Articles tagged with Earthquakes
Scientists discovered that earthquakes influence tectonic plate movement, altering frequency and patterns of quakes. This finding suggests improved earthquake risk models can be developed by incorporating feedback mechanisms after an earthquake.
Researchers have discovered a surprisingly soft mineral, davemaoite, that plays a crucial role in the Earth's recycling of rocks. The study suggests that davemaoite is around 1,000 times softer than other minerals in the mantle, and its mechanical properties can help explain how earthquakes and volcanoes occur.
A new study of rocks from nearly 2 miles under the surface suggests that the San Andreas fault's central section has hosted many major earthquakes, including some that could have been fairly recent. The researchers found altered compositions in sedimentary rock, indicating more than 100 quakes with potential magnitudes over 6.9.
Researchers created a 3D tectonic model combining geological, geophysical and satellite data to resolve timescales between earthquakes and mountain range formation. The study reveals that most uplift occurs in the period between earthquakes, improving local seismic hazard maps.
A team of scientists studied the surface rupture caused by two major earthquakes in July 2019 near Ridgecrest, California. They found that the rock surrounding the fault suffered from 'inelastic deformation', resulting in a softer crust that dissipates energy from future earthquakes.
Researchers analyzed the 2018-2019 Bungo Channel slow slip event to gain insight into megathrust earthquake behavior. Despite its short duration, this event was larger in terms of slippage amount and slip velocity compared to past events, providing valuable information for predicting future earthquakes.
Researchers identified a hidden magnitude-8.2 earthquake as the trigger for the worldwide tsunami, which was buried within complex seismic waves. The study reveals the importance of accurately characterizing big earthquakes to mitigate tsunami hazards.
Researchers used big data imaging to visualize the entire subterranean formation and its effect on regional tectonics. The findings provide critical information for predicting near-future earthquake processes.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst developed a physical model that yields unprecedented high-resolution look at slip rates of faults, determining likelihood of earthquakes. The study reveals fault lines in kitchen sinks can predict earthquake-causing forces.
Researchers identify three key regional factors controlling subduction zone earthquakes and tsunamis. The study's unified model explains the physical processes during a major earthquake and tsunami, accounting for complex fault geometry and rock behavior.
Researchers have discovered that the Matterhorn sways at a frequency of 0.42 Hertz, oscillating roughly in a north-south direction, with similar frequencies in an east-west direction. The mountain's summit experiences amplified vibrations up to 14 times stronger than the reference station at its base.
The Matterhorn oscillates at two frequencies, with movements up to 14 times stronger at the summit than at the foot. Researchers detected these subtle vibrations using seismometers, which are also found in bridges and high-rise buildings, revealing a broader phenomenon.
Researchers discovered a connection between earthquake characteristics and tsunami size, finding that shallow rupture can produce larger tsunamis. This study suggests reevaluating the use of earthquake magnitude in estimating tsunami threats.
Researchers have found evidence of joint ruptures, or shared earthquakes, between the San Andreas and san Jacinto faults in California. The Lytle Creek Ridge Fault, a small fault between the two major faults, acted as a passive marker during these events, with 20% to 23% of earthquakes on these faults being shared.
A new study predicts that future tsunamis will become more destructive as sea levels rise, particularly in the US West Coast. Rising sea levels will amplify tsunami heights even from smaller earthquakes, making coastal cities more vulnerable to devastation.
Researchers have documented a new type of slow earthquake in British Columbia, Canada, triggered by hydraulic fracturing. The events exhibit unique features suggesting they rupture more slowly than conventional earthquakes, challenging the current understanding of induced earthquakes.
A new dataset from Canterbury earthquakes provides over 15,000 case histories for liquefaction, significantly augmenting model training and testing. The dataset enhances hazard assessments and improves engineering solutions in earthquake recovery, benefiting society as a whole.
A recent study found that earthquakes and extreme rainfall lead to a significant increase in landslide rates in Nepal during the monsoon season. The research, published in Nature Communications, reveals that landscape damage caused by the April 2015 Gorkha earthquake increased landslide risk by six times.
A study using Google Trends and Wikipedia search volume found that public interest in earthquakes is dependent on the income level of the affected country. Earthquakes in developing countries receive less international attention than those in developed countries, with interest often dwindling within a week. However, interest persists f...
A research team analyzed seismic noise recorded over the last decade to better understand volcanic processes at Campi Flegrei. They found that directionality loss in noise data indicates the migration of deep fluids towards the eastern caldera, which triggers earthquakes.
