Articles tagged with Earthquakes
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.
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.,
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 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.
Researchers developed a new methodology to estimate the source of weak ground vibrations in subduction zones, providing more accurate travel times and insights into fluid pressure and permeability at plate interfaces. This approach can aid in detecting slipping among plates and warning against larger earthquakes and tsunamis.
The US Intermountain West region experienced four significant earthquake sequences in 2020, with research characterizing the tectonics of the area and gaining insights into fault systems. The focus section papers discuss the Magna, Stanley, Monte Cristo, and Lone Pine earthquakes, providing new knowledge on seismic activity.
Researchers have detected unusual earthquake sequences in central Utah's Black Rock Desert, highlighting the region's active volcanic system. The quakes were shallower and produced lower-frequency seismic energy than usual, suggesting a different origin than other Utah earthquakes.
Researchers successfully detected storm swell events and earthquakes across a nine-month observation period using the Curie cable's telecommunications data. The approach transforms the ocean's fiber optic network into a continuous, real-time earthquake and tsunami monitoring system.
Researchers found strong seismic shaking deformed sediments and triggered mud avalanches, indicating extreme earthquakes preceded rockslide clusters. The study proposes seismic shaking can degrade rock slopes towards critical tipping point.
Scientists at Cornell University have discovered a connection between slow-motion fault slips and fast earthquakes, finding that 'slow slips' precede dozens of large magnitude 7 earthquakes. These precursory slips are directly involved in starting the earthquake and migrate towards where the fast slip begins.
New research on fault networks, metamorphism, and sedimentary rocks provides insights into geological processes in Australia and North America. Studies analyze the evolution of complex fault systems, deformation patterns, and regional tectonics.
A new study found no link between countries' frequency of natural disasters and their propensity to take disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures. Despite this, national variation was observed, with some countries responding with extensive changes while others made no action.
A massive paleo-tsunami struck near ancient Tel Dor between 9,910 to 9,290 years ago, erasing evidence of low-lying coastal villages in the area. The tsunami deposit was discovered through underwater excavation and modeling, with estimated wave heights ranging from 16 to 40 meters.
A new explanation for Arctic rapid warming proposes that great earthquakes in the Aleutian Arc triggered the phenomenon. These events released methane from permafrost, leading to climate warming.
Researchers found that deep, slow-slip behaviors beneath subduction zones, such as Cascadia, may control the timing and behavior of megathrust earthquakes. Slow-slip events, which occur at a deeper depth than damaging earthquakes, release energy in different directions, primarily down.
Researchers at KAUST have updated the model for earthquake-prone regions like California, finding that the strength lies in the upper crust and the lower crust exhibits more ductility over time. This 'crème brûlée' model supports regional hazard assessments for populated territories.
Research finds smaller earthquakes (magnitude 5.5 and below) are the main source of strong shaking at a 60-kilometer distance. These 'little earthquakes with ambition' produce more shaking than expected, often causing significant damage.
Researchers suggest that a large lake overlying the southern San Andreas fault in California could have affected rupture timing. A 1,000-year record of earthquakes and geological analysis indicate that high water levels on Lake Cahuilla increased stress on the rocks underneath, weakening faults and potentially leading to earlier ruptures.
A new AI-based method has been developed to detect small, imperceptibly tiny earthquakes that occur on the same faults as bigger earthquakes. This technology could provide insights into how earthquakes interact and spread out along the fault, allowing for a clearer view of earthquake patterns.
A new methodology helps disaster preparedness officials in large cities create regional contingency plans to ensure emergency responders can get patients to likeliest-to-stay-open hospital facilities after a quake. The technique estimates death and injury risks, projects hospital damage, and maps best routes for patient transportation.
Paleoseismic trenching reveals three surface-rupturing earthquakes occurred approximately 8,800, 4,200, and 1,000 years ago on the Gales Creek fault. The study suggests that earthquakes occur about every 4,000 years on the fault, posing significant seismic hazard to the Portland metro area.
Researchers developed a new method to distinguish between small earthquakes and low-yield nuclear explosions in the US West. By comparing local magnitude and coda duration magnitude measurements, seismologists can identify seismic events caused by human activity more accurately.
Passelègue's groundbreaking study sheds light on the dynamics of faults, finding that initial strain plays a crucial role in determining rupture speed and energy release. His model shows that higher strains trigger faster ruptures while lower strains result in slower ones.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham have discovered a universal scaling law for touch sensitivity using seismic waves. The law enables better understanding of touch experiences across species, predicting similar sensations despite differences in force and receptor depth.
Researchers found that reinforcing bushing systems with steel stiffeners reduces damage by up to 33-55%, resulting in lower costs for repairs and recovery. The study provides new insights into mitigating the impact of earthquake damage on power networks.
Researchers trained an AI to rapidly assess post-disaster building damage using convolutional neural network (CNN) technology. The model achieved accuracy rates of approximately 94% in classifying building damage levels, making it a valuable tool for crisis responders.
Researchers have discovered that seismic rumblings on the seafloor can provide a new way to monitor ocean temperatures, using existing seismic monitoring equipment and historic data. By analyzing sound waves from undersea earthquakes, they can determine changes in ocean temperature at depths normally out of reach of conventional tools.
Researchers use natural seafloor earthquakes to determine ocean temperature across vast distances and depths, overcoming previous limitations. The technique, called seismic ocean thermometry, reveals a decadal warming trend exceeding previous estimates in the East Indian Ocean.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that heavy rainfall, rather than large offshore earthquakes, triggers deep-seated landslides in the central Oregon Coast Range. Over a period of 1,000 years, they identified 2,676 landslides that occurred within the past millennium, with many triggered by heavy rainfall events.
