The study identifies potential seismogenic asperities along western Ordos margin faults by analyzing sparse earthquake segments, b-value anomalies, and crustal velocity structures. Regions with overlapping sparse earthquake segments and low b-value areas are interpreted as highly-stressed locked fault sections.
A new study reveals that catastrophic fractures begin with tiny two-dimensional patches that creep slowly before rapidly breaking. The study challenges classical fracture theory, which suggests that cracks must reach a critical size before failing.
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...
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 used earthquake-monitoring equipment to study hurricanes, revealing key details about storm evolution and intensification. Seismometers detected ground movements, while infrasound microphones monitored atmospheric pressure, providing valuable information on hurricane conditions.
Researchers from Kyoto University and ETH Zurich analyzed large earthquake sequences in Japan, finding that b-values are controlled more by mainshock location than time-dependent changes. The study suggests local geological conditions play a key role in shaping earthquake size distributions.
A new study by NTU Singapore reveals that major earthquakes can trigger decades-long land sinking in Southeast Asia, affecting relative sea-level projections. This phenomenon may underestimate coastal flood risks for low-lying regions if not accounted for in sea-level modeling.
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.
A single monitoring network developed by McGill University and partners detected multiple types of data in the Lower St. Lawrence, including underwater earthquakes, whale calls, ship noise, and tidal activity. The results show potential applications for conservation and marine policy.
A study by Okayama University reveals that garnet governs the formation of Earth's 660-km seismic boundary, shaping the mineral transitions that control heat and material circulation. This finding provides a unified explanation for complex seismic observations and supports a homogeneous, pyrolite-like mantle composition.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo demonstrate that classic theory does not hold in areas with low dip angles, explaining why giant earthquakes can form in such areas. The study's findings provide a theoretical basis to extend observation efforts to previously overlooked features.
The Seismological Society of America's new journal, The Seismic Record, has achieved an exceptional impact factor of 5.3, ranking 6th globally. Its gold open-access model has expanded its international audience, with over 485,000 downloads to date.
Researchers used an AI model to detect Bryde's whale calls in seismic data collected in the South China Sea. The model achieved high accuracy, detecting calls over 96% of the time and identifying seasonal variations in whale behavior.
Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, analyzed new dataset to identify temporal variations in locking state of the Nankai Trough. Variability was found particularly in shallowest parts of plate boundary, influencing earthquake strength and size.
Researchers confirmed locations for nine well-below-Earth's-crust deep earthquakes, proving the existence of continental mantle earthquakes. The study revealed striking patterns, including extremely high temperatures and a heterogeneous structure in the Wyoming Craton.
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.
New models reconstruct the movement of faults during the 8.8 magnitude Kamchatka earthquake, revealing limited shallow rupture and affecting tsunami risk. The study provides valuable insights into predicting giant earthquakes and protecting coastal communities.
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.
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 discovered a massive magma intrusion on São Jorge Island in the Azores, which stalled just 1.6km below the surface, avoiding an eruption. The study used seismometers and satellite data to reconstruct the underground movement of magma, revealing how it rose through a main fault system.
The study demonstrates the potential for rapid deployment of fiber optic cable and Distributed Acoustic Sensing in environments where burying the cable isn't feasible, capturing aircraft speed and maneuvering.
Researchers use global seismic networks and satellite observations to detect calving tidewater glaciers in Greenland. Large ice loss events are becoming more frequent, making it essential to understand their frequency, location, and factors leading to calving.
Researchers found that fin whale calls dropped dramatically during seismic surveying off northwestern Spain, with a 70% decrease in calls across three sites. The study highlights the potential impacts of seismic surveys on whale communication, energy expenditure, and habitat use.
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.
A new study has confirmed that much of the deep mantle deformation occurs where researchers suspect there may be deeply subducted tectonic slabs. The research used an unprecedented database of over 16 million seismograms to analyze seismic anisotropy and provide a global map of the phenomenon.
Frangopol and his team develop a framework to optimize seismic retrofit strategies for deteriorating bridge columns, balancing risk and cost. The approach integrates time-dependent risk assessment, economic evaluation, and real options analysis to identify optimal intervention timing under uncertainty.
Researchers developed an AI model to create highly photorealistic 3D reconstructions of ground-level damage after earthquakes. The LoRA-Enhanced Ground-view Generation diffusion model can recognize complex visual patterns and predict where structures may be damaged, even in densely populated urban areas.
Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology, scientists deployed fibre-optic cables across the lunar surface to detect seismic waves generated by moonquakes, meteorites, and landings. The cables can record signals at a higher spatial resolution than traditional seismic networks.
Researchers found that tilling and compaction disrupt intricate capillary networks within the soil, causing it to pool rainwater and form a muddy crust. The study provides a clear explanation for why tillage changes the structure of soil in ways that affect water retention.
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 new study investigates the dynamics of a complex fault zone under Seattle, revealing that secondary faults rupture more frequently than previously thought. Researchers hope to refine their understanding of these faults and determine how much hazard they pose to Seattle's four million residents.
