Articles tagged with Earthquakes
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Scientists studying Indiana cave stalagmites may uncover evidence of past earthquakes in the region, according to a new study. The research team found that two stalagmite pairs stopped growing around 100,000 years ago and resumed growth at around 6,000 years ago, overlapping with known magnitude 7.1-7.3 earthquakes.
A new study by Scripps Institution of Oceanography has discovered that large earthquakes on one fault can trigger large aftershocks on separate faults within minutes. This finding has significant implications for earthquake-prone regions like California, where complex fault systems may lead to mega-earthquakes.
Researchers propose large-scale metamaterials as seismic shields to protect areas from earthquake damage. The shields work by inhibiting the propagation of incoming seismic waves through interference effects.
A new analysis reveals that massive earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone, affecting population centers like Portland and Seattle, may occur more frequently than thought. The study used detailed data from core samples and found slightly higher chances of an earthquake within the next 50 years.
Researchers studied 7th-century A.D. temples in northwest India to reconstruct historic earthquakes, finding evidence of damage from magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 quakes. The study extended rupture zones for two major earthquakes, suggesting the region is prone to powerful earthquakes.
A Kyoto University study shows tsunami-borne EM fields can extract key information about earthquake hypocenters, including fault dip direction, which helps with early warning systems. This discovery could lead to improved tsunami forecasting and timely evacuations.
Researchers discovered that coconut walls can dissipate energy via crack deflection, thanks to a distinct, ladder-like design of the vascular system. This structure could be applied to functionally graded concrete to enhance its energy dissipation capacity and protect buildings against earthquakes and other hazards.
The July 2016 issue of Geology features studies on pre-Mississippian tectonic affinity across the Canada Basin-Arctic margins, as well as hydrothermal alteration of seafloor peridotites. Researchers also investigate recent volcanic resurfacing of Venusian craters and cyanobacterial fossilization in Ediacaran siliciclastic environments.
A University of Montana researcher has contributed to a groundbreaking study on the complexity of earthquakes and their forecastability. The research found that smaller and larger quakes contribute to the movement of the Himalayas, increasing the frequency but reducing the impact of earthquakes in the region.
Earthquakes triggered by human activity have been widespread throughout Texas since the 1920s, according to a new review of evidence. Oil and gas operations are the primary cause, but specific techniques have varied over time.
A new study found that earthquakes can cause magma to slosh and create conditions for volcanic eruptions. The research used a precision shake table to model the movement of magma and found that sloshing can lead to the formation of bubbles, which release gas into the atmosphere, decreasing pressure and triggering an eruption.
A slow slip event in New Zealand's Hikurangi margin showed that subduction plates may be accumulating much more stress and strain than previously thought. This finding helps assess earthquake occurrence risk in coastal areas near subduction zones, especially at locations of shallow depth.
Researchers have discovered a slow-slip event that lasted two weeks, resulting in 15-20 centimeters of movement along the fault. The finding increases understanding of the relationship between slow slip and normal earthquakes, highlighting the potential for using offshore monitoring systems to predict damaging earthquakes.
Scientists have found that pieces of the underside of the North American Plate are peeling off, sinking into the mantle, and causing earthquakes in the southeastern US. This process is likely to produce more earthquakes in the future due to unbalanced stresses in the plate.
Researchers discovered that rainwater can channel up the Alpine Fault and overwhelm contributions from mantle-derived fluids, focusing it onto the fault. This finding sheds light on the trigger mechanisms for major seismic events and has implications for understanding catastrophic earthquakes.
A seismic network in Nevada is being used to monitor wildfires and provide early intelligence on more than 25 fires during the last fire season. The technology has the potential to remake firefighting by allowing for tactical suppression and scaling resources appropriately, saving time and money.
Researchers use new tools to detect patterns of seismic activity before volcanic eruptions, comparing them to past eruptions to determine when a particular volcano might erupt. The study also examines swarms of small earthquakes that appear to precede many eruptions, aiming to learn more about magma movement.
Researchers examine factors influencing induced earthquake locations and strengths in central US and western Canada. The USGS report estimates 7 million people live in areas affected by induced seismicity.