Researchers mapped the Challenger Deep using the EM124 multibeam echosounder, finding a preferred estimate of 10,927 m, which highlights the importance of sound-speed models, vessel speed, and survey conditions. The study's dataset is publicly available, allowing for further validation and comparison with other observations.
A recent GEOMAR study found that climate change can trigger cascading natural hazards in the Arctic. The research team investigated an earthquake that triggered a rock avalanche on Jan Mayen island, revealing the devastating impact of permafrost degradation on the region's slopes and glaciers.
Scientists have developed a method to identify where Earth's biggest earthquakes are most likely to occur, focusing on subduction zones. The approach uses GPS measurements to detect locked regions along faults, which store energy until a major earthquake triggers. While the method cannot predict tsunami size or timing, it can narrow do...
Researchers developed an AI model combining physics and observations to reconstruct the Earth's mantle history. The model accurately recreated past temperatures and deep-mantle flow with high accuracy, indicating that combining complementary geophysical information is essential for recovering realistic mantle convection histories.
Scientists propose a colossal cliff across ancient North America may have exposed Grand Canyon's oldest rocks nearly a billion years before it was carved by the Colorado River. The study suggests the 'great escarpment' of steep rocky cliffs formed when the supercontinent Rodinia broke apart 800 million years ago.
Researchers uncovered previously undetected slow slip events in Parkfield, California, and found that these silent fault movements systematically follow increased low-frequency earthquake activity. The discovery suggests that slow slip may play an important role in how stress evolves along active faults.
Researchers used numerical simulations and isotopic data to connect hot spring magmatic water to the subducting Pacific Plate. The study found that magmatic water from Kawayu Onsen in Japan closely matched isotopic values released from the Pacific Plate at a depth of 125 km.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, causing widespread damage and leaving communities to face years of recovery. Researchers mapped the fault behavior behind the event, finding a 500km surface rupture along the Sagaing Fault.
Researchers found that deformation across the region is dominated by crustal compression, with intense strain concentrated near Siberut Island and the Sumatran Fault Zone. The study provides critical information for updating seismic hazard assessments and long-term disaster planning.
Researchers found that 77% of rocks analyzed cooled at roughly the same time between 5-7 million years ago, providing direct evidence for a massive uplift event. This timing coincides with a previously known event during which the Pacific plate rotated, causing widespread deformation and uplift along the Ring of Fire.
Researchers suggest that frequent asteroid strikes may have kept the early Earth hotter and more unstable, making it difficult for rocks to survive. This led to a lack of preserved rocks from the first 500 million years of Earth's history, with long-lived continents forming only after impact intensity declined.
A study by geoscientists at the University of Sydney reveals why some ancient continental edges became fertile sites for major mineral deposits, while others did not. The research developed a dynamic model of the Earth going back 1.8 billion years to identify how mineralised ores formed in specific places.
Researchers found evidence that the Aleutian Islands' subduction beneath the North American Plate occurred at least 56 million years ago, significantly earlier than previously thought. This discovery has implications for understanding tectonic and climatic processes that shaped the Earth's history.
Researchers reconstructed the 2025 Kamchatka earthquake's rupture evolution using two methods, finding it extended about 500 km from its epicenter. The rupture overlap with the 1952 magnitude 9.0 event suggests local structural features control megathrust margin ruptures.
Researchers analyze helium isotope readings from geothermal springs in Zambia's Kafue Rift to confirm the presence of a weakness in the Earth's crust that has broken through to reach the mantle. The discovery could have significant economic implications for geothermal energy and potentially influence the future shape of Africa.
Research on the 2025 Myanmar earthquake reveals that small differences in fault movement over time can build uneven stress, influencing where quakes start and spread. This study challenges the seismic gap hypothesis and suggests a broader shift in understanding earthquake hazard, enabling better quake risk estimates for major faults.
The study found that the Turkana Rift has been significantly thinned, with the crust about 13 kilometers thick, compared to over 35 kilometers farther from the rift. This thinning is a sign of a process called 'necking' where the crust stretches and becomes weaker, promoting continued rifting.
Researchers at Kyoto University discovered a previously unrecognized feature in near-fault seismic records of large earthquakes: a distinct stopping phase. This phase represents a systematic signal associated with the termination of rupture, demonstrating that many near-field recordings contain this coherent stopping phase.
Researchers found that incorporating data from ocean bottom seismometers could improve ShakeAlert's detection time by 5-9 seconds. This technology has the potential to increase warning times for regional offshore earthquakes by up to 40 seconds.
