Articles tagged with Earthquakes
Researchers have detected deep low-frequency earthquakes at great depths, suggesting the movement of magmatic fluids beneath Laacher See Volcano. The earthquakes are characterized by unusually low frequencies and occur episodically in groups along a specific depth range.
Seismic activity near Oroville Dam was related to reservoir discharge altering pressure on underlying rock fractures, causing them to open and close. The events occurred for decades prior to the dam's spillway failure and continued after it.
Researchers analyzed historical data to determine the sources of destructive Indonesian earthquakes, finding that intraslab earthquakes were responsible for many damaging quakes. The study suggests that Indonesia's 2010 and 2017 seismic hazard assessments perform well in predicting ground motion in key Javanese cities.
Researchers are exploring answers to fill crucial gaps in understanding intra-slab earthquakes, which can be large magnitude and felt over a broad area. They found that local geology can dramatically change the earthquake's effects, highlighting the need for hazard assessments to include information about the deep earth.
Scientists uncover evidence for multiple, older earthquake events in the geologic record, challenging the idea of a sustained tempo of faulting. The study reveals four distinct packages of sediment corresponding to previously identified earthquakes, with no evidence of additional seismic activity in the past 4,300 years.
The University of Cincinnati is studying landslides to improve public safety and understanding of these natural disasters. The research aims to add specific details on landslides to Nevada's map of known hazards, including areas prone to wildfires, flash-flood zones, and earthquake fault lines.
A new study finds that the depth of wastewater disposal in US oil sites significantly contributes to induced seismicity. In Oklahoma, deeper disposal into the basement rock increases seismicity due to higher cumulative volume and injection rates.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a link between tiny tremors on the Cascadia margin and fluid activity deep within the Earth's crust. The study reveals that these small quakes are related to slippage in the subducting plate, which releases fluids into sediments trapped beneath the overriding plate.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a fast and accurate method for estimating local geomagnetic fields using machine-learning techniques. This approach can detect changes caused by earthquakes and tsunamis, enabling unprecedentedly early warnings before these natural disasters strike.
Researchers suggest a hydraulic fracturing well in Alberta, Canada was in contact with an active fault, causing induced seismicity. The coincidence of geological conditions required for induced seismicity are rarely expected to occur naturally, according to the study.
Researchers developed a model to forecast man-made earthquake activity in Oklahoma and Kansas, incorporating earthquake physics and wastewater injection data. The model predicts a 32% probability of potentially damaging earthquakes in 2018, decreasing to 19% by 2020.
Researchers identified a collapsed underground cavity and multiple small earthquakes after the September 2017 North Korean nuclear test, providing insights into the detection of nuclear explosions. The study's findings also shed light on seismic stress in the region and potential aftershocks.
Researchers in India used GPS and satellite data to track crustal deformation around reservoirs, finding that seasonal filling can reduce the strength of nearby faults and trigger earthquakes. Even small reservoirs can cause significant deformation capable of triggering an earthquake if there are critically stressed faults in the region.
Scientists discovered that a North Korean nuclear bomb test in 2017 set off aftershocks over eight months, providing insight into the physics of nuclear explosions and how natural earthquakes can be triggered. The analysis used new methods to pinpoint the locations of the quakes with greater precision, revealing a hidden fracture.
Researchers at UMass Amherst found that small earthquakes near the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults may be due to deep creep 10 km below the surface. This finding should support more refined assessments of fault loading and earthquake rupture risk in the region.
A study of injection wells reveals that they can cause earthquakes up to 6 miles away from the well site. Injecting fluids into sedimentary rock produces bigger, more distant earthquakes compared to injecting into the underlying basement rock. This challenges current recommendations for hydraulic fracturing and wastewater disposal.
A joint British-Italian team has shown that the clustering of three deadly quakes in Italy's Apennine mountains may have been caused by a cross-cutting network of underground faults. The research found that smaller faults prevented a single massive earthquake from occurring and also triggered later earthquakes.
A new study finds that sea-level rise can significantly increase the tsunami hazard, with smaller tsunamis posing greater risks due to increased flooding frequency. The study simulates tsunami inundation maps for Macau and warns of increased dangers from tsunamis in the South China Sea region.
Researchers from EPFL and ENS Paris have discovered that highly pressurized water in the vicinity of an earthquake can reduce its intensity. This finding contradicts previous theories and highlights the importance of considering fluid pressure in geothermal models to accurately predict earthquake behavior.
