Articles tagged with Earthquakes
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 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.
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.
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 near-continuous tremor activity and 1,300 low-frequency earthquakes in the region, suggesting a connection to damaging earthquakes. The study used a novel 'beam back projection' method to track slow earthquakes minute-by-minute, revealing clusters of tremor sources with distinct properties.
UMass Amherst researchers investigate strike-slip faults, revealing the 'Lazy Earth' hypothesis, where faults evolve to optimize energy transformation. The study identifies four stages in fault evolution: pre-faulting, localization, linkage, and slip, with irregularities persisting along mature faults.
Researchers discover evidence of three past earthquakes in the area, one potentially magnitude 6 or greater, indicating active faulting and strong seismic activity. The study suggests that large earthquakes may have occurred in the late Pleistocene era during the last North American ice age.
Researchers studying slow-slip earthquakes on the seafloor off Japan's coast have gained new insights into undersea earthquakes and tsunami creation. About 50% of energy released during these events can be dissipated, potentially reducing tsunami risk.
Researchers found that 50% of energy is released in slow earthquakes, reducing tsunami risk, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. The study used data from instruments placed on the seafloor and in boreholes east of Japan's coast to understand slow-slip earthquakes and their impact on large earthquakes and tsunamis.
Researchers found that seasonal stress changes, caused by winter rains and summer rebound, lead to an increase in small earthquakes along California faults. The study used regional global positioning system data to calculate stresses due to water loads, revealing a correlation between peak stress and seismicity.
Researchers estimate that the next major earthquake in Istanbul will originate from the Eastern Marmara Sea due to a build-up of energy from entangled tectonic plates. This could lead to a shorter early warning period, but potentially less severe ground shaking than expected.
Researchers at UCL and the Vesuvius Observatory used a new model to investigate Campi Flegrei's unrest, finding a build-up of energy that makes the volcano more susceptible to eruption. The study suggests an increased possibility of eruption in the near future.
Researchers used deep geophysical exploration and seismic tomography to study the deep tectonic environment of strong earthquakes in North China. Key findings include a complex tectonic setting with a listric normal fault and high-angle deep fault, and a low-velocity anomaly in the middle-lower crust
Researchers from Caltech discovered that fast ruptures along thrust faults can cause one side of the fault to twist away from the other, opening a gap that then snaps shut. This mechanism has the potential to change our understanding of how tsunamis are generated.
The global wine industry suffers over $10 billion in losses annually from natural disasters and extreme weather events. A new risk index for wine regions reveals the most vulnerable areas, with Argentina's Mendoza and Georgia's Kakheti being top-risk zones.
Researchers at Nagoya University and their colleagues studied historical seismic events to shed light on the mechanisms behind earthquakes at a plate boundary. They found that stronger earthquakes involved ruptures at different sites, providing new insights into risk prediction tools for assessing earthquake likelihood and intensity.
A new study reveals that faults like the San Andreas Fault can experience prolonged 'afterslip' for six to twelve years after an earthquake, unlike a similar quake in Napa, California, which showed less afterslip. This variation makes it harder to predict post-earthquake damage and infrastructure repair needs.
Researchers estimate a 43% probability of at least one magnitude 6.75 or greater earthquake in the Wasatch Front region by 2070. The study, published in 2016, predicts that 22 large earthquakes have ruptured parts of the fault zone between Nephi and Brigham City over the past 6000 years.
Researchers study Oklahoma's earthquakes to understand human-induced seismicity and its link to wastewater injection from oil and gas production. New seismic stations deployed across the state provide better insight into fore-and aftershocks and earthquake sequences.
A new microinsurance plan for California earthquakes aims to provide financial support to residents who fall into a 'payout zone' after an earthquake. The plan, developed by Kate Stillwell, uses data on seismic shaking intensity to create a payout zone defined by census blocks and shaking intensities.
Researchers are developing methods to predict and mitigate fracking-induced earthquakes in Canada and the US. Experts are working to identify factors that affect the likelihood of damaging ground motion from these earthquakes.
Scientists have deployed hundreds of seismometers around the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park to gain a clearer picture of how it erupts. The seismic data offer insights into the active hydrothermal system below the geyser, which could help monitor less predictable geysers.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown process involving the melting of intensely-mixed metamorphic rocks, known as mélange rocks, that form through high stress during subduction. This finding changes our understanding of how volcanic arc lavas are formed and may have implications for earthquake studies and volcanic eruption risks.
Scientists use relative strength index from stock market to detect slow slip earthquakes, matching results with exhaustive analyses. The technique detects millimeter-scale changes in position at surface, providing clues on plate boundary physics.
A new research project aims to explore the mechanisms causing earthquakes in the lower crust, accounting for 30% of intracontinental seismic activity. By combining geological and satellite observations with laboratory work, scientists hope to increase knowledge of geological processes and mitigate the dangers posed by such activity.
