Articles tagged with Seismology
Researchers have discovered that low-velocity zones beneath subducting tectonic plates are caused by partial melts generated from upwelling water-rich mantle material. These melt pockets rise through the mantle, creating a global water-recycling loop and lubricating plate motion.
Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology used machine learning algorithms to predict bearing layer depth and assess liquefaction risk. The study found that random forest models outperformed others, especially with increasing spatial data density.
A proposed earthquake early warning system for Alaska could provide critical seconds of warning time before strong shaking, according to research by Alex Fozkos. The system would use a network of seismic sensors to detect an earthquake's fast-moving primary waves and send alerts before slower secondary waves arrive.
A team of geoscientists used advanced satellite data to track land movements in Greece and Turkey, providing crucial information for assessing the risk of major earthquakes. The study's findings show that stress builds up at plate boundaries, leading to increased likelihood of earthquakes.
A new report estimates that an earthquake early warning (EEW) system could provide at least 10 seconds of warning time for hazardous shaking in Alaska. Increasing the density and spacing of seismic stations can add up to 15 seconds, according to researchers. The study aims to help expand the US ShakeAlert system to Alaska.
Researchers found that ground acceleration from moonquakes can shift lunar landscapes and threaten stability of future missions. The study assesses damage risk using new models of quakes and finds a one in 20 million chance of a potentially damaging moonquake occurring near an active fault.
Researchers successfully used seismic signals to detect the re-entry of a Hayabusa2 sample capsule and compare it with signals from natural meteoroids. The study found that intact objects had a distinct seismic signature compared to fragmented ones, providing valuable information on planetary defense strategies.
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.
A recent large earthquake in Myanmar was recorded on CCTV camera footage, capturing the first direct visual evidence of curved fault slip. The video analysis revealed that the fault slipped 2.5 meters over 1.3 seconds, with a peak velocity of 3.2 meters per second, confirming previous inferences made from seismic waveforms.
Researchers analyzed seismic data to conclude that the 2025 Myanmar earthquake ruptured at supershear velocity, reaching speeds of up to 6 kilometers per second. The rupture occurred along a 480-kilometer stretch of the Sagaing Fault, causing significant damage and loss of life in Myanmar and neighboring countries.
An international team of researchers proposes that a meteorite impact just west of Winslow, Arizona, created Meteor Crater and triggered a massive landslide in the Grand Canyon. The study found evidence of a paleolake forming at the same time, with driftwood dating back to around 55,000 years.
Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized source of seismic hazard for the Yukon Territory, finding evidence of multiple large earthquakes on the Tintina fault in recent geologic history. The team's findings confirm that the fault continues to accumulate strain, posing a future earthquake threat with potential magnitudes ex...
Researchers analyzed seismic waveform data to reveal a complex source process with multiple rupture episodes. The study found that the earthquake exhibited unconventional rupture behavior, with asymmetric ruptures propagating in both north and south directions.
A recent study analyzed seismic waveform data from a tsunami earthquake (Mw 8.3-8.5) that occurred off the British South Sandwich Islands in 2021. The team found a combination of directional variation in rupture propagation and slow slip events contributing to long-duration shaking, differing from conventional models.
A 2.35-billion-year-old meteorite offers fresh insights into the Moon's volcanic history and suggests ongoing internal heat generation processes. The rock's distinct composition provides new constraints on when and how volcanic activity occurred on the Moon.
A team of scientists from Colorado State University and the University of São Paulo have developed a seismological solution to improve the resolution of ultrasound images for lung monitoring. This breakthrough could lead to improved critical care for patients, including continuous lung monitoring at the bedside. The technique uses seis...
Researchers used SWOT satellite data to confirm that two mega tsunamis triggered by landslides caused trapped waves in the fjord. The study provides new insights into ocean extremes and how climate change affects remote areas.
A research team from USTC used tele-seismic double-difference tomography technology to reveal the morphological changes of the Pacific subducting slab beneath Northeast China. The study found that the local insertion of the subducting slab into the lower mantle controls deep-focus seismicity and Changbaishan volcanism.
