered, and found that heat generated by friction causes a 'runaway process' that facilitates fault sliding.
Researchers analyzed GPS data from the 2010 Maule earthquake, revealing a 'silent' afterslip that triggered aftershocks. The study suggests local processes, such as pressurized fluids, drive aftershock activity independently of large-scale stress transfer.
Scientists have discovered current volcanic activity beneath West Antarctica's massive ice sheet. The seismic swarms indicate a subglacial volcano with active magma moving below the ice.
The UC San Diego shake table, the world's largest outdoor shake table, has been used to test various structures including wind turbines and buildings. A robot called SkySweeper, designed to inspect utility lines, also won an award for its innovative technology.
A new study found that underground gas injection was correlated with small earthquakes near Snyder, Texas, between 2006 and 2011. The researchers suggest that geological faults may be responsible for the triggering of these quakes in some areas but not others.
Researchers use X-ray facility to replicate high-pressure conditions, finding fractures nucleate at the onset of olivine-to-spinel transition. This discovery confirms earlier experimental work and provides strongest evidence yet that phase transformations trigger deep earthquakes.
Geologists have confirmed that a high-pressure failure mechanism is the trigger for deep earthquakes occurring at depths below 400 kilometers. The research team simulated deep earthquakes in a laboratory and found that fractures nucleate at the onset of olivine to spinel transition.
Researchers uncover new geological phenomena, including mirror-like faults, petit-spot volcanism, and water in nominally anhydrous minerals. These discoveries shed light on the complex processes shaping our planet's surface.