A newly analyzed fault system off California's coast is capable of producing earthquakes with magnitudes up to 7.3. The Newport-Inglewood/Rose Canyon faults are part of a single, continuous fault system that runs from San Diego to Los Angeles. This realization has significant implications for the state's densely populated urban areas.
A new software tool calculates the probability of triggering manmade earthquakes from wastewater injection and oil gas production activities. The Fault Slip Potential (FSP) tool identifies at-risk faults, allowing energy companies and regulators to avoid them and implement enhanced monitoring efforts.
Scientists have developed a new modification to the Gutenberg-Richter law to better predict large earthquakes. This improved model takes into account the finite size of the Earth and provides more accurate estimates of seismic risk. The researchers hope their findings will be useful in evaluating economic losses from potential disasters.
Researchers propose firing deep-ocean sound waves at oncoming tsunamis to dissipate energy and reduce amplitude. This process could minimize damage and save lives, but poses technical challenges including devising accurate frequency transmitters.
Scientists discovered a seismic belt in the downgoing slab of the Pacific Plate, triggered by the sudden release of water due to temperature changes. The findings suggest that earthquakes occur when the mantle releases its water, which is correlated with the subduction rate and slab temperature.
Research at Tokyo Institute of Technology found that draining pore-fluids reduces tremors by lowering megathrust shear strength and facilitating shallow seismicity. The study suggests a correlation between fluid flux from the subducting slab and anti-correlated seismicity in the overlying plate.
Scientists discovered that large bumps and mounds on the sea floor can cause sudden slip of tectonic plates, triggering giant earthquakes. The research, published in Nature Geoscience, could lead to more accurate models for forecasting where megathrust earthquakes are likely to occur.
A University of Washington study has captured the eruption of an underwater volcano in unprecedented detail, providing new clues about the behavior of volcanoes where two ocean plates are moving apart. The research used data from the Cabled Array seafloor observatory to analyze seismic vibrations and movement before and during the event.
New research highlights the importance of including physical, political, cultural and socio-economic factors in natural hazard risk assessments. Syrian refugees living in seismically active regions of Turkey could boost the death toll from a major earthquake by up to 20 percent.
The rate of manmade, induced earthquakes in Oklahoma is expected to decline due to reduced wastewater injection, according to Stanford scientists. The probability of damaging earthquakes will remain elevated for several years.
Researchers found three areas of hot rock within the mantle beneath three separate volcanic provinces, indicating that Madagascar's volcanoes are not related to nearby tectonic activity. The study suggests that the island's unique geology, with a delaminated lithosphere and a mantle plume, led to the formation of these hot regions.
Geologists have identified the Banda Detachment fault in eastern Indonesia, revealing a 7 km-deep abyss formed by 120 km of extension along a low-angle crack. This discovery helps assess dangers of future tsunamis and earthquakes in the region.
Researchers found that very large earthquakes occur on flat fault areas, suggesting a link between fault curvature and megaquake risk. The study's findings support the idea that curvy faults are less likely to experience massive earthquakes.
Researchers used crowdsourced data to investigate earthquake feelings in Italy and Greece. Intermediate-depth earthquakes are often felt on the African side of the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary.
Stanford scientists created detailed stress maps to understand earthquake triggers in Texas and Oklahoma, identifying problematic faults and ideal orientations for earthquakes. The maps help predict seismic activity resulting from fluid injection, enabling companies and regulators to avoid these faults and prevent induced earthquakes.
A new study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America suggests that a handful of damaging earthquakes in the Los Angeles Basin may have been induced by oil production activities in the early 20th century. The researchers found links between earthquakes and significant oil production activities nearby, but note t...
This research analyzes the 2010 Chile and 2011 New Zealand earthquakes that caused significant damage to reinforced concrete buildings. The study highlights key factors contributing to structural failure, including flexural compression failure, tension-compression failure, and plan/elevation irregularities.
A new study confirms that the entire 2,400-kilometer Himalayan mountain range is seismogenic and can produce large earthquakes. Researchers discovered a major earthquake in Bhutan in 1714 using historical records and geologic data, shedding light on the region's potential for natural hazards.
The collaboration aims to refine national seismic hazard models by sharing expertise and research topics. The focus section discusses different modeling approaches and primary audiences, providing insights into the consequences of similar megathrust earthquakes in each region.
The UW RAPID facility will provide next-generation tools for collecting post-disaster data, including laser scanning equipment and mobile devices for social surveys. The center aims to reduce physical damage and socio-economic losses from future events by analyzing complex data sets and improving mathematical models.
A new fault has been identified in the Salton Sea area of Southern California, which could impact current seismic hazard models and earthquake risk assessment. The discovery provides much-needed information on the intricate structure of earthquake faults beneath the sea and may offer new insights into the region's earthquake cycle.