A collaborative research project led by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz aims to understand the impact of thermally induced fracture formation on mineral rock properties. The study will help reduce associated risks and improve geothermal energy's efficiency.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a way to reduce fluid pressure in the geothermal reservoir under Campi Flegrei, leading to earthquakes. By managing surface runoff and water flow, they aim to prevent cyclic unrest altogether.
A new study has investigated seismic signal shear-wave splitting to provide early warnings of dangerous eruptions. The research team discovered that the amount of splitting doubles before a larger, more explosive eruption, indicating a useful relationship between the parameter and the size of the eruption.
A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo used simulations to create a detailed 3D model of a fault, which helped them understand how different parts of a fault contribute to uplift during an earthquake. The study revealed that fault geometry is a critical factor in determining the impact of earthquakes on land.
Researchers from China, UK, and USA collaborated to study Uturuncu volcano's 'zombie' behavior, finding that movement of liquid and gas beneath the crater is the cause of unrest. The risk of an imminent eruption is considered low, alleviating fears for local populations.
Advanced signal detectors have a low success rate detecting underground nuclear tests when seismic signals from nearby earthquakes overlap. Researchers found that even sophisticated multi-channel correlation detectors can only identify explosions with a 37% success rate, contrasting with a 97% success rate without earthquake interference.
A study by Christie Rowe and Alex Hatem found that faults are typically branching networks of fault strands, making them hundreds of meters wide. This suggests that significant parts of the broad array of fractures can be activated in a single earthquake.
A team of geoscientists from Rice University and partners have discovered a sharp, volatile-rich cap just 3.8 kilometers beneath Yellowstone's surface. This cap helps trap pressure and heat below it, suggesting the Yellowstone magma reservoir is actively releasing gas while remaining in a stable state.
Researchers found that strong ground acceleration within a stepover geometry can launch boulder-sized rocks briefly defying gravity. The study suggests stronger shaking in the area nearest to the fault around stepovers and complex fault geometries should be accounted for in ground motion predictions.
Researchers at KAUST developed a highly accurate 3D dynamic model to better anticipate large earthquakes. The model provides a more accurate understanding of strong shaking during the Turkiye earthquake, enabling information for future seismic hazard assessments.
Researchers analyzed data from Waze and police crash reports to study the effect of earthquakes on car crashes. While they found some slight increases in specific cases, most earthquakes had no significant impact on crash frequencies.
Compositional rock anomalies within oceanic plates caused by ancient tectonics influence the trajectory and speed of subducting plates. The findings provide a greater understanding of plate subduction, recycling surface materials deep into the Earth's interior.
Fiddler crabs use vibrational signals to communicate during courtship, and a new study reveals that signal features are influenced by the male's claw size. Researchers found that males with larger claws produce higher-energy signals, allowing females to assess their quality from afar.
Researchers have shown that earthquakes in the Marmara region transport a large amount of energy towards Istanbul, with most quakes exhibiting an eastward rupture direction. This finding has important implications for urban planning, emergency response, and seismic hazard maps, which will be taken into account in future studies.
A recent PNAS study suggested Mars has a significant amount of liquid water in its mid-crust, but LASP Senior Research Scientist Bruce Jakosky challenges this conclusion. Using InSight mission data, the team found that the presence of water is not required by the data.
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.
A team of scientists has developed a new method to monitor undersea sediment flows, allowing them to track the longest-runout sediment flows ever recorded. The study reveals that turbulent mixing with seawater influences the behavior of these powerful canyon-flushing turbidity currents over long distances.
Researchers on the SONNE310 expedition investigate canyons on active and passive continental slopes in the southwest Pacific. The study aims to identify factors that determine landslide frequency, size, and location, enhancing global risk assessment and protecting coastal areas.
A new study from USC scientists has found that the near surface of the Earth's inner core may undergo viscous deformation, changing its shape and shifting at the inner core's shallow boundary. This discovery sheds light on the role topographical activity plays in rotational changes in the inner core.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discovered tiny ice quakes deep inside ice streams, explaining the discrepancy between simulations and satellite measurements. The findings impact sea-level rise estimates and may reveal fault planes in ice cores, providing a better understanding of ice stream deformation.
Researchers found that cellular concrete requires less cement, generates fewer air pockets, and reduces overall weight, making it suitable for seismic zones. This material's production results in notable reductions in energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
Researchers found evidence that repeated earthquakes like the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake shaped the region's topography. The study used satellite radar images to measure displacements caused by the earthquake, resulting in over 4m of uplift and emergence of new terraces along the northern coast.