A critically stressed fault has been identified in the Karoo Basin, which could be perturbed by potential shale gas exploration. The researchers used data from geophones and previously collected geophysical data to characterize and interpret the seismicity in the area.
Eduardo Miranda, a Stanford University professor, has been recognized for his pioneering work in developing new ground motion models and intensity measures. His research has significantly shaped seismic design provisions and emphasized the use of strong-motion data in both research and teaching.
Researchers have developed a new detection method called 'Jerk' that can identify extremely subtle ground movements as precursors of volcanic eruptions. The method was tested at a volcano observatory on La Réunion island and predicted 92% of eruptions between 2014 and 2023, with warning times ranging from minutes to hours.
Researchers use seismic data to pinpoint the trajectory of falling debris, providing near-real-time tracking and rapid retrievals. This innovation complements radar data and can help locate potential crash sites, retrieve hazardous objects, and mitigate environmental risks.
A new 3D model of the fault beneath the Marmara Sea reveals where a future major earthquake could take place, helping improve earthquake forecasts. The study uses magnetotelluric measurements to identify distinct high-resistivity and low-resistivity zones, shedding light on ongoing processes of fault mechanics.
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.
Kevin Milner, a research geophysicist at the USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center, has been awarded the Seismological Society of America's Charles F. Richter Early Career Award for his innovative work in seismic hazard analysis modeling and earthquake forecasting.
Lisa Wald, a renowned USGS scientist, has been honored by the Seismological Society of America for creating the Earthquake Hazards Program's information hub. Her groundbreaking work made a wealth of earthquake information accessible to everyone, from the general public to seismologists and governments.
Ruth Harris has made outstanding contributions to the Seismological Society of America through her drive to create student presentation awards and support open access options. Her active participation in numerous committees has benefited nearly every SSA committee.
The SSA will hold its annual meeting in Pasadena, California, featuring 53 technical sessions on topics such as earthquake early warning, seismic swarms, and nuclear explosion forensics. Working journalists can register to attend at no charge, gaining full access to presentations, poster sessions, and plenary talks.
Researchers confirm that a 30-meter-thick layer of soft and slippery pelagic clay at the Japan Trench enabled the earthquake to rupture all the way to the trench, producing a massive tsunami. The discovery sheds new light on why the 2011 earthquake behaved so differently from predicted models.
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.
Researchers used satellite data to study the 2025 Myanmar earthquake, which struck along a geologically 'mature' fault. The study found that the energy released by the earthquake was highly focused and came right to the surface, potentially leading to more intense ground shaking near the fault line.
Researchers studying seismic signals from Alaska's Prince William Sound have identified unusual impulsive events that increase in rate from summer to winter, before coming to an abrupt halt. These events may be linked to water freezing and thawing within rock cracks beneath nearby Cascade Glacier.
Sánz-Sesma's work on seismic wave propagation has made a significant impact on seismic hazard assessment and earthquake engineering. His research integrates theoretical rigor, numerical modeling, and empirical observation to advance our understanding of seismic wave phenomena.
Researchers have developed AI-powered forecasting tools that can predict the risk of aftershocks within seconds of an initial earthquake, offering a significant improvement over current methods. The new models trained on global earthquake data demonstrate comparable accuracy to existing systems while providing near real-time results.
A team of researchers has identified a new mechanism behind the 2025 Santorini earthquakes, finding that magma intrusion waves triggered the seismic unrest. The study used advanced machine learning techniques to analyze ground vibrations recorded by seismometers and inferred the movement of pressurized magma with unprecedented detail.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that rocks on fault lines can glue themselves back together within hours after a seismic event. This discovery challenges current models of fault behavior and suggests that cohesion may play a crucial role in major earthquakes.
Machine learning models detected subtle signals that emerge just before the onset of laboratory earthquakes. The key predictive factor is the evolution of shear stress on creeping regions of the fault.
Hongfeng Yang has been appointed as the first deputy editor-in-chief of Seismological Research Letters (SRL), a journal published by the Seismological Society of America. Yang brings over a decade of editorial experience and fresh ideas to promote SRL's growth.
Researchers used seismic sensors to identify the type of aircraft flying over Alaska, determining flight parameters and source frequencies. The study collected data from hundreds of flights, distinguishing between piston, turboprop, jet, and helicopter aircraft.
Researchers at University of Alaska Fairbanks used seismic data to identify aircraft types by analyzing frequency imprints from sound waves. The method involves removing Doppler effect and creating a frequency comb, which is then matched with a catalog of aircraft frequency patterns.
Researchers found that Kīlauea's magma system started behaving anomalously about a year before the 2018 eruption, suggesting a blockage formed between the volcano's summit magma reservoirs. Continuous monitoring data accumulated, gaining insights into Kīlauea's inner workings and its long-term behavior.
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.
Citizens' smartphones can be used to create highly detailed site amplification maps, providing critical input for seismic hazard assessment and supporting earthquake emergency response. The new approach, based on the Earthquake Network initiative, aggregates thousands of measurements to yield reliable high-resolution amplification maps.