Articles tagged with Plate Tectonics
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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.
Researchers found that small earthquakes along California's San Andreas Fault are triggered by tidal forces and provide insights into the fault's strength and behavior. The study's discovery may offer new warning signals for predicting major quakes.
Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa used a statistical technique to extract large-scale vertical motions of the local crust from GPS data. The study found nearly 125 mile-wide lobes of uplift and subsidence straddling the fault system.
Researchers developed a new model that suggests strong tidal encounters could be responsible for cracks on icy moons. The model, which uses computer graphics code to simulate the behavior of icy moons, indicates that such encounters could lead to cracks in the surface.
Seismologists have identified a zone deep in the crust where temperatures hover around 350 degrees Celsius, varying along the San Andreas strike. The zone separates shallow earthquakes from deeper low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs), with a puzzling five-kilometer wide gap between them.
A kink in the regional fault line creates a ramp that raises the height of the mountains. The rupture on the fault stopped 11km below Kathmandu, indicating another major earthquake could occur within a shorter timeframe.
Researchers found that interaction between the San Jacinto and San Andreas faults weakened earthquake ground shaking near them, preserving precariously balanced boulders. This discovery has practical implications for earthquake planning scenarios in the region.
Researchers found that precariously balanced rocks near the San Andreas Fault have survived due to interactions between the faults, which weakened ground shaking. This discovery could change how engineers plan for future earthquakes in the region, considering a broader impact of ruptures along both faults.
Scientists believe the Earth's magnetic field arose at least four billion years ago, according to research published in Science. The findings support previous geochemical measurements on ancient zircons that suggest an age of around 4.4 billion years.
New research reveals that gender faultlines can appear when individuals share demographic traits and professional interests, leading to a stronger sense of in-group identity among employees. The study found that such faultlines have a negative effect on employee loyalty, but a supportive diversity climate can mitigate this issue.
Researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography accurately mapped the 7.8-magnitude Nepal earthquake's movement, revealing a three-stage rupture process that poses significant seismic risks to the region. The study will serve as an important benchmark for understanding future seismic risks in the Himalayan region.
A new theory proposes that a planet's bulk composition, specifically the abundance of uranium, thorium, and potassium, dictates whether plate tectonics can occur. This affects the planet's internal heating, volcanism, and climate. The Earth's unique composition allows for current plate tectonics to operate.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool found that south east Iceland is actually composed of a fragment of continental crust, extending offshore to the east. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of mantle plumes and plate tectonics, with potential impacts on natural resources in the region.
Researchers at UMass Amherst produce a new model of the Coachella Valley faults, capturing more geometric complexity than previous models. The study yields an estimated 10% increase in shaking overall for the Coachella segment, but decreased shaking for towns to the west of the fault.
Four urban sections of the San Andreas Fault system have stored enough energy to produce major earthquakes, according to a new study. Three fault sections – Hayward, Rodgers Creek and Green Valley – are nearing or past their average recurrence interval, indicating they are overdue for a significant quake.
Groundwater pumping in California's Central Valley depletes the aquifer, raising the Sierra Nevada and Coast Mountain Ranges by a few millimeters each year, creating stress on faults that could increase earthquake risk. Scientists report their results in Nature, finding cumulative rise over 150 years of up to 15 centimeters.
Groundwater pumping has raised Sierra Nevada mountain range by up to 6 inches over the past 150 years. The seasonal changes in the Central Valley aquifer have been linked to microquakes on the San Andreas Fault.
Kevin C. A. Burke, a University of Houston geology professor, has received the 2014 Arthur Holmes Medal for his fundamental contributions to tectonics and Earth evolution. His research focuses on understanding rock structures at the core/mantle boundary and has been recognized internationally.
Researchers have uncovered geologic evidence supporting two earthquakes in 1838 and 1890 that match historical accounts. The team used LiDAR technology to map the active fault trace and found ax-cut wood chips, tree stumps, and charcoal fragments confirming the quakes.
Researchers used high-resolution imaging technology to locate the 1906 fault trace, resolving decades of confusion caused by human error. The primary rupture occurred along a single western trace of the San Andreas Fault, with no step-over within the town.
A study published in Science found a strong correlation between seismic activity and operations at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field in southern California. The researchers tracked earthquake activity with production data for the geothermal power plant and found that seismicity increased as operations expanded.
