Articles tagged with Earthquakes
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.
Researchers develop new tomographic approach to image shallow seismic velocity structure, revealing subducting continental crust for the first time. This allows for early detection of landslides and earthquakes in Central Asia.
Researchers at Penn State have found a precursor signal to slow earthquakes, which can potentially foretell larger events. By studying the mechanisms behind slow earthquakes, they identified a transition in fault zone properties that supports slower velocities.
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.
The new articles examine ancient whale coprolites in central Italy, fault slickensides in San Francisco, and earthquake hazards in Cascadia. They also discuss the formation of silica gel during fault slip and the microstructures of superplastically deformed materials.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are testing a two-story building made of cold-formed steel to determine its seismic resistance. The tests aim to improve nationwide building codes and make future buildings less expensive to construct.
Researchers at the University of Bonn used computer simulations to show that seismic waves can focus over long distances, triggering mud eruptions. The study found that a dome-shaped structure under the mud volcano focused energy into the mud layer, liquifying it and injecting it into nearby faults.
Researchers analyze seismic activity at Alaska's Redoubt Volcano, documenting a sudden increase in tremor frequency just before six eruptions. This unique phenomenon may help scientists refine models and better understand volcanic pressurization.
The journal Geology has published new articles on various geoscience topics, including the tracking of silicic magma reservoirs and thermal decomposition along natural carbonate faults during earthquakes. The studies provide valuable information about the chemical and thermal histories of magmatic systems.
A study published in Science found a strong correlation between seismic activity and operations at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field in southern California. The researchers tracked earthquake activity with production data for the geothermal power plant and found that seismicity increased as operations expanded.
Large earthquakes from distant parts of the globe are triggering tremors around US waste-fluid injection wells, according to a new study. The phenomenon could indicate critically stressed faults that may soon host larger earthquakes.
A new study analyzes geologic records to predict megathrust earthquakes along Canada's west coast. The research identified 22 earthquake shaking events over the past 11,000 years, with a recurrence interval of about 500 years. This study helps Canadian coastal communities improve hazard assessments and emergency preparedness plans.
Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution provide a new model for understanding the geological source of silent earthquakes along California's San Andreas fault. Creep events originate closer to the surface, a shallower source along the fault, according to the study published in Nature Geoscience.
Researchers identify two gemstones linked to plate tectonics, including ruby and jadeite. Ocean island coral reefs are shaped by sea-level history and carbonate accumulation rates.
A team of seismologists has discovered that slow earthquakes, which last minutes rather than seconds, are linked to the type of rock in faults. Laboratory experiments using natural samples from Japan found that clay minerals play a key role in this slip behavior, influencing how rocks react to shear.
The article highlights the importance of geophysics in disaster planning, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address natural hazards. Brian McAdoo's presentation compares death counts and economic fallout from similar magnitude earthquakes in areas with different levels of economic development, showing that dea...
Researchers are exploring new methods for detecting transient seismic activity, such as slow slip earthquakes, using GPS network data. The study aims to improve the accuracy of forecasting likely seismic activity by accurately detecting and assessing these low-frequency signals.
Researchers analyzed pre-eruption seismic activity before the 2009 Redoubt volcano eruption, which deviated from common patterns. Advanced analysis revealed a protracted period of slow magma ascent followed by rapidly increasing pressure, enabling improved forecasting techniques.
A study by University of Utah researchers found that superstorm Sandy caused significant seismic activity along the East Coast as well as in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm's 'standing waves' created energy at the seafloor, detectable by seismometers across the US.
The article discusses various geology topics, including the use of ancient lava-fed deltas to estimate paleo-water levels and past ice thicknesses. It also explores the formation of bubbles in volcanic conduits and the presence of iron-silicate microgranules in banded iron formations.
Researchers tested the hypothesis that intraplate earthquakes could produce stronger ground shaking than those at plate boundaries. The study found no significant extension of the 1872 Owens Valley earthquake rupture, contradicting previous estimates. Instead, the data suggest that soil liquefaction occurred in nearby wetlands and mead...
This study investigates the sedimentary fingerprint of the 2011 Mississippi River flood across the Louisiana coast, identifying key indicators of sediment provenance. Chemostratigraphy also reveals a complete Late Permian to Early Triassic sequence in western Utah, shedding light on the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event.
The GSA Bulletin has published 13 new papers covering topics such as Holocene record of strong earthquakes in the Lake Tahoe region and evaporite tectonics in the Cumberland basin. The studies reveal a history of major earthquakes throughout the Holocene, with some fault ruptures occurring every 2,600 years.
A new map created by Japanese researchers helps identify high-rise buildings in the Osaka Basin vulnerable to long-period strong ground motions that last minutes. The map provides useful information for engineers to design earthquake-resistant buildings.
Researchers studied two hoodoos in Red Rock Canyon to estimate the force necessary to break sandstone shafts, shedding light on ground motion during recent earthquakes. The study suggests median or low-level ground motion despite large quakes in the area, providing valuable constraints for probabilistic seismic hazard assessments.
The article discusses various geological topics, including the flatness of Earth, chemical weathering, and the distribution of radiogenic lead in zircons. The findings show that mountains do not play a significant role in 'carbon drawdown' effect and challenge previous studies.