Scientists discovered that low-frequency energy from earthquakes travels in a four-leaf clover pattern near the fault, while higher frequency waves travel in all directions. This finding could improve building designs and mitigate earthquake damage by prioritizing vulnerable areas within the pattern.
A study by University of Cincinnati professor Michael J. Fry found that a single large warehouse would be the most cost-efficient approach for disaster relief supplies, but a single location is vulnerable to destruction. The research suggests cooperation between government and relief organizations can improve response effectiveness.
Scientists have discovered a heterogeneous structure in the Earth's inner core, with adjacent regions of hard, soft, and liquid iron alloys. This finding challenges traditional models of the planet's magnetic field generation and provides new insights into the dynamics at the boundary between the inner and outer core.
The Xishancun landslide in China has been analyzed using high-frequency receiver functions from local earthquakes, revealing higher Poisson's ratios and low-velocity layers. These findings suggest the potential hazards of water-rich materials and delineate geotechnical structures for stability analysis and hazard mitigation.
Researchers have discovered pictograms depicting earthquakes in the Codex Telleriano-Remensis, a 16th-century Mexican codex. The pictograms provide early written evidence of earthquakes in pre-Hispanic times, extending the region's seismic history back to the 15th century.
Researchers explored wind turbine dynamics under simultaneous wind and earthquake excitation, finding a coupling effect between aerodynamic damping and blade stiffness. This knowledge can guide seismic design of wind turbines and inform determination of wind-earthquake combinations.
Scientists aim to develop computer models that can forecast earthquake chances and impact, like weather forecasting. The project will also train students and researchers from diverse backgrounds to work on computational geoscience.
Slow slips, or silent earthquakes, are fractures of the Earth's crust that propagate slowly without producing seismic waves. The new database sheds light on the mechanisms behind these events and their potential to trigger regular earthquakes.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists developed a method to dispose wastewater safely, reducing the danger of triggering earthquakes. The approach was tested in Italy's largest onshore oil field and found to be sustainable.
Researchers analyzed data from Kīlauea's caldera collapse to characterize friction at a large scale. The study confirms the role of slip-weakening distance in earthquake mechanics and provides insights into the physics governing caldera collapses.
The InSight mission has successfully mapped the internal structure of Mars using seismic waves detected by the SEIS instrument. The analysis revealed an estimate of the core size, crust thickness and mantle structure, providing valuable information on the planet's formation and thermal evolution.
The InSight mission has unveiled Mars' internal structure, revealing a large liquid core and an altered crust. The study analyzed seismic waves from over 600 Martian quakes, identifying discontinuities in the crust and determining the upper mantle's structure.
Researchers uncover how seamounts lubricate tectonic plates, preventing large earthquakes. The study suggests a key difference in the northern and southern parts of the Hikurangi Margin, which contributes to the region's high earthquake activity.
A team of scientists from Hokkaido University used an ocean-bottom seismometer to detect continuous seismic radiation from a glacier sliding in Greenland. The study revealed that glacial basal motion can be monitored using underwater sensors, offering new opportunities for studying ice flow and calving processes.
Researchers have collected high-pressure data from deep-sea boreholes in a subduction zone, revealing pressures up to 5 megapascals greater than typical hydrostatic pressures. This discovery sheds light on the origins of slow earthquakes and their potential role in triggering larger earthquakes.
Researchers found that geologic formations in northern Delaware Basin, with previous hydrocarbon production, have lower pore pressures and no earthquakes. In contrast, southern basin has higher initial pressures and earthquakes. Targeting these sites for carbon sequestration could limit earthquake risk.
Kristin Morell, a UC Santa Barbara Assistant Professor, has received the National Science Foundation's prestigious CAREER award. The award will fund her research on plate tectonics and provide opportunities for underrepresented students to get involved in geoscience through internships and workshops.
Researchers found that even in hydrated subducting slabs, dry olivine can exist, resolving a long-standing paradox. This discovery suggests hydrous minerals play crucial roles in the Earth's interior water cycle and contribute to deep-focus earthquakes and large plate deformations.
A team of scientists has found that fluids play a key role in deep-focus earthquakes, which occur between 300 and 700 kilometers below the planet's surface. The research suggests that water carried down from oceanic plates was instrumental in creating these mysterious events.
Researchers used seismic CT scans and supercomputers to study slow slip earthquakes in New Zealand's Hikurangi subduction zone. The study found that tectonic forces build up before releasing through slow motion tremors, revealing key processes involved in modulating slow slip.