Researchers developed a new algorithm that combines fibre optic data with traditional seismometer measurements to improve earthquake detection. The approach works well even in noisy environments and can be applied to any fibre network, enabling more detailed and effective seismic monitoring networks.
Scientists found evidence of relatively recent geological activity on the moon's far side, contradicting previous assumptions about its 'geological dead' status. The team used advanced dating methods to track changes and found small ridges formed within the last 200 million years.
Researchers have discovered persistent and large magma bodies beneath dormant volcanoes in the Cascade Range, surprising scientists. The team used seismic waves to identify these magma chambers, which exist beneath volcanoes over their entire lifetime, not just during active eruptions.
Two large 'islands' with the size of a continent have been found in the Earth's mantle, showing they are at least half a billion years old. Seismologists discovered these regions by studying the tones and sound volume of seismic waves, finding little damping in the islands, but high damping in nearby cold slab graveyard.
Jeffrey Given received the 2025 Frank Press Public Service Award from the Seismological Society of America (SSA) for his work in developing seismic monitoring tools and supporting the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization. His expertise spanned fundamental seismology to software development and data management.
A series of small earthquakes in Surrey in 2018 and 2019 may have been triggered by oil extraction from a nearby well, according to a new study. The research used mathematical modeling to predict the frequency of earthquakes based on oil extraction timing and volume, finding a rough match with observed seismic activity.
The 2025 SSA Annual Meeting will present 48 technical sessions covering topics like earthquake forecasting and ocean-bottom seismology. Working journalists can register for free access to plenary talks and poster sessions.
A recent Colorado State University study demonstrates that climate change can affect earthquake frequency, as glaciers recede and slip along faults increases. This suggests that earthquake activity could increase as glaciers melt, impacting hazard assessment and seismology.
Researchers used seismic data to discover glacial landforms in the North Sea, indicating an ice sheet expansion about 1 million years ago, linked to global cooling. The findings provide new insights into how past ice sheets responded to climate changes.
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.
Researchers successfully monitored turbidity currents in the Congo Canyon-Channel, recording massive flows that travelled over 1,000 kilometres at speeds of up to 7.6 metres per second. The study provided critical new data on the duration and behaviour of turbidity currents, challenging traditional models.
The analysis of historical seismograms from the 1973 Chilean coup provides a unique perspective on the event. The researchers found an abrupt drop in ambient seismic noise as La Moneda was surrounded by vehicles and a radio bulletin warning people to stay at home disrupted the morning routines of locals.
The study discovered significant alterations in the region's state of stress and deformation following the 1975 Kalapana earthquake. The researchers found that Kīlauea's south flank experienced greater displacement prior to the earthquake, pointing to changes in mechanical properties influencing seismic activity.
Researchers analyzed seismic data from southern Israel and found weak ground motions caused by Hamas forces' unusual vehicle movement. This breakthrough highlights the potential of using seismic data to provide early warnings for future terrorist activities.
Geology researchers from UTEP are partnering with Bhutanese scientists to better understand and mitigate the impact of glacial floods on rural mountain villages. The project aims to use geophysical methods to identify changes in water levels and sediment transport, potentially helping vulnerable villages create early warning systems.
Researchers propose that a fracture in oceanic crust beneath the volcano's caldera wall caused the massive January 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai. A seismic wave detected 750 kilometers from the seamount may provide valuable early warning signals for impending eruptions.
A new MOF has been developed using a 'Merged-Net Strategy' inspired by skyscraper architecture, resulting in enhanced porosity and structural stability. The material exhibits superior water adsorption capacity and reusability compared to conventional MOFs.
Researchers discovered a mysterious subduction zone deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, reshaping our understanding of Earth's interior structure. The team found an unusually thick area in the mantle transition zone, suggesting the presence of colder material that slows down oceanic slabs as they sink through the mantle.
A landslide in remote Greenland caused a mega-tsunami that sloshed back and forth across a fjord for nine days, generating vibrations throughout the Earth. The study used mathematical models to recreate the event and demonstrate how the sloshing of water would have continued, matching global seismic recordings.
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.