Articles tagged with Earthquakes
An international team of scientists has identified the conditions that lead to slow motion earthquakes by drilling down to 1km deep in water depths off New Zealand. The study revealed a unique mix of different rock types and topography that causes slow slip events, which can trigger larger earthquakes and tsunamis.
Research from a global team of scientists found that diverse rock types at New Zealand's largest fault contribute to varying earthquake types. Slow slip events and tsunami-generating tremors are linked to the unique properties of each rock type.
A major international study has shed light on the mechanisms triggering deep earthquakes up to 40km below the Earth's surface. The research suggests that interaction between creeping shear zones loads stiff rocks, causing them to snap and generate earthquakes.
Researchers found a strong 'cross-correlation' between inter-earthquake distances and times, especially after large earthquakes. The study's results could help seismologists better understand earthquake patterns and inform policymakers about disaster preparedness.
A new study analyzed temporal evolution of seismicity and growth of maximum observed moment magnitudes in various stimulation projects. The results show a clear linear relation between injected fluid volume and cumulative seismic moments for most projects, indicating that seismicity can be managed by changes in injection strategy.
A new study found that underwater mountains pulled into subduction zones can set the stage for powerful quakes and create conditions that end up dampening them. Researchers used a computer model to simulate the effects of seamounts on surrounding rock and sediment, finding that the brittle rock ahead of the seamount creates powerful ea...
A new algorithm can detect changes in gravity caused by earthquakes, potentially leading to earlier warnings and more accurate predictions. The signal is generated by the sudden shift in the earth's internal mass during an earthquake, and its detection could help identify strong earthquakes that may trigger tsunamis.
A Montana State University researcher will investigate the extent and processes of microbial life in Yellowstone's subsurface using a specialized instrument triggered by earthquakes. The research aims to bridge biology and geology to understand how Earth's natural processes influence microbial evolution.
A new technique uses seismic waves from distant earthquakes to image the subterranean structure of Cleveland volcano. The study, published in Scientific Reports, resolved the architecture of the lower and middle crust for the first time, providing crucial information for emergency planning and saving human lives.
Researchers found that upper-plate earthquakes, not subduction earthquakes, caused coastal uplift along New Zealand's Northern Hikurangi Margin. Marine terraces at two sites showed different uplift patterns, leading to the mapping of new offshore faults that may contribute to these earthquakes.
Researchers found multiple faults with evidence of over 10 meters of slip during past large earthquakes in the Japan Trench fault zone, revealing a complex history of seismic activity. The technique used to analyze organic molecules in sedimentary rocks provides new insights into the likelihood of future tsunamis and earthquake hazards.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa have found evidence that slow earthquakes are related to dynamic fluid processes at the boundary between tectonic plates. The team used a technique similar to ultrasound imagery and analyzed rock properties to confirm that fluid pressures fluctuate during an earthquake cycle.
Researchers have discovered slow-slip events along the Nankai Trough subduction zone, which can last for hours or months and are difficult to detect using conventional seismological techniques. The study used a Global Navigation Satellite System-Acoustic ranging technique to monitor changes in the seafloor's position.
Researchers have observed processes in the upper mantle before a new submarine volcano formed off the Comoros island. The team reconstructed the partial emptying of a large magma reservoir and identified a dramatic movement of molten rocks before the eruption.
Researchers have transformed submarine cables into a seismic network, tracking earthquakes and ocean waves. The new technology has the potential to fill blind spots in the global seismic network.
Researchers at Penn State used fiber-optic cables to detect tiny seismic events caused by thunder during a storm, marking the first time scientists have recorded thunder-induced seismic events.
Researchers at City, University of London are developing new vibration-control devices based on Formula 1 technology that can reduce the required weight of current TMDs by up to 70%.
Researchers at University of Technology Sydney developed a novel ground anchor technology to protect bridges against catastrophic earthquakes. The system uses high-tensile capacity steel cables, embedded into the ground behind the bridge, to deliver incredible strength and energy dissipation.
A new algorithm developed by University of California, Riverside researchers can spot patterns in massive datasets quickly, improving earthquake detection and monitoring insect vectors. The SCAMP algorithm has been used to detect 16 times more earthquakes than previously known and can also analyze the behavior of chickens.
A team from University of Tokyo utilized Summit's AI architecture to develop a faster solver for earthquake simulations, enabling more accurate models. The new approach accelerated simulation times by a factor of 1000, improving the efficiency and reliability of earthquake modeling.
