Articles tagged with Seismology
Katsuichiro Goda, a renowned civil engineer, has been awarded the Charles Richter Early Career Award for his groundbreaking work in seismic risk assessment and mitigation. His research has developed new ground-motion equations and spatial correlations models to estimate seismic losses, enabling practical solutions in risk mitigation.
James R. Rice, Harvard professor, will receive the Harry Field Reid Medal for his influential research on fracture mechanics and its application to earthquake processes. His work has defined standards for numerous frontiers of research, integrating theory, experiment, and observations.
A Roman mausoleum in Turkey's Pinara has been found to have been damaged by an earthquake, with researchers concluding that a magnitude 6.3 quake could have caused the damage. The study used laser scans and 3D computer modeling to analyze the structure's stability.
Researchers found a Florida-sized zone of partly molten rock beneath the Pacific Ocean, which could trigger massive eruptions. The collision between two or more continent-sized piles may lead to supervolcano-like eruptions and large igneous provinces.
Researchers, led by Chris Goldfinger, admit that existing predictive models are no longer valid due to limited historical records. Paleoseismic evidence suggests that several regions previously thought incapable of producing megathrust earthquakes may be due for reconsideration.
Researchers at Caltech and JAMSTEC developed a new fault model that shows stable segments can behave differently during earthquakes, leading to larger events. This challenges current assumptions about seismic hazard in areas like the San Andreas Fault.
Researchers developing geo-electric technology aim to enhance seismic monitoring of CO2 injection, allowing for better tracking of the gas's movement. The technique has the potential to increase safety and public acceptance of carbon sequestration operations.
A study by UC Berkeley engineers used a tabletop model to understand high-frequency waves of earthquakes, which can cause rapid shaking. The research found that longer fault healing times lead to faster shaking upon rupture, providing insights for building vulnerability assessments and mitigation strategies.
This new field guide delves into the geological history of the southeastern United States, spanning from the Triassic to the Precambrian period. The guide offers in-depth excursions along various regions, including coastal plains, highlands, and fault systems.
A magnitude-8.6 East Indian Ocean earthquake triggered a global increase in seismic activity, with unprecedented large aftershocks occurring worldwide. The study highlights the predictable changes in seismicity, shedding light on more than a decade-long debate about remotely triggered earthquakes.
A recent study by University of Utah and University of California, Santa Cruz scientists has confirmed that the April 2012 earthquake measuring 8.7 magnitude was a result of the Indo-Australian plate breaking apart. The quake caused at least four faults to break, resulting in significant changes to the tectonic plate's movement pattern.
Analysis of seismic waves from the magnitude 8.7 earthquake reveals a complicated faulting process involving at least four faults at right angles to each other. The event was the largest intraplate earthquake ever recorded and involved horizontal motion on a series of faults in the middle of the Indo-Australian plate.
Researchers used ambient seismic noise to search for a pre-seismic signal before the 2004 Parkfield earthquake, but were unable to detect any changes. The study placed an upper limit on how large such a signal might be, depending on its duration and location.
A Caltech-led team reports on the first high-resolution observations of the 2012 Sumatra earthquake, which ruptured along multiple faults at nearly right angles. The study provides fresh insights into the possibility of complex earthquakes occurring elsewhere, including California's San Andreas fault.
Researchers at the University of Bristol used forensic-style chemical analysis to directly link seismic observations to crystal growth in a magma chamber. The study found correlations between peak crystal growth and increased seismicity prior to the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.
Researchers studied geological formations across the globe, including the Coast Range basalt province and the Faroe Islands. They discovered evidence of plume-influenced magmatism and fault rock types that can help model fluid migration and distribution. Additionally, a study on the Wairarapa fault in New Zealand investigated the geome...
Researchers at UC San Diego are conducting a two-week series of tests on the world's largest outdoor shake table to assess a five-story building's resilience to earthquakes and fires. The tests aim to improve understanding of nonstructural systems' performance during earthquakes, with a focus on medical centers.
Scientists present latest seismological research on earthquake hazards in San Diego, focusing on the Rose Canyon fault system and offshore faults. The study aims to improve understanding of seismic hazard and define a level of hazard for future large earthquakes.
A new study evaluates seismic hazards for six capital cities in Central America, with Guatemala City and San Salvador at highest risk. The study provides a regional seismic catalog and strong motion database updated to December 2010, supporting national seismic code revisions.
