Articles tagged with Earthquakes
An international team of scientists has discovered that the largest ever Martian quake was caused by immense tectonic forces within Mars' crust, contrary to initial suspicions of a meteorite impact. This groundbreaking study, led by the University of Oxford, reveals that Mars is more seismically active than previously thought.
Researchers found distinct similarities between starquakes and earthquakes, but a difference with solar flares. The team analyzed nearly 7,000 bursts from three repeater FRB sources, comparing them to earthquake and solar flare data.
Researchers at MIT have discovered that the sounds produced by rocks under different pressures can reveal their depth and strength, helping scientists identify unstable regions below the surface. This new method could aid in drilling for geothermal energy and understanding the Earth's crust.
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.
Researchers have found a large water reservoir beneath the ocean floor off New Zealand's North Island, which may be linked to the country's mysterious slow earthquakes. The discovery provides new insights into the correlation between fluids and tectonic fault movement, shedding light on the phenomenon of slow slip events.
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.
A team of researchers from Japan found that water enhances energy dispersion and reduces elastic moduli in rocks, leading to increased seismic wave attenuation. The study suggests the oceanic asthenosphere must contain water, explaining sharp velocity drops and near-constant attenuation observed at the LAB.
Researchers have created a new model using deep learning to forecast aftershocks, outperforming the current ETAS model on larger datasets. The Recurrent Earthquake foreCAST (RECAST) model demonstrates better performance and computational efficiency.
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.
A team of scientists at Caltech used a section of fiber optic cable to measure the intricate details of a magnitude 6 earthquake, pinpointing four individual asperities that led to the rupture. The study demonstrates the potential of distributed acoustic sensing technology to improve our understanding of earthquake physics.
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 used fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing to track induced seismicity from a CO2 injection in Victoria, Australia. The study found that tiny earthquakes accompanied the saturation front of the CO2 plume, rather than the pressure front.
Researchers found evidence of a precursory phase of fault slip occurring two hours before large earthquakes, using global GPS time-series data from nearly 100 major quakes worldwide. The study suggests that many large earthquakes start with a precursory phase of slip or represent the tail end of a longer process.
A global team led by University of Minnesota professor Donna Whitney accurately determined the age and formation process of the East Anatolian fault, which runs from eastern to south-central Turkey. The study sheds light on the earthquake history and seismic activity in the region.
Climate change is expected to increase the likelihood and frequency of volcanic eruptions, making planning and responding to crises more challenging. Volcanologists are warning that governments may need new strategies to predict and mitigate the effects of future eruptions.
Researchers identified global trends in foreshock sequences for large earthquakes of magnitude 7 or larger. Foreshocks occur between 15-43% of mainshocks, and are more common along plate boundaries and reverse faults.
Researchers found a hierarchical rupture growth through a complex fault network, promoting and halting rupture growth. The earthquakes' source areas developed a network of faults with bends, steps, and branches, leading to irregular rupture evolution and diverse triggering behaviors.
Scientists have discovered that sinking seamounts leave behind a trail of soft sediments, which help release tectonic pressure in slow slip earthquakes. This finding can be used to adjust earthquake models and improve understanding of the mechanisms driving earthquakes.
African Superplume is responsible for rift-parallel deformation and seismic anisotropy in the East African Rift System, contradicting previous theories on plate-driving forces. The study uses 3D thermomechanical modeling to explain this phenomenon.
Researchers at UCL and INGV found that parts of the Campi Flegrei volcano have been stretched nearly to breaking point, indicating a higher risk of rupture. The study used a model of volcano fracturing to interpret patterns of earthquakes and ground uplift, suggesting that an eventual eruption could be preceded by weaker signals.
Researchers found that the lithosphere's thickness and strength control earthquake locations in Britain and Ireland. Thinner and weaker lithosphere beneath western Britain triggers more earthquakes, while thicker and stronger lithosphere in Ireland results in fewer quakes.
