Articles tagged with Seismology
Researchers questioned the Cascadia subduction zone's earthquake record, finding that turbidite layers showed no better correlation than random chance. The study suggests a need for further research on turbidite layers and their connection to past earthquakes.
A novel negative-stiffness isolation device has been developed to provide multidirectional negative stiffness and energy dissipation, effectively mitigating earthquake impacts. The device's advanced design enhances seismic protection by offering a robust solution for safeguarding buildings in earthquake-prone areas.
Scientists have found that PKP precursors originate from ultra-low velocity zones in the Earth's mantle, which are likely generated by melting mid-ocean ridge basalts. These zones are not limited to hotspots, but rather spread across the core-mantle boundary beneath North America.
A large landslide triggered a megatsunami in Greenland's Dickson Fjord, causing a standing wave that sloshed back and forth for over a week. Researchers detected the unusual event using seismic signals recorded at stations worldwide.
A new study by SMU seismologists confirms that earthquakes in the Permian Basin occurring before 2017 were causally linked to underground wastewater injection. The study uses advanced earthquake location methods to reveal a spatial and temporal correlation with shallow injection activities since 2009.
Scientists have developed a state-of-the-art computational model predicting land, ice and global sea-level interactions. The model estimates that reducing greenhouse gas emissions could slow melting Antarctic ice enough to allow Earth uplift to partially stabilize the ice sheet and prevent some future sea-level rise.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure soil moisture in the vadose zone using seismic technology that detects vibrations from traffic noise. The technique, called distributed acoustic sensing, can provide real-time information on soil water content, crucial for managing water use and conservation efforts.
A new study using NASA's InSight Lander data reveals that Mars may be getting bombarded by space rocks more frequently than previously estimated. The research team detected eight new impact craters from meteoroids not seen before, including two of the largest impacts ever recorded on the Red Planet.
Researchers estimate that between 280 to 360 meteorites strike Mars each year, forming impact craters greater than 8 meters across. The study uses seismic data from the NASA InSight Mission to make this estimate, which is five times higher than previously thought.
Researchers at Imperial College London have discovered that Mars experiences around 280-360 meteorite impacts per year, exceeding previous estimates. This new tool, known as a 'cosmic clock,' can help scientists date planetary surfaces across the Solar System more accurately.
A recent study analyzed ground displacements caused by the December 2020 Petrinja earthquake, showing a magnitude of horizontal shifts of up to 40 centimeters. The research used an unprecedented amount of geodetic data to reconstruct three-dimensional motions and sheds light on the region's tectonic activity.
A study found that heavy snowfall and rain contribute to earthquake swarms in northern Japan by altering underground pressure. Climate conditions are linked to seismic activity, with the timing of intense precipitation events correlating with the start of quakes.
A new study reveals that the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, moves 6-8 centimeters once or twice a day due to slip events triggered by the Whillans Ice Stream. This movement has significant implications for understanding the stability of Antarctica's ice shelves and potential icequakes.
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 from Tohoku University have developed a new signal processing technique that improves particle motion analysis in the time and frequency domain. This approach enables the detection and identification of various polarized seismic waveforms, including S-waves and P-waves, with improved accuracy.
Researchers have discovered distinct characteristics of the lower mantle flow field beneath the Philippine Sea Plate. They found that ancient N-S fast velocity directions exist at depths of 700-900 km and are not related to slab subduction or a mantle plume.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that the 2014 meteor fireball's signal was not from an extraterrestrial source but likely from a truck. The team re-examined data and found that the signal matched a road near the seismometer, contradicting earlier reports of alien materials.
Researchers propose using fiber seismic networks to detect seismic waves on the Moon and provide information about its deep core structure. By analyzing artificial seismograms created from Apollo mission data, they found that a fiber network could identify specific seismic waves hidden in scattered signals.
SEIS-UK, a seismic monitoring facility at University of Leicester, has received £2 million funding over 7 years to continue providing state-of-the-art equipment to UK researchers and their global collaborators. This investment supports high-quality research in earth and environmental sciences.
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.
Researchers found a subducted oceanic slab that has completely overturned beneath the western Mediterranean. The discovery helps sort out the complicated tectonic structure of the region, where Africa and Eurasia are converging.
The EQFL measurement calculates earthquake-related fatalities as a ratio to the country's population size, revealing Ecuador, Lebanon, Haiti, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Portugal have experienced the greatest impact. Smaller countries suffer more from earthquake fatalities due to their larger proportion of their population.