Scientists have discovered a new understanding of the Earth's mantle beneath the Pacific Ocean, revealing that the Gutenberg discontinuity is closely related to the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. The study suggests that partially molten rock plays a key role in forming the Gutenberg discontinuity.
Researchers have converted the Tohoku-Oki earthquake's seismic waves into audio files, enabling the audience to hear pitch and amplitude changes, as well as familiar sounds like thunder, popcorn popping, and fireworks. This unique representation helps explain various aspects of the earthquake sequence, including mainshocks and aftersho...
A recent study by a University of Nevada, Reno geophysicist presents evidence that the Cascadia fault line could experience stronger ground-motions than observed in Japan's Tohoku earthquake. The risk is a grim reminder for those living in the Pacific Northwest to be prepared for an earthquake and tsunami.
The Transportable Array has reached the US East Coast with the installation of Station 457A in Yulee, Florida. This station generates 3-D 'CT scan' images of the North American continent's geologic structure, providing unprecedented detail about Earth's interior.
Researchers at Oregon State University have detected a thermal 'uplift' signal in satellite imagery from the Lop Nor nuclear testing site in China. The change occurred four years after the tests and corresponds to known surface locations above past tests, providing a potential new tool for analyzing the strength of detonation.
Researchers analyzed recorded ozone data to assess changes in ozone loss rates over the past 15 years. They predict that ozone loss rates will begin to decline noticeably between 2017 and 2021. Meanwhile, a study found that tropical cyclones can temporarily alleviate escalating sea surface temperatures, staving off coral bleaching. Fur...
Research highlights the age of continental crust, with over 60% originating in the Archean, 2.5 billion years ago. A new paleomagnetic pole for chron 32 corrects for spreading-rate dependence, improving skewness data accuracy. Seismic ambient noise analysis reveals structural alignments in the Chile Ridge Subduction Region.
The University of Washington is developing an early earthquake warning system with a $2 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The system will place sensors along the coast to record the first signals from a major earthquake on the Cascadia subduction zone, providing warning for very large coastal earthquakes.
The study investigates the mechanical characteristics of mortise-tenon joints in southern Chinese traditional timber frame buildings. Key findings include differences in joint thickness, configuration, and style between northern and southern regions.
New research suggests that ozone gas emitted from fracturing rocks could indicate impending earthquakes. Different types of rocks produced varying amounts of ozone, with rhyolite producing the strongest emission.
The Christchurch earthquake ruptured a previously unmapped fault, causing widespread liquefaction-induced damage. Eight papers focus on structural and geotechnical damages associated with strong ground motion shaking.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new model that simulates the seismic fallout of a giant meteorite strike, showing that the impact's effects are scattered and unfocused, resulting in less severe ground displacement and tsunamis. The model also provides new insights into the surface and interior details of other plan...
Researchers at Brown University created the highest-resolution picture of the bottom of the lithosphere in southern California, measuring the boundary between the lithosphere and asthenosphere. The study found dramatic changes in lithosphere thickness, revealing new insights into how rifting shaped the region.
Researchers have developed a new model to evaluate seismic wave velocities at shallow depth in the Seattle Basin, offering refined seismic hazard assessments. The study also exposes two faults in the eastern Sierra Nevada, providing new details about active faulting in the area.
Researchers warn that building codes may overestimate safety in regions prone to both seismic and wind hazards, increasing the risk of structural damage. A new method assesses combined risks using a common metric, showing that dual-hazard conditions can double the risk of failure.
The study shows that the fault involved in the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake was simple on the surface but complicated at depth. Researchers used a combination of GPS data, remote sensing techniques, and seismological data to produce an extremely well-resolved model of the earthquake.
Scientists at University of Nevada, Reno observed an upper limit of three on the number of fault jumps through which an earthquake is likely to rupture. This finding helps reduce uncertainties in estimating earthquake sizes in complex fault systems.
Scientists at Georgia Tech analyzed data from the March 11 Japan earthquake, finding that subsurface materials were weakened by as much as 70%, affecting how faults deliver movement to buildings and bridges. The study could improve building design and help predict effects of rare and extremely powerful events.
A Spanish research team used 3D reflection seismology to create detailed images of the Ebro river basin six million years ago. The study reveals that the sea level dropped dramatically during this period, exposing continental margins to atmospheric agents.
The study reveals the spatial compactness of the event, with a 250-kilometer-long fault experiencing significant slip, and high- and low-frequency seismic waves coming from different areas of the fault. This information will help scientists improve infrastructure and prevent loss of life through better application of seismological data.
Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa used GPS data to find that a section of the eastern Andes is locked in place, allowing stress to build up and potentially leading to large earthquakes. The study suggests that earthquakes with magnitudes up to 8.9 are possible in the region.
A team of scientists led by Rice University geologist Alan Levander has figured out why the Colorado Plateau is rising even as parts of its lower crust appear to be falling. The region's uplift is caused by magmatic material from the depths slowly rising to invade the lithosphere, causing layers to peel away and sink.
Kojiro Irikura will be honored with the Bruce A. Bolt Medal at the Seismological Society of America's annual meeting for his leadership in strong-motion earthquake data analysis in Japan.
The new study creates a detailed image of the Yellowstone plume's electrical conductivity, showing it dips more gently and extends farther east-west. The geoelectric image suggests the plume may be enveloped by a broader sheath of partly molten rock and liquids.
Experts gather to discuss the state of knowledge about the New Madrid Seismic Zone, a region prone to large earthquakes with significant economic losses. Researchers also explore computer simulations of earthquake ground motion in the zone, aiming to understand and anticipate future events.
Researchers developed a new system, RTerg, that can identify tsunami earthquakes in real-time, giving local residents minutes to evacuate. The system uses algorithmic tools to analyze seismic data and sends alerts to warning centers, potentially saving lives.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found a statistically significant increase in microearthquakes after the Chilean earthquake in February. The study suggests that seismic waves from distant earthquakes can trigger events on the other side of the Earth, with secondary and tertiary waves playing a key role.
Male Schizococa ocreata wolf spiders adjust their signaling modes based on environment to increase mating chances. In natural habitats, vibrations on leaf litter were found to be significantly more effective than other substrates, leading to successful mating over 85% of the time.
Researchers have found that seismic noise from storms in the South Atlantic Ocean and 'footquakes' from soccer matches can be detected by broadband seismometers. The discovery was made using cross-correlation analysis, which reveals a signal that varies with storm intensity.
Researchers, like Virginia Tech's Russell A. Green, focus on paleoseismology and soil liquefaction to calculate annual probability of specific losses due to seismic events. This work aims to implement performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) concepts to reduce seismic risk.
Recent studies shed light on ancient C4 plants, submarine channels with helical flow reversal, and the genesis of granite. Researchers have also discovered mysterious rock layers containing petrified remains, cohabiting bacteria in ancient environments, and deep-cave stromatolites.
The 'M8' simulation, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault, shakes a larger area with greater detail than previously possible. The development of this simulation advances state-of-the-art in speed and efficiency for such calculations.
New data suggests that the Limon and Pedro Miguel faults in Central Panama have ruptured both independently and in unison over the past 1400 years. This indicates a significant seismic risk for Panama City and the Panama Canal, with displacements of up to 3 meters recorded.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a method to measure the movement of the Earth's deep interior, which controls continents and ocean locations. This technique uses seismic waves to study the properties of a mysterious layer called D″, where the mantle meets the core.
A Purdue-led research team found a previously unmapped fault, the Léogène fault, was responsible for the devastating Haiti quake. The newly discovered fault runs parallel to the Enriquillo fault and remains ready to produce large earthquakes, threatening Haiti's stability.
The University of Nevada, Reno's earthquake engineering lab is expanding with a $12.2 million grant from the US Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. The new facility will house the largest shake table in the US and enable researchers to simulate complex seismic tests.
Researchers successfully recreated the extreme conditions found at the Earth's core-mantle boundary, enabling them to study the behavior of a unique mineral called post-perovskite. This discovery sheds light on how seismic waves travel through this region and provides insights into Earth's internal heating and cooling processes.
Researchers successfully recreated the conditions deep in the Earth's mantle to study the behavior of post-perovskite, a mineral that helps explain faster seismic waves. The discovery provides new insights into the earth's internal heating and cooling processes.
Researchers confirm partial melting of mantle at 2900 km depth, revealing a deep magma ocean. The study uses X-ray diffraction to characterize the passage from solid to liquid state, shedding light on the dynamics and composition of the Earth's depths.
A magnitude-8.1 earthquake triggered two major quakes of magnitude 7.8 within two minutes, affecting Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga, with water levels reaching 49 feet above sea level
A magnitude-8.1 earthquake triggered two major quakes of magnitude 7.8 within two minutes, revealing a unprecedented pattern in the Samoa-Tonga region. The study suggests that normal fault earthquakes can trigger subduction zone quakes, affecting tsunami hazard calculations globally.