A team of researchers created a model to predict induced earthquake activity from wastewater injection, accounting for various variables such as subsurface hydrology parameters and regional stress on faults. The model can help oil operators restrict injection control and prevent large earthquakes in Oklahoma.
A University of Iowa-led study found that Southern California earthquakes increased stress on the Garlock Fault, a major earthquake fault line. The research showed 'aseismic creep' along a 12- to 16-mile section of the fault, indicating it is sensitive to stress changes.
Researchers have characterized slow-slip events more precisely than previously possible, finding they obey the same scaling laws as regular earthquakes. This discovery opens the door for geoscientists to study these frequent and nondestructive events to better understand earthquake mechanics.
Researchers have developed a new method to study rocks along fault lines, revealing clearer views of the Earth's crust. This technique combines acoustic mapping with full waveform inversion, enabling scientists to better understand why earthquakes and tsunamis occur.
Researchers analyzed past major earthquakes in Mexico and Chile to understand earthquake cycles and calculate future seismic hazards. The data also helped develop new ideas about the physical processes involved in seismic rupture, geometry of subduction, and tsunami generation in the region.
A new study published in Seismological Research Letters has found that a series of small earthquakes in Surrey, UK, were not triggered by nearby oil extraction. The quakes, which occurred between April 2018 and May 2019, were found to have moved ancient faults horizontally, indicating natural causes.
Researchers measured the tower's vibrations using seismometers and found two primary resonance modes at frequencies of 0.8 and 1.0 hertz. The results help scientists understand how human-made vibrations affect seemingly unmovable rocks, offering a geological checkup for natural rock forms.
Researchers have discovered a connection between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions at Mount Aso in Japan. By analyzing very long period seismic waves, they found that earthquakes can trigger changes in pressure variations associated with magmatic activity, leading to eruptions.
Researchers discovered that slow slip events can arise with rate-strengthening friction, which produces stable sliding. The team found that changes in poroelastic pressure reduce friction, leading to a slow slip event.
Researchers at UTSA are developing indestructible cells that can dissipate energy during earthquakes without deforming or requiring repairs. The new architectural materials could reduce structural steel costs, be lightweight, and absorb high levels of energy.
Researchers have discovered that natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes follow a power law distribution, where smaller events occur more frequently. However, some events like forest fires deviate from this pattern and follow a lognormal distribution, contradicting previous studies.
The University of Texas at Arlington is developing an algorithm that models the effects of earthquakes on water pipeline infrastructure. This model determines how best to use limited infrastructure funding to make pipelines less prone to earthquake damage.
A comprehensive map of over 250 faults has identified the Fort Worth Basin as highly susceptible to seismic activity, with many small faults potentially capable of triggering earthquakes. The study recommends increased regulation and monitoring of wastewater injection to minimize the risk of induced seismicity.
Scientists from SMU, UT Austin and Stanford University found that the majority of faults underlying the Fort Worth Basin are sensitive to forces that could cause them to slip. The new study provides fundamental information regarding earthquake hazard to the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a link between oilfield wastewater disposal and increased high-magnitude earthquakes. The study found that the percentage of high-magnitude earthquakes increases with depth, suggesting that stronger earthquakes may occur years after injection rates decline or stop.
A $2.7 million NSF grant will study an active flat slab in Colombia, investigating its effects on the continental crust and volcanism. The research will compare two parts of the flat slab, allowing scientists to understand the initial migration and cessation of volcanism, as well as the formation of ore deposits.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that historical earthquake stresses can predict future seismic activity. Researchers analyzed centuries-old written records of damage to reveal 97% of earthquakes occurred on positively stressed faults.
A comprehensive catalog of earthquake sequences in the Fort Worth Basin reveals a decrease in seismicity rates since 2014, corresponding to reduced wastewater injection. New faults have become active, and seismicity continues at greater distances from injection wells over time.
Researchers have found that faults in the Imperial Valley are mechanically linked, forming a continuous fault structure. This could increase the likelihood of larger earthquakes in Los Angeles and surrounding counties.
Researchers discovered that tidal fluctuations cause the magma chamber to expand, forcing the lower block of earth to slide up the fault, resulting in earthquakes. Even small stresses can trigger tremors, making it difficult to predict when an earthquake will occur.
Researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology found that perfecting an ideal 'invisibility' cloak for stress waves is impossible. However, limited cloaking technology could still provide a degree of protection against certain stress waves, particularly in earthquakes.