New research proposes that rock grains bond together at microscopic contact points, governing friction and stress release during earthquakes. This finding challenges existing models and suggests tectonic plates behave differently than previously assumed.
Research suggests that hydrous and repeated mantle melting is key driver of gold enrichment in island arc magmas. The study found that high-degree melting leads to significant concentrations of gold, often several times higher than those found in mid-ocean ridge basalts.
A new study published in Science reveals that tectonic plates began moving around 3.5 billion years ago, with the Pilbara Craton in western Australia showing evidence of plate movement and drift. The research used ancient rock samples to track the motion of the plates, providing insights into Earth's history and evolution.
The study found that carbonation occurred during shallow crustal extension, challenging earlier interpretations of deep subduction environments. Naturally carbonated ultramafic rocks provide a valuable natural analogue for long-term carbon storage in solid minerals.
Researchers found the Cascadia Subduction Zone to be more active than previously thought, with signs of shallow earthquakes and fluid flow detected offshore. The study suggests variable fluid pathways could alter the behavior of large earthquakes on the fault, potentially influencing the severity of future events.
Deformation mechanisms of serpentinite, a key research target for understanding plate boundaries, have been investigated. Grain boundary sliding dominates deformation, producing 'B-type' CPO patterns, which contribute to seismic activity and earthquakes.
A team of scientists discovered the King's Trough Complex, a colossal submarine canyon off Portugal's coast, formed by tectonic processes and hot mantle material. The structure extends over 500 kilometers, with Peake Deep as one of the deepest points in the Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers tracked tiny earthquakes to better understand the complex region where the San Andreas fault meets the Cascadia subduction zone. The study reveals five moving pieces, including two out of sight from the Earth's surface, which contribute to the seismic hazard.
A new seafloor study revealed that a thin, clay-rich layer hidden beneath the seafloor enabled the 2011 Japan earthquake to rupture all the way to the trench, producing massive displacement. This finding could help scientists better understand and respond to other intense earthquakes and tsunamis.
A recent Science study analyzing seismic data reveals a series of eastward-propagating M>5 events along the Main Marmara Fault over the last ~15 years. This finding highlights the need for continuous monitoring to assess the potential impact of a large quake on Istanbul's 18 million inhabitants.
New research using earthquake and satellite data reveals the Iberian Peninsula is rotating clockwise due to collision between Eurasia and Africa plates. The study provides insights into geodynamic processes and deformation fields in the region.
Sixty-million-year-old rock samples have revealed how massive amounts of carbon dioxide are stored in piles of lava rubble on the seafloor. This discovery sheds light on the importance of breccia, a geological sponge for carbon in the long-term carbon cycle.
Climate changes in Lake Turkana influenced fault activity and magma production, rewriting the story of human evolution. Researchers found that lower lake levels led to increased melting and faulting, with potential implications for future volcanic and tectonic activity in East Africa.
Tulane researchers discovered that an area of the African tectonic plate, previously thought to be weak, is now resisting deformation due to dehydration 80 million years ago. This process strengthened the plate and made it more resistant to future breakup.
A study reveals how plate tectonics reshaped the planet, triggering conditions for oxygen-rich oceans and eukaryote evolution. The findings link deep-Earth dynamics to near-surface geochemical and biological evolution, offering a unifying framework.
A new study reveals that Madagascar's striking landscape was shaped by two great rifting events, separated by nearly 80 million years. These tectonic shifts created fragmented environments where species evolved independently, contributing to the island's extraordinary biodiversity.
New research reveals Greenland is shrinking slightly, but expanding in some regions, due to accelerated melting and prehistoric ice mass movements. The island's horizontal movements are being pulled in different directions, with areas of expansion and contraction observed.
Researchers estimate a medieval tsunami struck Anegada between 1381 and 1391, based on analysis of coral skeletons. The finding supports efforts to prepare for future tsunamis in the Caribbean region.
Researchers found that high temperatures exceeding 900 degrees Celsius in the planet's lower continental crust are necessary for stable continental formation. This process redistributes radioactive elements, generating heat as they decay, allowing the deep crust to cool and strengthen.
Researchers found similarities in timing and structure of turbidite layers in cores from both fault systems, suggesting seismic synchronization between Cascadia and San Andreas faults. The study, led by Chris Goldfinger, suggests that earthquakes on one fault could draw down resources across the country.
Researchers at MIT have traced the energy released by 'lab quakes' and found that 80% of a quake's energy goes into heating up the region around the epicenter, while only 10% causes physical shaking. The study's findings could help seismologists predict earthquake vulnerability in regions prone to seismic events.