The study identifies at least three tears in the Indian mantle lithosphere underthrusting the Himalayas. This model explains patterns of crustal deformation and east-west extension in southern Tibet, providing insights into the region's seismic activity.
Researchers from the University of Houston have reported a new understanding of deep earthquakes, finding they are hosted in anisotropic rocks. This discovery explains why deep earthquakes radiate seismic energy differently than shallow ones, offering insights into the causes of these events.
A new model developed by Indiana University researchers estimates the likelihood of landslides triggered by earthquakes, offering potentially life-saving information to those affected. The model uses data from past earthquakes and landslides to provide fast, regional estimates of landslide occurrence.
Researchers at GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences have developed a new method using fiber-optic cables to detect earthquakes and other ground movements. The technique reveals structural features in the underground with unprecedented resolution, outperforming existing seismological networks worldwide.
A Portsmouth researcher is developing a mathematical model to speed up the delivery of life-saving blood to victims of disasters, reducing blood wastage and loss of life. The model will inform venue and location for temporary blood donation centres, transportation routes, and quantities delivered.
ASU scientists found that slow earthquakes on the central section of the San Andreas Fault release energy over months, triggering large destructive quakes in their surroundings. The research suggests that seismic hazard in California varies over time and is higher than previously thought.
Researchers have developed a new approach to detect quakes by measuring optical phase changes in oceanic fiber optic cables triggered by seismic waves. This method can effectively detect quake activity and parameters, even in regions where seismic monitoring has been limited.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery of accelerating activity before a 2016 earthquake in central Alaska. The study found evidence for very low-frequency earthquakes, which do not typically exhibit the usual P and S waves associated with typical earthquakes.
A study led by Drexel University's Amanda Lough has shown that East Antarctica is seismically active, contradicting the long-held assumption that its inactivity was caused by ice. The seismic array detected 27 earthquakes in 2009, tripling the total number of recorded events.
Researchers identified repeating seismic events at volcanoes in Costa Rica, offering insights into magma movement and gas activity. Drumbeat seismicity at Turrialba may have preceded a small eruption, while earthquakes halted repeating events at Poas by altering the stress field around the volcano.
Scientists found that altering fluid injection rates near faults can reduce seismic events and magnitudes. Active pressure management may help control induced earthquakes in real-time, but more data is needed for specific site recommendations.
A research team of engineers, led by Professor Camillo Nuti at Roma Tre University, investigated the Leaning Tower of Pisa's survival despite strong earthquakes. The team found that dynamic soil-structure interaction (DSSI) helped the tower survive due to its unique combination of height and foundation soil stiffness.
Researchers have detected small earthquakes caused by migrating gases in the underground, particularly in the Istanbul-Marmara region. The study found that natural gas reservoirs near tectonic disturbances can trigger weaker earthquakes as a result of gas escaping and moving upwards.
Slow slip events (SSEs) release seismic stress at a lower rate than large earthquakes, potentially triggering megathrust earthquake events. The study analyzed waveform data from beneath Kanto, Japan, and found that seismic activity varied in response to SSEs, through episodic cycles.
A mission is underway to lower sub-seafloor observatories into the Hikurangi subduction zone off New Zealand. This expedition aims to understand why destructive tsunamis occur after shallow earthquakes and underwater landslides, shedding light on New Zealand's largest earthquake and tsunami hazard.
A new report by the Seismological Society of America concludes that wastewater created during oil and gas production is the probable cause for a surge in earthquakes in southern Kansas. Between 2012 and 2016, six magnitude 4 or greater earthquakes occurred in the study area, with decreases in seismicity corresponding to decreases in di...
A comprehensive analysis of 101 major earthquakes found most aftershock activity occurred on the margins of the fault slip zone, supporting the idea that large-slip zones are unlikely to rupture again soon. Stress increases in surrounding areas.
The September 2017 earthquakes showcased the effectiveness of Mexico's SASMEX early warning system, which detected the magnitude 8.2 Tehuantepec earthquake and sent alerts to residents with almost two minutes' notice. However, improvements are needed to reduce processing times and ensure timely warnings for all residents.
A new study by the University of Bristol found that Oklahoma's seismicity is strongly linked to fluid injection depth. The team used a powerful computer model to examine the connections between injection volume, depth, and location, as well as geological features.
Scientists at Cardiff University have developed a new method to calculate tsunami size and destructive force by measuring acoustic gravity waves. The technology uses fast-moving underwater sound waves generated after tsunami trigger events, such as earthquakes, making them an ideal source of information for early warning systems.
