Articles tagged with Seismology
The University of Texas at El Paso will establish a national Center for Collective Impact in Earthquake Science, addressing low-probability but high-impact earthquake risk and community needs. Researchers aim to develop leading-edge earthquake research projects and integrate diversity into their work.
The largest earthquake on Mars, a 4.7 magnitude marsquake, revealed layers in the crust suggesting a massive meteoroid impact, with possible alternating volcanic and sedimentary rocks. This finding provides evidence for past collision events that shaped the planet.
Researchers from the University of Washington analyzed the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption in the South Pacific, discovering that ionosphere signals can help explain why tsunami waves grew larger and traveled faster than predicted. The study validated the use of GPS signals traveling through the atmosphere to track events on the gro...
Researchers at Kyoto University have found that the Tohoku earthquake may have occurred upon a complete stress release, with data suggesting normal faults in both sedimentary formations above and below the plate boundary fault. This discovery provides insights into how fault slipping contributed to the devastating tsunami.
Scientists from the University of Arizona have discovered a giant active mantle plume pushing the surface of Mars upward, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The finding suggests that Mars' deceptively quiet surface may hide a more tumultuous interior than previously thought.
A team at the University of Tokyo has discovered that analyzing the ratio of argon-40 to helium-3 in magma gases can indicate the risk of different types of eruption. By monitoring these gas ratios, scientists hope to develop a portable equipment for real-time, on-site measurements, enabling early warning systems and potentially saving...
The Subduction Zones in Four Dimensions (SZ4D) initiative aims to improve understanding of subduction zone hazards through a collaborative effort. The plan involves deploying new instrumentation and developing more accurate models to predict large earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.
Researchers analyzed data from two meteorite impacts recorded by NASA's InSight spacecraft, revealing a very uniform structure and high density of the Martian crust. The findings provide new insights into the planet's core, mantle, and crust, shedding light on the formation and evolution of Mars.
Researchers from Australian National University confirmed the existence of a large core at Mars' center, measuring approximately 3,620 kilometers in diameter. This discovery sheds light on the Red Planet's magnetic field and its significance for sustaining life.
A recent study published in Nature suggests that Mars is still experiencing volcanic activity, with quakes originating from the Cerberus Fossae region indicating a warm source of molten lava. The seismic data also shows darker deposits of dust surrounding the area, suggesting geological evidence of more recent volcanic activity.
Researchers analyze seismic surface waves to determine Martian crust density and structure. The data reveals a uniform crust beneath the impact sites, contradicting earlier findings at the InSight lander.
Scientists have detected seismic surface waves on Mars for the first time, providing new insights into the planet's crust and structure. The study estimates the average properties of the Martian crust between 3 to 18.6 miles below the surface, revealing faster seismic velocities that suggest compositional differences or reduced porosity.
Researchers used seismic data and orbital observations to refine knowledge of Mars' planetary interior. The studies provide new constraints that validate and refine models of the planet's internal structure and dynamics of major impacts.
A new study found that edge waves and the short continental shelf contributed to the prolonged duration of the tsunami. The researchers used strong motion, GNSS, satellite, and tide gauge data to model the earthquake and learn more about the tsunami's behavior in Acapulco Bay.
Researchers located four new craters created by impacts on Mars' surface using data from a seismometer and visuals acquired from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This is the first time that researchers have captured the dynamics of an impact on Mars.
Researchers identified favorable reservoir-forming conditions and modes in the Ordovician buried hills of the Jizhong depression. The study found that three sets of source rocks from the Carboniferous-Permian and Paleogene geologic periods provide adequate quantities of hydrocarbons required for oil and gas reserves.
Seismologists have identified hundreds of thousands of microearthquakes along previously unknown fault structures in Oklahoma and Kansas, allowing them to map and measure earthquake clusters. The study found that nearly a 5% chance that a cluster would host a magnitude 4 or larger earthquake within a year if it reached a certain length...
The UW Photonic Sensing Facility uses fiber-optic sensing technology to detect ground motions as small as 1 nanometer for seismology, glaciology, oceanography, and infrastructure monitoring. The new center will expand seismic data collection by thousands of times.
A team led by Northern Arizona University will investigate the tectonic and geodynamic processes controlling faulting, magmatism, and surface deformation in the Pacific Ocean. The research aims to better understand the asthenosphere's role in seismic and volcanic events.
A new study in Nature explains the mechanism behind the exceptional tsunami that occurred after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano explosion in 2022. The research team analyzed satellite and sea-level data worldwide, demonstrating that the tsunami was driven by an acoustic-gravity wave caused by the volcano eruption.
A study by University of Texas at Austin researchers found that 68% of earthquakes above magnitude 1.5 are associated with oil and gas production activities such as hydraulic fracturing or wastewater disposal. The study used statistical analysis and physics-based modeling to identify the causal factors of induced seismicity in the Dela...
Low-frequency tectonic tremors in Alaska are linked to high levels of dehydration in the Yakutat terrane, a subducting oceanic plateau. The study suggests that this dehydration reaction is caused by temperature and pressure conditions during plate subduction.