Researchers used synchrotron X-ray techniques to study how gypsum dehydrates under pressure, revealing a small nudge that can have big consequences for geological processes. The findings suggest that increased tectonic stress can speed up dehydration and promote earthquakes.
Researchers found that a large earthquake could set off the eruption of Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano by relieving stress from magma influx, generating additional pressure and buoyancy. The study also identified movements along near-horizontal faults under the flanks as essential features of long-term volcano growth.
Researchers developed an AI tool called BRAILS to simulate risks to cities using crowdsourced data, neural networks, and supercomputers. The tool automatically identifies building characteristics and detects hazards like earthquakes, hurricanes, or tsunamis.
A recent study by GEOMAR scientists has provided a comprehensive understanding of the northern Chilean subduction zone, shedding light on the relationship between earthquakes and tsunamis. The data set, obtained through a unique deployment of ocean-bottom seismometers, revealed that aftershocks were located both beneath and above the p...
Researchers developed a global GNSS seismic monitoring system that can rapidly assess earthquake magnitude and fault slip distribution within seconds. This system can provide early warnings for large earthquakes and tsunamis, buying more time for evacuations and infrastructure shutdowns.
Researchers found that shallow wastewater injection is linked to widespread deep earthquake activity in the Delaware Basin. The study used data analytics and computer modeling to mimic fluid extraction from shale reservoirs and identified a causal link between deep stress increases and shallow fluid injection. This finding has signific...
A study analyzing industrial and geologic data reveals that seismic activity surged due to wastewater injection stresses between 1993-2020. Variations in seismic activity across the basin may help explain why earthquakes occur in some areas but not others.
Earthquakes on strike-slip faults can cause shallow bay tsunamis, increasing hazard for coastal cities worldwide. Large horizontal displacements deform bay depth contours, displacing water and initiating tsunami waves.
Researchers discovered overlooked tsunami hazards linked to undersea strike-slip faults, especially in areas like the San Francisco Bay and Izmit Bay. The study highlights the need to reassess tsunami hazard ratings for underwater strike-slip faults traversing narrow bays worldwide.
Researchers at Stanford University simulated the risk of fracking-triggered earthquakes on the Eagle Ford shale formation, finding that densely populated areas face the greatest risk of damage. The study aims to provide a shared frame of reference for discussing risks and evaluating tools for managing earthquake hazards.
Researchers found low-velocity anomalies in six subduction zones, leading to a shift in rupture mechanics and potentially inducing major megathrust earthquakes. The study suggests that these anomalies can increase interplate shear stress, making it easier for earthquakes to occur.
The Marsquake Service has detected over 500 marsquakes, with most being high-frequency events occurring at great distances. Low-frequency events are less common and appear to decay more quickly than expected.
Researchers use fiber optic cable to detect small earthquakes in ice, offering insights into ice movement and deformation under changing climate conditions. The technique also improves monitoring of underground carbon capture and storage projects.,
Researchers used ground surveys and Damage Proxy Maps from NASA satellites to assess structural and façade damage in Beirut after the 2020 explosion. Satellite-based maps were effective at identifying severely damaged buildings but less effective for intermediate damage levels.
Researchers used stereophotogrammetry to analyze aerial photos from the 1960s and 1970s, revealing a digital elevation model of part of Datong City before urbanization. Trenching along the fault trace found evidence of five previously unknown earthquakes, increasing the risk of a large earthquake in the future.
A new study by Rebecca Salvage and David Eaton found that hundreds of small earthquakes occurred in the Kiskatinaw area after oil and gas recovery shut down. The researchers suggest aseismic slip driven by trapped fluid from previous hydraulic fracture injections may be causing these latent earthquakes.
A new study reveals a strong correlation between changes in Taiwan's seismicity rate and its seasonal water cycle fluctuations. Shallow earthquakes in eastern Taiwan show an opposite correlation, with peak seismicity rates occurring in either winter or summer.
Researchers found that Cascadia intraslab earthquakes produce fewer aftershocks, with rates lower by more than half the global average. The study suggests a 'clock-advance' model, where mainshock causes tectonically loaded fault patches to slip earlier.
Researchers found that ice loss near Glacier Bay National Park has influenced earthquake timing and location with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater since the past century. This study links expanding mantle movement with large earthquakes across Southeast Alaska, where glaciers have been melting for over 200 years.
Researchers developed a system to identify seismic events related to oil and gas activities, using sound signals and machine learning. They created 3D-printed rocks with controlled mineral layers to study fault failures and fracture types.