Researchers identified specific factors causing seismic activity in Alberta's Duvernay play, finding that increased hydraulic fracturing fluid volumes in susceptible locations trigger earthquakes. The study aims to improve earthquake prediction and mitigate induced seismicity in the region.
A study published in Seismological Research Letters found no correlation between great earthquake rates and lunar phases or day of the year. Large earthquakes were matched with lunar phase and day data to rule out random patterns, and no significant effects were detected.
A new study by Virginia Tech researchers found that efforts to curb earthquakes triggered by oilfield wastewater injections are not targeting the most dangerous tremblers. To mitigate large magnitude earthquakes, a larger reduction in injection volumes is needed, according to the study.
Researchers used new dating methods to study dynamic sediment remobilisation processes triggered by seismic activity in the Japan Trench. The methods enabled precise analysis of organic matter in individual sediment layers, revealing key findings about the history of earthquakes and the carbon cycle in the deep ocean.
Researchers found a correlation between saltwater disposal and earthquake occurrence up to 125 km, but reducing small faults didn't affect larger earthquakes. To reduce large fluid-triggered earthquakes, injecting less water appears to be the solution.
Research at the AGU Fall Meeting found that mistletoe lacks adaptation to conserve water during hot weather, leading to increased evaporation and potential tree death. Trees with high mistletoe levels become less healthy and can die when dry spells persist.
Scientists analyzed seismic data from Japan's Hi-net network to identify changes in subsurface conditions before and after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. These changes, including slowed seismic velocity, may signal impending earthquakes or volcanic activity.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab successfully deploy dark fiber for seismic monitoring, detecting earthquakes and changes in permafrost conditions. The technique uses distributed acoustic sensing to measure seismic waves, providing comparable results to conventional seismometers.
New study reveals that frequency and magnitude of large Himalayan earthquakes depend on tectonic plate collision rate, which controls temperature and earthquake generation areas. The team found a link between plate collisions in the Alps and Himalaya, with slower collisions increasing earthquake hazard.
Researchers have observed weak gravity signals related to earthquakes and found they are sensitive to the magnitude of quakes. These signals may aid in early identification of major earthquakes.
Recent North Texas earthquakes occurred on faults inactive for at least 300 million years, supporting the assertion they were induced by human activity. The study discriminates between natural and induced seismicity using classical structural geology analysis techniques.
Researchers suggest that the Parkfield segment of the San Andreas Fault must host occasional large earthquakes to balance its seismic moment deficit. The study found that the probability of an earthquake magnitude 6 or more is around 43% over 30 years and 96% over 200 years.
A University of Colorado Boulder study found more than 1,800 earthquakes in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico between 2008 and 2010 were likely caused by fluids pumped deep underground during oil and gas wastewater disposal. Elevated pore pressures in the basement rock underlie the Raton Basin's oldest stratified layers.
A team of researchers successfully predicted earthquakes using machine learning techniques in a laboratory setting. By analyzing acoustic signals from faults, they identified a pattern that can be used to estimate the stress on the fault and predict when an earthquake will occur.
Researchers used dense seismograph network to map near-surface geology around Old Faithful, discovering a reservoir of heated water that fuels the geyser. The study also reveals how ground shaking behaves between eruptions and finds an underground feature affecting seismic waves in a specific area.
Researchers have discovered a potential method to predict nearby strong earthquakes by analyzing deep tremors. The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, found that changes in deep tremor patterns can signal an impending earthquake.
The Human-Induced Earthquake Database has grown to over 730 entries, revealing that mining projects and water impounded behind dams are the most common causes of induced earthquakes. Unconventional oil and gas extraction using hydraulic fracturing is also a frequent contributor, according to geophysicist Miles Wilson.
A comprehensive study of faults in the Olympic Mountains reveals three to five large earthquakes occurred within the last 13,000 years. The two most recent earthquakes are estimated to be magnitude 7 and 6-7 respectively, posing a significant threat to Seattle and other population centers.
A new analysis published in Science Advances found that the probability of moderate earthquakes in Oklahoma is two times higher than initially predicted, contradicting earlier predictions of reduced seismic activity. Moderate earthquakes continue to pose a significant hazard in central and western Oklahoma.
Scientists have found that human-induced and natural earthquakes in the central US share similar ground motions, allowing existing prediction frameworks to be applied to both types. This simplifies hazard assessment and could lead to improved building design and infrastructure resilience.
Researchers found that human-induced and naturally occurring earthquakes in the central US share the same shaking potential, causing similar damage. The study used seismic data from 39 earthquakes, concluding that stress drop values of induced and natural earthquakes are identical.