Planets with 10% carbon dioxide could maintain a biosphere for 4.2 billion years, while those with 1% carbon dioxide last only 3.1 billion years. These conditions make the existence of technological alien life unlikely, with estimated lifetimes ranging from 280,000 to millions of years.
A new study reveals that a 1954 magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Northern California was likely triggered by the Cascadia subduction interface, challenging previous assumptions about its source.
Rice University geophysicist Richard Gordon has been honored with the Geological Society of America's Woollard Award for his transformative work on global plate motions and plate boundary deformation. He is recognized for shedding light on diffuse oceanic plate boundaries, true polar wander, and standard global plate motion models.
The University of Tokyo researchers developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can withstand ocean currents and wind, enabling the acquisition of reliable seafloor measurements. The system achieved a horizontal root mean square error of approximately 1–2 cm, comparable to existing vessel-based systems.
A recent study analyzed CCTV footage of the 2025 Myanmar Earthquake, capturing unprecedented details about the fault motion. The team found that the fault slipped sideways by 2.5 meters in just 1.3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 3.2 meters per second.
Geologists have connected a 120-million-year-old 'super-eruption' to its source, revealing insights into Earth's complex geological history. The discovery provides a more complete history of the Pacific Ocean basin and sheds light on volcanic activity in the region.
Researchers found that melting ice sheets in North America and Greenland may have increased horizontal motion of plates by 25% and up to 40% at the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge. This could lead to an increase in volcanic eruptions in Iceland.
Researchers analyze Makran Subduction Zone using advanced thermal modeling to understand slab dehydration, fluid release patterns, and seismic activity. The study provides new insights into subduction dynamics and contributes to seismic hazard assessment in the region.
A new research infrastructure called SAFAtor aims to close the gap in ocean data by collecting real-time pressure, temperature, and seismic data from deep-sea telecommunications cables. The project will deploy sensor technology along an undersea cable to monitor climate and geological hazards.
Scientists have developed a new technique to study faults, which can improve earthquake forecasts by determining the origins and directions of past rupture events. By analyzing curved scratches left on the fault plane, researchers can pinpoint where earthquakes start and spread, providing valuable insights for modeling future scenarios.
A new study reveals that a giant meteorite impact, equivalent to four Mount Everests, triggered a tsunami that mixed ocean debris and heated the atmosphere. This led to a rapid recovery of bacterial life, with iron-metabolizing bacteria flourishing in its wake.
A study found that a significant increase in plate-derived water beneath Arima Hot Springs occurred before the 1995 Kobe earthquake, potentially weakening the fault and triggering the quake. This phenomenon is similar to increased chloride ions and radon in groundwater, which have been reported as precursors to earthquakes.
Researchers confirm multi-stage lithospheric dripping as cause of basin subsidence in Central Anatolian Plateau. Laboratory experiments and satellite data reveal intricate connection between plateau uplift and basin formation events.
Researchers from Kyushu University have identified a link between fault strength and earthquake magnitude, suggesting that stronger faults are more likely to produce large earthquakes. The study analyzed seismic activity at over 1,000 locations and estimated the stress field and characterized faults as strong or weak.
A Rice-led team studied massif-type anorthosites to understand their formation, revealing they likely originated from melting of subducted oceanic crust beneath convergent continental margins. The research provides new insights into Earth's thermal and tectonic evolution and chronicles the physical evolution of our planet.
Researchers found that the energy dissipated by past earthquakes was significantly higher than expected, suggesting repeated earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.8-8.3 Mw. The unique pattern of fragmentation in the breccia provided valuable evidence to estimate the energy of past earthquakes.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin propose a new step in the tectonic process that raises seafloors into mountains, involving oceanic crust influencing magma chamber formation. This discovery has implications for understanding back arc basins and their role in regulating the planet's climate.
The Lunar Environment Monitoring System, developed by UMD researchers, will track seismic activity on the moon's surface during the upcoming Artemis III mission. The system's data will help prepare NASA for a long-term presence on other planetary bodies.
Researchers used computer simulations to demonstrate that a subduction zone originating in the Western Mediterranean will propagate into the Atlantic under the Strait of Gibraltar. This will create a new Atlantic subduction zone, which will then move down into the Earth's mantle.
Researchers have discovered large undersea faults on the Pacific Ocean floor that are pulling the Pacific Plate apart. The newly found faults, some thousands of meters deep and hundreds of kilometers long, are weakening the plate due to immense forces within it.