Researchers tested the hypothesis that intraplate earthquakes could produce stronger ground shaking than those at plate boundaries. The study found no significant extension of the 1872 Owens Valley earthquake rupture, contradicting previous estimates. Instead, the data suggest that soil liquefaction occurred in nearby wetlands and mead...
Researchers found that planets in solar systems with similar stars may be warmer and more dynamic, potentially hosting microbial life. This could expand the habitable zone around those stars, making them more suitable for life.
An UCLA scientist has discovered that the geological phenomenon of plate tectonics exists on Mars, revealing a primitive stage of plate tectonics. The discovery provides insight into how the early Earth may have looked and helps understand the origins of plate tectonics on Earth.
Recent paleoseismic work reveals an average recurrence rate of 125 years for the San Andreas Fault in the Santa Cruz Mountains, indicating a higher seismic hazard than previously thought. The study also sheds light on how individual segments of the fault system can produce destructive earthquakes.
This bimonthly publication presents research on the Deccan Traps, transfluvial incision in Eastern Papua New Guinea, and late Pleistocene structural evolution of the Camarillo fold belt. Seismic data reveal imprints of volcanism deep beneath the Deccan volcanic province, while river profiles indicate vertical rock uplift and fault motion.
Researchers found that rock water acts as a lubricant, causing significant differences in mechanical properties along the fault at depth. This supports the idea that fluids play a key role in the onset of earthquakes, and tremor signals are linked to areas with trapped fluids.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed an integrated method for surveying the earth for signs of valuable resources, including natural gas and oil. The technique combines multiple geophysical tools and plate tectonics reconstructions to identify specific areas with high potential for discovery.
Researchers found evidence of coincident timing between ancient Salton Sea flooding and fault rupture, potentially triggering large earthquakes on the southern San Andreas Fault. The study suggests heightened preparedness for a major quake immediately following smaller quakes in the stepover zone is warranted.
A new study dating back 1,000 years of earthquakes at the San Andreas Fault shows no correlation between lake changes and earthquake timing. Despite this, researchers warn of a likely buildup of tectonic stress, making a major quake possible for southern California in the near future.
Researchers will study whether changes in tremor activity precede earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault. The Berkeley Seismological Laboratory is installing earthquake detectors to monitor mysterious 20-40 km deep tremors that may signal an impending quake.
A recent study by UC Irvine researchers reveals that large ruptures have occurred on the Carrizo Plain portion of the San Andreas fault every 45 to 144 years. The findings contradict previous reports and suggest a more complex earthquake recurrence pattern along the 810-mile fault.
A team of Yale University geologists discovered that Gondwana underwent a massive 60-degree rotational shift during the Early Cambrian period, with some regions moving at speeds of up to 16 cm/year. This rapid rotation had significant consequences for environmental conditions and the Cambrian explosion of animal life.
Researchers have discovered that tiny smectitic clay coatings on the rock surfaces of the San Andreas fault reduce friction and facilitate creeping motion. This coating, less than 100 nanometers thick, acts as a lubricant, allowing the fault to move slowly and steadily over time.
A revised seismotectonic model for the California Central Coast identifies new faults and reinterprets known ones, highlighting the need for further study to understand seismic hazards. The study also examines how large earthquakes can trigger other large earthquakes on nearby faults, a phenomenon observed in paleoseismic records.
The Great Southern California Shakeout event helped identify the need for a single, discreet story to communicate devastating earthquake projections. Researchers found that scientists' focus on high-tech research and state-of-the-art projections often conflicted with citizens' demands for timely, simple information on issues.
Researchers at Arizona State University and UC Irvine found varying fault movement in Carrizo Plain stream channels, contradicting previous assumptions of constant slip. This new information affects earthquake forecasting and understanding the potential for damaging earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault.
A new model for primate origins suggests that major groups are correlated with Mesozoic tectonic features and evolved from a widespread ancestor in Pangea. The theory incorporates spatial patterns of primate diversity and distribution as historical evidence, avoiding previous limitations to fossil record and molecular clocks.
Researchers found almost 11 times more aftershocks in the first three days after the main event, revealing a new understanding of fault creep. The matched filter technique allowed them to automatically detect events, increasing detection accuracy.
Most central US small earthquakes are aftershocks of magnitude 7 New Madrid quakes in 1811 and 1812. Aftershocks continue due to slow fault movement, unlike faster-moving faults like San Andreas.