Researchers have found a consistent pattern in GPS data that can detect signs of acceleration 10-15 seconds into an earthquake, potentially enhancing early warning systems. This discovery could strengthen the accuracy of seismic alerts, especially for magnitude 9 Cascadia subduction zone ruptures.
Researchers at Tufts University found that subsurface fluid injections can cause significant earthquake activity beyond the fluid diffusion zone. The study uses field experiment data and modeling of ground faults to support this hypothesis.
Volcano seismologist Jacqueline Caplan-Auerbach studies Loihi's 1996 eruption for parallels to Kilauea's 2018 activity, suggesting a caldera collapse mechanism. Loihi's recent increase in seismicity may indicate magma replenishment, predicting Kilauea could be quiet for a decade before reactivating.
Researchers have identified over 600 small earthquakes between magnitude 2.0 and 3.8 in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas, linked to fracking operations. The study reveals that the depth of the well is a significant factor in predicting likelihood of seismicity.
Researchers found a strong correlation between meltwater runoff and seismic activity in the region, suggesting that seeping water may trigger small earthquakes. The study suggests that the shallow nature of the earthquakes is due to the unique geology of the area, with steeply dipping rock layers acting as a conduit for meltwater.
A recent study suggests that reinforced concrete walls in Seattle may experience up to 11% larger displacement and a higher probability of collapse during magnitude 9 earthquakes due to basin effects. The research highlights the need for updated building codes and retrofits to mitigate potential damage.
Researchers expand earthquake catalog by a factor of 10, revealing daily quakes at 495 locations across the region. The study's template matching technique identifies tiny tremors, expanding our understanding of seismic events and their impact on the region.
A new study catalogs nearly 1.8 million tiny tremors in Southern California, filling gaps in the earthquake record and shedding light on geophysical processes. The analysis reveals that about 495 earthquakes occur each day in the region, with most being small and imperceptible.
An international team uses seismic data from glacial earthquakes to study calving and its impact on ice sheet mass loss. This breakthrough in environmental seismology reveals that calving resulted in the shedding of 370 gigatonnes of ice into the Arctic Ocean between 1993 and 2013.
Two moderate-sized earthquakes in Sichuan Province caused extensive damage and injury, likely triggered by nearby fracking operations. The earthquakes coincided with injection activities at fracking well pads, suggesting a link between the two.
Researchers have developed a new method to design systems with greater disaster resistance and resilience by incorporating negative probability. This method models correlated disruptions as independent impacts on virtual supporting stations, reducing complexity and enabling easier calculation of probabilities.
Researchers characterized two massive deep earthquakes in the Tonga-Fiji region, discovering complex geological processes and dual mechanism propagation patterns. The study suggests that these events can trigger subsequent large earthquakes and highlights the need to better understand deep-Earth processes.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new way to sense earthquakes using gravitational signals, which can detect seismic waves ahead of time. The method has been proven reliable with 7-sigma accuracy and could lead to improved early warning systems that save lives.
Researchers are using machine learning to analyze seismic data, identify earthquake centers and distinguish seismic activity from noise. Machine learning methods can also preserve analog records of past earthquakes by categorizing images.
Researchers used hourly water level records from tide gauges to detect episodic tremor and slip patterns in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The study found that these events occurred every 14.6 months between 1996 and 2011, but not during the pre-GPS era, suggesting a potential change in the pattern over time.
The EarthScope National Office has compiled a list of the program's top 10 discoveries, showcasing revolutionary findings in North America's structure and evolution. These breakthroughs include insights into earthquakes, volcanoes, and groundwater, highlighting the continent's dynamic geological history.
A study at Oregon State University found that 'silent slip' - a brief episode of shallow mantle creep and seismic swarms - occurs before large earthquakes. The research deployed seismometers on the ocean bottom to detect over 1,600 earthquakes at the Blanco Ridge fault.
Researchers from ETH Zurich developed a new model that simulates earthquake cycles in the Himalayas, predicting powerful earthquakes with a periodicity of 400 to 600 years. The model shows that medium-sized earthquakes can create conditions for even larger ones, leading to complete stress release in the rupture zone.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed a new computer modeling approach to investigate the connection between tiny tremors and devastating megathrust earthquakes. The study shows that changes in crustal stress state occur before major earthquakes, providing valuable insights into the forces driving these events.