A NTU research team discovered massive earthquakes left clear ground scars in central Himalayas, hinting at a higher earthquake risk. The study challenges previous assumptions about blind quakes and suggests areas west or east of the 1934 Nepal ground rupture are now at greater risk.
Researchers found that 87% of large (8.6 magnitude or higher) earthquakes are associated with intersection regions between oceanic fracture zones and subduction zones. This connection is less striking for smaller earthquakes, which are more common.
A University of Rhode Island graduate student is using ocean waves to study the geologic structure beneath the Earth's surface. By analyzing seismic wave velocity near an underwater plateau, scientists can infer its formation process.
Scientists at Stanford University have identified segments of the Main Himalayan Thrust fault that could lead to massive earthquakes in the Himalayas. Meanwhile, researchers are studying small tremors in the Cascadia subduction zone to improve earthquake prediction and mitigation strategies for the Pacific Northwest.
Research in the Russian Far East has revealed a seismic and volcanic hotbed, with potential to trigger tsunamis that affect the entire Pacific Basin. Thousands of people were killed in tsunamis due to earthquakes in the region, highlighting the importance of studying these hazards.
A NASA study using TRMM satellite data found that 2010 was the deadliest year for rainfall-triggered landslides, with 1,765 fatalities and $759 million in damages. The research used a global database of landslide events and satellite-based rainfall information to identify areas with high landslide risks.
Researchers have discovered six major earthquakes above 7 magnitude on the Alhama de Murcia fault, revealing 'convincing evidence' of higher maximum earthquake magnitudes than previously thought. The study provides a detailed paleoseismic record of the fault's activity over hundreds of thousands of years.
Researchers found that earthquakes generate most of their sound by pumping the atmosphere like a loudspeaker. This discovery has significant implications for assessing damage in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, as infrasound can reveal important details about ground shaking.
A recent study reveals Ottawa's unique geology amplifies seismic waves, exceeding expected National Building Code of Canada values. The area has experienced moderate shaking from earthquakes, but some areas have higher ground motion than others during larger events.
Researchers published new studies on the geology of Nevada, Alaska, and Arizona, shedding light on major faults, river systems, and tectonic processes. These findings provide new insights into the region's geological history and have significant implications for understanding natural disasters.
The study on the South Tibetan fault system reveals a minimum displacement of approx. 65 km, suggesting normal faulting played a fundamental role in the Himalayas' evolution. Meanwhile, researchers have discovered glaciation records in the James Bay Lowland, Canada, dating back to 3.5 Ma.
Researchers used satellite radar images and GPS receivers to detect the 8-14 centimeter rise in the island's surface. The team calculated that the amount of molten rock beneath Santorini has grown by 10-20 years' worth, but this does not necessarily indicate an imminent eruption.
Researchers analyzed seismic activity in Antarctica's David Glacier and found repeating earthquakes every 25 minutes for a year. This study sheds light on stick slip earthquakes and provides a model for understanding ice sheet flow.
Researchers from USC used earthquake data to model the Earth's mantle and reveal the strength of continents compared to the rest of the Earth. They found that a part of the South American plate, known as a cratonic keel, deflects and channels mantle flow.
A new study published by Arizona State University researchers has found nearly 1,000 small-magnitude earthquakes in Arizona over a three-year period. The improved seismic data from the EarthScope project enabled the detection of these events, which are often not felt by humans.
A study by Cliff Frohlich found that most earthquakes in the Barnett Shale region occur near injection wells used for hydraulic fracturing fluids disposal. The study suggests that injection wells enhance the probability of earthquakes, with nearly all quakes being small and posing no danger to the public.
A new study by Emanuela Guidoboni and colleagues reveals the historical record on ancient and medieval earthquakes in L'Aquila has gaps that must be addressed to assess seismic hazard. The region experienced multiple strong earthquakes, with a tendency to produce simultaneous events varying in impact.
A new study by USGS researchers Tom Parsons and Eric Geist analyzed the timing of world's largest earthquakes over 100 years, finding intervals between quakes similar to those expected from a random process. This suggests that global great earthquakes are occurring at random, rather than triggering each other.
A new study by University of Nevada, Reno's Glenn Biasi and colleagues at GNS Science in New Zealand found that the Alpine Fault has been experiencing relatively regular magnitude 8 earthquakes for at least 8,000 years. This extends the known seismic record from 1000 years ago to 8,000 years ago.
Geologists and researchers use LiDAR, geochronology, and stratigraphy to uncover the history of earthquakes, volcanism, and tectonic processes in regions like Alaska and Nevada. These findings shed light on Earth's surface evolution and help understand plate tectonics.
A comprehensive study of tsunamis in Northwestern California has been compiled by UCSB scientists, revealing evidence of smaller strong-to-major earthquakes and larger quakes that involved the regional subduction zone. The research provides valuable insights into the region's seismic activity and potential for future tsunami events.
Researchers at Oregon State University used data from underwater hydrophones and seismic analysis to detect an abrupt spike in energy about 2.6 hours before the eruption, suggesting a new method for predicting undersea volcanic activity. The study also revealed insights into the link between magma intrusion and seafloor deformation.
Researchers at George Washington University have received over $860,000 in federal funding to study the effects of earthquakes on nuclear reactor cores. The study aims to simulate fuel rod vibrations and assess potential damage during an earthquake, which could lead to radioactive material release.