A machine learning model has uncovered distinct statistical features marking the formative stage of slow-slip ruptures, allowing geophysicists to understand the timing of devastating faster quakes. The research suggests that slow-slip rupture may be predictable, providing an easier way to study fundamental physics.
Researchers from Northwestern University used a crowd-sourced platform to analyze seismic recordings and found that citizen scientists can classify earthquakes with 85% accuracy, outperforming machine learning algorithms. Citizen scientists also successfully identified tectonic tremors, which AI could not do previously.
A PSU study of 400 households after the 2015 Nepal earthquakes found that recovery is a dynamic process with multiple dimensions. Households with less herding and farming-based livelihoods, more market connections, and easier access to rebuilding funds were more resilient.
A new study published in Science found that COVID-19 lockdowns resulted in a 50% reduction in global seismic noise levels. The research used citizen science data from over 300 seismic stations worldwide, revealing the impact of physical distancing measures on seismology.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in global seismic noise, with anthropogenic signals dropping by as much as 50% between March and May. This decrease allowed researchers to detect subtle seismic signals from subsurface sources, providing new insights into human-induced seismicity.
A team of geophysicists used the ROMY ring laser to measure the Earth's rotational velocity and axis orientation, achieving the most precise ground-based measurements yet. The instrument detected minute alterations in the Earth's rotation caused by ocean currents, ice mass shifts, and seismic events.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that the deep Earth's water cycle plays a crucial role in triggering earthquakes and tsunamis. The research, led by Dr. George Cooper, found that the amount of water released from the subducting plate is directly linked to the volcanic productivity and earthquake activity.
A study by Shinshu University researchers used input-output analysis to quantify economic damage from Japan's earthquakes. The study found that the largest earthquakes require significant economic assistance for initial production and recovery, with some requiring up to 50% of initial production until recovery.
Researchers found echoes from features deep inside Earth, revealing more widespread and heterogeneous structures at the core-mantle boundary. The study provided a new perspective on the geologic processes happening deep inside Earth, shedding light on plate tectonics and planet evolution.
Seismological studies revealed that weak rocks formed over 500 million years ago controlled the pathways of the 2016 magnitude 6.0 Petermann earthquake. The unusually long and smooth rupture was guided by these zones of weaker rocks, which can help forecast future earthquakes.
Researchers from Cardiff University have identified specific conditions along the ocean floor where tectonic plates creep past each other instead of generating catastrophic earthquakes. This discovery could help scientists better understand stress at fault lines and improve earthquake forecasting.
The Fast Loaded Dice Roller (FLDR) algorithm simulates the roll of loaded dice to produce random integers with the best combination of speed, accuracy, and low memory requirements. FLDR can use up to 10,000 times less memory storage space than existing methods.
Engineers at the University of Missouri have developed a flexible material that can help buildings withstand multiple waves of energy in earthquakes. The material, which can stretch and form to a particular surface, protects against both longitudinal and shear energy waves.
A Florida State University researcher has identified 85 previously unknown submarine landslides in the Gulf of Mexico between 2008 and 2015. These landslides pose significant risks to coastal communities and seabed infrastructure, including oil platforms and pipelines.
Researchers confirm three historic earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault in the Monterey Bay Area, occurring in 1838, 1890, and 1906, using a new model that accounts for charcoal inbuilt ages. The study uses a technique called wiggle matching to determine precise dates and recurrence intervals.
Researchers used 'Lettere Patenti' documents to calculate intensities for a 1703 earthquake sequence in central Italy, revealing that the main earthquakes were likely intensity V or VI. The study provides a more realistic view of the earthquakes' impact than historical reports, shedding new light on seismic intensity assessment.
Researchers confirm that the Earth's inner core is rotating, contradicting previous studies suggesting it was stationary. The new evidence comes from analyzing seismic data from repeating earthquakes and precise arrival time analysis.
Researchers from Germany, Chile and the US use satellite data to identify Earth's surface deformation months before massive earthquakes. This detection enables scientists to better understand precursor activity that may trigger earthquakes.
Researchers found large-scale wobbling in the Earth's surface near plate boundaries before massive Chile and Japan quakes. The study suggests that periods of enhanced tugging may accelerate the inevitable failure at shallower segments of the subduction zone, leading to great earthquakes.
Researchers found a 'wobble' in Japan's landmasses before the 2011 magnitude-9 earthquake that killed over 15,500 people. The movement, detected by GPS data, may indicate future large subduction-zone earthquakes. However, the study's findings cannot be applied to other subduction zones without comparable data.
Researchers mapped and measured fault roughness using high-resolution seismic data, finding that rougher surfaces are stronger and more resistant to earthquake slip. The study's findings may help explain why certain earthquakes are stronger than others.
Researchers developed a holistic model combining property damage estimates with community-wide economic impacts and social costs. The study found that poorer individuals experience greater losses in well-being, with a 60% loss of average annual income for those at the bottom.
Researchers found that large earthquake sequences are 'burstier' and more difficult to predict than expected, with irregular gaps between event bursts. This finding could impact seismic hazard assessment and the way we evaluate an event's likelihood of repeating soon after a large earthquake.
Researchers demonstrate the potential for using existing optical fibers as seismic sensors, providing high-resolution maps of shallow subsurface and validating a new technique. The approach has great potential for use in large earthquake-threatened cities with extensive networks of buried optical cables.
Researchers found that variations in subducting sediments can influence the magnitude and location of megathrust earthquakes. Sediment thinning caused by volcanic activity may play a key role in determining the size and distribution of these catastrophic events.