A team of scientists discovered that fractures propagate in starts and stops, moving through materials at high speeds. The amplitude and time between jumps depend on the viscosity of the liquid injected into the rock.
A team of scientists found evidence that the moon's shrinkage led to surface warping in its south polar region, including areas proposed for crewed Artemis III landings. Shallow moonquakes can devastate hypothetical human settlements on the moon due to loose sediments and unstable surface slopes.
Researchers used USGS source modeling and InSAR satellite data to analyze the 6.8 Al Haouz earthquake in Morocco, finding a compact source with slip between 15-35 km deep, deeper than expected for earthquakes in this region.
A panel of experts concluded that the November 2022 Peace River earthquake sequence in Alberta, Canada was likely induced by human activity. The study used questionnaires created to distinguish natural from induced earthquakes, and gathered data on fluid injection information and past regional seismicity.
Scientists at ETH Zurich develop a novel method to measure seismic tremors using fibre-optic networks' active noise suppression systems. The technique enables accurate earthquake measurements even on the ocean floor and in regions with limited resources.
Researchers from Ohio State University studied a past underwater landslide and developed a novel approach to analyze the risk of deadly tsunamis. They found that slide velocity may help determine the threat of dangerous waves, and their findings could improve our understanding of submarine landslides and tsunamigenic events.
Researchers propose that ancient planet Theia collided with Earth billions of years ago, forming two continent-sized blobs of unusual material and the Moon. The blobs, known as large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs), are rich in iron and likely composed of different proportions of elements than the mantle surrounding them.
A 15th-century Hebrew prayer book has revealed a previously unknown earthquake affecting the Marche region in central Italy. The note describes an intense shaking event causing severe damage and partial collapse of buildings, with epicenter similarities to a 1799 sequence.
Researchers from China University of Geosciences have clarified the extent of Greater India, a single plate of 2,000 to 3,000 km, before it subducted under Asia. This finding resolves questions surrounding the age of the collision and the emergence of geological structures in the region.
A new study by Colorado State University reveals that seismic signals show a growing intensity in ocean waves since the late 20th century, attributed to global warming. The research indicates that storms are becoming more intense and wave energy is increasing globally, posing a serious threat to coastal ecosystems and infrastructure.
GEOMAR researchers used 3D seismics to recreate the 1650 Kolumbo volcano eruption, finding that a landslide followed by an explosion created the devastating tsunami. The study provides valuable insights for monitoring submarine volcanic activity and potentially developing early warning systems.
New research reveals that endangered whales and dolphins inhabit the Hellenic Trench off Greece year-round, challenging seismic surveys and oil and gas exploration. The study confirms the presence of four species, including sperm whales, in both summer and winter, highlighting the need for conservation measures.
Researchers used seismic data to locate and identify a thin layer of molten silicates overlying Mars' metallic core. The discovery reveals a denser and smaller Martian core, aligning with other geophysical data and analysis of Martian meteorites. This finding provides new insights into how Mars formed, evolved, and became a barren planet.
Scientists discovered a molten silicate layer beneath the Martian mantle using InSight mission data, contradicting earlier assumptions about the planet's internal structure. This new finding suggests that Mars experienced an early magma ocean stage and provides insights into the formation of its core.
Researchers have created high-resolution underground images of the Long Valley Caldera, revealing a 'hardened lid' of crystallized rock covering the magma chamber. The findings suggest that the area is not gearing up for another supervolcanic eruption but may experience earthquakes and small eruptions due to cooling and gas release.
A new study demonstrates how unused telecommunications fiber optic cables can be transformed for offshore Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) systems. Researchers used a 50-kilometer cable to sample seismic data at 8,960 channels and achieved an approximate three-second improvement in EEW alert times compared to onshore DAS arrays.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed an AI algorithm that accurately predicted 14 earthquakes within about 200 miles of their location and strength, with only one false warning. The system detected statistical bumps in real-time seismic data and paired them with previous earthquakes to make predictions.
Researchers have found a large water reservoir beneath the ocean floor off New Zealand's North Island, which may be linked to the country's mysterious slow earthquakes. The discovery provides new insights into the correlation between fluids and tectonic fault movement, shedding light on the phenomenon of slow slip events.
Researchers have identified that ancient quakes occurred in shallow faults on the Puget Lowlands in western Washington, which could lead to another devastating event. The study used tree rings to pinpoint the dates of these quakes and found a link between them, suggesting regional hazard models may need to be updated.