Researchers used a powerful supercomputer to analyze the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes, which showed how faults can interact across segments and cause unexpected interactions. The study's findings improve seismic hazard assessment and preparedness for complex earthquake systems.
The February 2023 Türkiye earthquakes were a devastating doublet, with two large aftershocks occurring within nine hours of each other. The first mainshock ruptured the East Anatolian Fault (EAF) bilaterally over 350 kilometers, creating surface fault offsets of more than six meters.
Scientists have discovered weak, fossilised sediments beneath the seafloor of Antarctica's eastern Ross Sea, which led to massive underwater landslides. These layers made the area susceptible to failure due to past climate change.
The study found that the Tanlu Fault Zone underwent episodic dextral strike-slip movement in late Cenozoic, with the Banquan Basin serving as a record of this process. The movement was linked to the evolution of the pull-apart basin and surrounding faults.
Researchers developed an AI-based early warning system that combines acoustic technology with artificial intelligence to classify earthquakes and determine potential tsunami risk. The system uses underwater microphones to measure acoustic radiation, which travels faster than tsunami waves and carries information about the tectonic event.
Researchers used NASA InSight data to directly measure Mars' core properties, finding a completely liquid iron-alloy core with high percentages of sulfur and oxygen. This discovery provides new insights into Martian formation and geological differences between Earth and Mars, potentially impacting planetary habitability.
A recent study identified over 182,000 small seismic events in South Korea, with 135,000 related to mining explosions. The researchers used machine learning techniques to analyze data from 421 seismic stations and found distinct patterns that allowed them to distinguish between microseismic events and earthquakes.
Researchers at Arizona State University have designed a drone with an inflatable frame that can absorb impact forces and provide collision resilience. The drone's stiffness is tunable, allowing it to physically interact with its surroundings and accomplish tasks like perching, which involves controlled collisions.
Faults in Ridgecrest, California were sensitive to solid earth tidal stresses before the July 2019 earthquake sequence. Researchers found a strong signal of tidal modulation after 2018, but it's unclear if it triggered the earthquake. The study suggests that tidal stresses may be an indicator of upcoming earthquakes.
A new report by the USGS and FEMA estimates that earthquakes cost the nation an average of $14.7 billion annually in building damage and associated losses. The report's updated estimate is twice the previous annual figure due to increased building value and improved hazards analysis.
Residents in affected communities emphasized the need for more tailored information, including aftershock forecasts and tsunami risk maps. The study highlights the importance of effective risk communication and community engagement to promote preparedness and safety.
An international team, led by Eric Sandvol from the University of Missouri, aims to better understand the makeup of the earthquake zone and surrounding areas. The team plans to deploy 250 seismometers around the East Anatolian fault to study energy waves produced by earthquakes.
Seismic arrays in California's Long Beach and Seal Beach detected over 1,200 shallow earthquakes, showing the Newport-Inglewood fault splays widely at shallow depths. This suggests that a rupture to propagate to the surface may have multiple paths, implications for earthquake hazard planning.
Research led by The University of Alabama reveals a dense, yet thin, layer of ancient ocean floor surrounding the Earth's core-mantle boundary. This ultra-low velocity zone is denser than the rest of the deep mantle and may play an important role in heat escape from the core.
Researchers used machine learning techniques to analyze seven years' worth of seismic data from Axial Seamount, identifying new signals including fin whale calls, tremors, earthquakes, and lava events. This study improves understanding of volcano dynamics and aids in predicting eruptions.
A new approach uses crowdsourced data from affected people to estimate earthquake impact within 10-20 minutes, potentially aiding early disaster management. The system analyzes 'felt intensity' reports, providing a basis for quickly assessing the severity of damage.
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 examine ultralow frictional healing and slow slip events along the Hikurangi tectonic plate boundary, shedding light on seismic hazards and tsunamis. The study aims to improve early warning systems and monitor events using data from monitoring sites in the trench.
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.
Researchers investigated the relationship between slow slip events and tectonic strain in Japan's Bungo Channel, Tokai, and Boso-Oki regions. They found that not all accumulated strain is released during SSEs, but rather builds up in shallower areas before a megathrust earthquake can occur.