A 2004 Sumatran earthquake may have weakened a portion of California's San Andreas Fault, changing its fault strength and potentially triggering increased global seismic activity. The study, published in Nature, examined seismic records from Parkfield, Calif., and found repeated microearthquakes occurred near the fault
Researchers discovered prominent faults beneath the Salton Sea that transfer tectonic strain away from the San Andreas Fault. This new understanding of the fault system could inform predictions of future earthquakes along the southern San Andreas Fault.
Researchers studied the San Andreas fault system, Africa's ancient crustal blocks, and the High Plains aquifer using gravity, magnetic, and seismic data. The results show that Africa is a collage of ancient cratons with mantle roots extending deep into the Earth's interior.
Probabilistic maps detail degree of hazard within broader zones, providing perspective on actual risk to users. Liquefaction probability is highest in some areas along major creeks with a water table close to the surface.
Researchers found that a magnitude 9.2 Indian Ocean earthquake triggered non-volcanic tremor at the Parkfield region of the San Andreas fault, approximately 125 miles away. This low-stress event sheds new light on seismic phenomenon and its potential role in releasing stress within an earthquake-producing fault.
The Chinese earthquake has triggered a significant risk of flooding and power shortages in the Sichuan Basin, which could last for decades. Dr. Alex Densmore's research found that landslides and sediment buildup pose a major threat to river valleys and reservoirs.
A linear string of mud pots and volcanoes indicates a surface evidence for the southern extension of the San Andreas Fault. Researchers identified 33 geothermal features forming a clear pattern, revealing a planar rift extending to considerable depth in the crust.
Researchers developed a framework to explain mantle motion, challenging previous assumptions and providing new insights into the Earth's inaccessible interior. The model presents a chemically complex inner Earth, sharply contrasting the previously held paradigm of a well-mixed mantle.
A University of Houston geologist has found over 300 surface faults in Harris County, posing a risk to buildings and infrastructure. The faults could move up to 1 inch a year, causing damage over several years and potentially leading to flooding on the subsiding side.
The Los Angeles basin has entered a relatively quiet period of seismic activity, with smaller and less frequent earthquakes reported over the past thousand years. The study's findings suggest that seismic clusters in the Mojave Desert alternate with periods of calm in the urban fault network.
Researchers at University of Oregon and US Geological Survey identified past activity clues for the Southern San Andreas Fault, ranking 316 event indicators. They also improved the accuracy of physics-based predictive earthquake simulations, enabling safer building designs.
Scientists developed a new technique to discriminate between small earthquakes and mine blasts, achieving a success rate of 97%. Researchers also created the most detailed 3D model of the Hayward Fault System in Northern California, revealing that it poses the greatest risk for major quakes in the next 30 years.
Researchers at Yale University discovered that ice sheets sometimes mesh together when colliding, forming a series of interlocking blocks dubbed finger rafting. This curiosity has puzzled scientists for over 50 years.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found how fluid pressure can cause earthquakes by sealing fluids within fault planes for long periods. This pressure makes it easier for plates to move, resulting in an earthquake.
A Berkeley lab scientist has found a spike in micro-earthquakes followed by relative calm months before a large quake occurred. This discovery may help predict destructive earthquakes within a shorter time frame than current statistical tools.
Researchers have completed the most meticulous survey ever made of the San Andreas Fault, revealing detailed features that were previously unseen. The 'B4' Project used ultra-high-resolution global positioning system (GPS) technology and a radar-like system called lidar to map the fault with 5-centimeter vertical resolution.
The Eastern California Shear Zone, a wide area in western Nevada, puzzles seismologists due to its unexplained northern end. This zone makes up 25% of the North American Plate's movement and has been displacing 50 kilometers over 5-6 million years.
A graduate student's seismic study has found a sharp dividing line between the lithosphere and asthenosphere, contradicting the idea that the transition is gradual. The research suggests water or partly molten rock must be present in the asthenosphere to cause such an abrupt change.
A magnitude 7.2-7.5 earthquake on the Puente Hills fault could result in 3,000-18,000 deaths and up to $250 billion in property damage, according to a study by the USGS and USC. The disaster would be the costliest in U.S. history due to the fault's location under Los Angeles County and adjacent areas.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have developed a new method to calculate the probability of the San Andreas fault rupturing again within the next 30 years. The study suggests that there is a 20-70% chance of a large quake shaking southern California.