A team of researchers from Japan found that water enhances energy dispersion and reduces elastic moduli in rocks, leading to increased seismic wave attenuation. The study suggests the oceanic asthenosphere must contain water, explaining sharp velocity drops and near-constant attenuation observed at the LAB.
The 1923 Kantō earthquake sparked devastating fires that killed 90% of Tokyo's population, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. The study highlights the importance of fire prevention and response as part of earthquake mitigation plans for regions with strong seismic shaking and wood-framed buildings.
Researchers have created a new model using deep learning to forecast aftershocks, outperforming the current ETAS model on larger datasets. The Recurrent Earthquake foreCAST (RECAST) model demonstrates better performance and computational efficiency.
Researchers confirm fracking triggers tremors, which can be used to track fluid movement and monitor fault activity. This finding has implications for sustainability and climate science, as carbon sequestration through fracking may reduce atmospheric emissions.
Research reveals Kama'ehu volcano in Hawaii has erupted five times in the past 150 years. The new study uses mass spectrometry to measure radium-226 in lava samples, revealing a frequency of eruptions around 30 years. This slower rate is linked to sluggish mantle upwelling on the margin of the Hawaiian plume.
A team of scientists at Caltech used a section of fiber optic cable to measure the intricate details of a magnitude 6 earthquake, pinpointing four individual asperities that led to the rupture. The study demonstrates the potential of distributed acoustic sensing technology to improve our understanding of earthquake physics.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo and Stanford University analyze slow and fast earthquakes, showing that their magnitudes vary with time. The study confirms the scaling law for slow earthquakes, which defines the relationship between magnitude and duration, and reveals physical processes governing events.
Decades of seismic data reveal that central Utah's earthquake 'swarms' are more common than other types of sequences, with 80% of sequences being swarms. The study also found that these swarms exhibit heterogeneous behavior across different locations in the region.
Climate change is expected to increase the likelihood and frequency of volcanic eruptions, making planning and responding to crises more challenging. Volcanologists are warning that governments may need new strategies to predict and mitigate the effects of future eruptions.
A global team led by University of Minnesota professor Donna Whitney accurately determined the age and formation process of the East Anatolian fault, which runs from eastern to south-central Turkey. The study sheds light on the earthquake history and seismic activity in the region.
Researchers found a hierarchical rupture growth through a complex fault network, promoting and halting rupture growth. The earthquakes' source areas developed a network of faults with bends, steps, and branches, leading to irregular rupture evolution and diverse triggering behaviors.
Scientists have discovered that sinking seamounts leave behind a trail of soft sediments, which help release tectonic pressure in slow slip earthquakes. This finding can be used to adjust earthquake models and improve understanding of the mechanisms driving earthquakes.
A research team used a new seismic inversion algorithm to study lithospheric delamination and its controls on the Mesozoic Magmatic Province in South China. High-velocity anomalies were found at depths of less than 90 kilometers, suggesting lithosphere blocks began to delaminate at 180-170Ma.
New research from Rice University suggests that ancient microorganisms helped cause massive volcanic events by facilitating the precipitation of minerals in banded iron formations. The study provides insight into processes that could produce habitable exoplanets and reframes scientists' understanding of Earth's early history.
Researchers found that infrasound sensors can improve magnitude determinations, providing complete data about strong earthquakes. The low-cost sensors, which detect air pressure changes caused by ground movement, can also enhance tsunami warnings and emergency responses.
Researchers determined the Martian crust's global structure using seismic data from a massive marsquake. The crust averages 42-56 kilometers in thickness, with variations between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Researchers used NASA InSight data to directly measure Mars' core properties, finding a completely liquid iron-alloy core with high percentages of sulfur and oxygen. This discovery provides new insights into Martian formation and geological differences between Earth and Mars, potentially impacting planetary habitability.
Researchers at the University of Bristol used NASA's InSight lander data to detect seismic waves traveling into Mars' core, revealing a denser and smaller core comprising iron and numerous other elements. The study found that the core's composition is distinct from Earth's, with a high fraction of light elements alloyed with iron.
Researchers found tsunami deposits in a coastal mangrove pond that suggest a massive magnitude 8.7 or larger earthquake triggered the tsunami, potentially impacting both Caribbean and Atlantic coasts of Puerto Rico. The discovery provides valuable insights into seismic risk in the region.