Jamie Padgett, a leading expert in infrastructure sustainability and resiliency, has received the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award from TAMEST. Her groundbreaking research focuses on identifying and minimizing risks to critical infrastructure, enhancing public safety and promoting disaster resilience.
A team of researchers has developed a system that uses fibre-optic cables to detect and measure acoustic signals from the ocean, including whale vocalizations, ship traffic, earthquakes, and distant storms. This technology has the potential to create a global real-time monitoring network for Ocean-Earth sciences.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new earthquake probability model that considers the specific order and timing of previous earthquakes. This allows for more accurate forecasting and explains why earthquakes sometimes come in clusters.
The University of Texas at El Paso will establish a national Center for Collective Impact in Earthquake Science, addressing low-probability but high-impact earthquake risk and community needs. Researchers aim to develop leading-edge earthquake research projects and integrate diversity into their work.
Researchers from Brown and MIT developed a new framework that uses machine learning and sequential sampling to predict rare disasters like earthquakes and pandemics with less data. The framework, called DeepOnet, has been shown to outperform traditional modeling efforts in predicting scenarios, probabilities and timelines of rare events.
Jamie Padgett, a Rice University professor, has been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation's BRITE Fellows program. With this funding, she will develop methods for infrastructure resilience modeling in response to uncertain, evolving conditions resulting from earthquakes, hurricanes, and other disasters.
Scientists from the University of Arizona have discovered a giant active mantle plume pushing the surface of Mars upward, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The finding suggests that Mars' deceptively quiet surface may hide a more tumultuous interior than previously thought.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University conducted a simulation to study bridge failure during large-scale earthquakes. The study highlights the importance of girder end design in improving resilience, with reinforcing ribs shown to be effective against lateral forces.
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.
Researchers found that Caltech Hall's natural frequencies have increased by 5% in the east-west direction and 2% in the north-south direction over 20 years. This suggests up to 20% variation in the building's stiffness between earthquakes, posing a challenge for seismic structural health monitoring.
Using 1980s environmental inventories, researchers found that disaster risk assessment could have predicted the damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The study compared composite risk maps from the 1980s with post-2011 hazard maps to show a significant increase in high-risk areas.
The Subduction Zones in Four Dimensions (SZ4D) initiative aims to improve understanding of subduction zone hazards through a collaborative effort. The plan involves deploying new instrumentation and developing more accurate models to predict large earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.
Researchers found that supershear earthquakes occur as commonly beneath the oceans as they do on land and tend to cause more shaking and potentially more destructive damage. The study suggests disaster planning efforts should consider nearby faults capable of producing supershear earthquakes.
Researchers developed a machine learning model to analyze how susceptible overhead transmission lines are to damage from back-to-back natural hazards. The study found that previous damage can have a significant impact on the fragility and reliability of power grids, especially when followed by a hurricane.
Magma is rising to about 6 miles from a depth of 12 miles, causing earthquakes and surface deformation. The new approach could lead to earlier detection of volcanic unrest in Alaska.
Researchers used AI to analyze seismic signals and predict future fault friction and next failure time with high resolution in laboratory earthquakes. The technique goes beyond previous work by predicting the future state of the fault's physical system.
A new project aims to explore the tension between managing hurricane risk and achieving equity and economic prosperity in coastal communities. Researchers will develop methods to model long-term hurricane hazards and create a framework for designing policy interventions.
A new study led by ICM-CSIC has revealed the complex geometry of the Alboran Sea faults system, which has been absorbing most of the deformation from plate collision. The research demonstrates that this region is one of the most important fault systems in the western Mediterranean and has a significant tsunami risk.
Scientists have found that the tectonic stress in Japan's Nankai subduction zone is less than expected, contradicting predictions of a major buildup of pent-up energy. The research suggests that the fault may not be as unstable as thought, but still requires further investigation and long-term monitoring.