A new SDSU study used radiocarbon dating to determine the timing of the last seven periods of filling during the Late Holocene, revealing six earlier lake fills between 1618–1636 and 1486–1503. The research sheds light on both the history of human occupation in the area and its seismic past.
Researchers have taken a detailed image of an unusual pocket of rock at the boundary layer with Earth's core, revealing complex internal variability. The discovery supports existing proposals that the zone contains more iron than surrounding rocks, potentially linking it to ancient rocks or unknown core leakage.
Researchers found that speeding can decrease fuel economy by 7% and result in an extra 28 cents per gallon at current US fuel prices. They also studied human behavior during the early days of COVID-19 and simulated cosmic collisions to better understand X-ray emissions.
Researchers found a slow, shallow magnitude 8.16 subevent that contributed over 70% to the seismic moment of the 2021 South Sandwich Island earthquake. The event was 'invisible' at first glance and had unusual features, including a massive aftershock area and tsunamis across three oceans.
Researchers deployed a fiber-optic-based sensing system to track sea ice formation in the Beaufort Sea, demonstrating a new method for near-real-time monitoring. The technology used distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) to observe changes in seismic waves caused by sea ice formation and break-up, providing insights into the Arctic's health.
Researchers from InSight's Marsquake Service have detected two massive marsquakes on Mars' far side, with magnitudes 4.2 and 4.1. The events provided unique insights into the planet's core-mantle boundary and offered a glimpse into previously unexplored regions of Mars.
A new device, Superconducting Earthquake Early-warning Device (SEED), could detect minute gravity fluctuations caused by earthquakes, potentially speeding up earthquake early warning systems. The device aims to detect large earthquakes within 5-10 seconds, complementing existing seismic wave-based systems.
A regional collaboration has successfully installed earthquake early warning algorithms in four Central American countries, including Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. The system can produce warnings seconds before strong ground-shaking S waves arrive from offshore shallow subduction zone earthquakes.
A seismic algorithm has been developed to detect and locate volcanic eruptions in near real-time. The algorithm was tested using the Hunga Tonga Ha'apai eruption, which ejected around 10 km³ of ash and lava, making it the largest explosive eruption of the 21st century.
Scientists are tracking changes in seismic wave velocity around the Mexico City Basin using ambient noise generated by urban activity. The study found a long-term increase in velocity at stations over compacting lake clay deposits, which can affect building stability during earthquakes. Additionally, seasonal variations and post-seismi...
Sediment cores suggest 15m of megathrust slip occurred offshore during the massive 1700 Cascadia earthquake, leading to 1m+ coastal subsidence. This finding will refine seismologists' understanding of this event and constrain coastline impact predictions.
The Urban Seismology Project successfully installed a geophone array in Yangon, Myanmar despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project aimed to build geophysics capacity in the nation and monitored a potentially locked subduction zone and major strike-slip fault.
Researchers identify magma intrusion as cause of 85,000-quake swarm in Antarctica, largest ever recorded. The swarm peaked with two large earthquakes before subsiding, marking the end of a sustained magmatic unrest.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have identified a unique sound signature produced by rocks as they crack and break. This discovery was made using a combination of supervised machine learning, causal discovery, and rapid simulations. The team found that an unusual pattern of positive and negative measurements in sound wave-transmiss...
Researchers used teleseismic P waveform data to estimate rupture process and fault geometry simultaneously, identifying an irregular rupture sequence with diverse geometries. This approach mitigates potential modeling errors, providing a better understanding of complex fault systems.
Scientists discovered that earthquakes influence tectonic plate movement, altering frequency and patterns of quakes. This finding suggests improved earthquake risk models can be developed by incorporating feedback mechanisms after an earthquake.
Researchers at Cornell University have reevaluated earthquake models, discovering that fracture energy relates to how quakes stop rather than fault weakening. This breakthrough may help improve earthquake forecasting by understanding rupture styles and the role of seismic observations.
A new study of rocks from nearly 2 miles under the surface suggests that the San Andreas fault's central section has hosted many major earthquakes, including some that could have been fairly recent. The researchers found altered compositions in sedimentary rock, indicating more than 100 quakes with potential magnitudes over 6.9.
A recent seismic study reveals that Patagonia is rising as glaciers melt due to a gap in the tectonic plate under the region. The study found low seismic velocity and a thinning of the lithosphere above the gap, which is driving rapid uplift.
Researchers created a 3D tectonic model combining geological, geophysical and satellite data to resolve timescales between earthquakes and mountain range formation. The study reveals that most uplift occurs in the period between earthquakes, improving local seismic hazard maps.
University of Utah researchers measured 14 rock towers in Utah to predict their seismic stability. They used mathematics that describe built structures' resonance to create a dataset, allowing for predictions without climbing the towers.
Researchers analyzed the 2018-2019 Bungo Channel slow slip event to gain insight into megathrust earthquake behavior. Despite its short duration, this event was larger in terms of slippage amount and slip velocity compared to past events, providing valuable information for predicting future earthquakes.
A recent study by USGS and UPR Mayagüez researchers documented over 300 landslides and severe liquefaction in southern coastal regions after the magnitude 6.4 earthquake. The data provides a valuable resource for Puerto Rico, which lacks an island-wide hazard map for earthquake-triggered landslides or liquefaction.
Researchers identified a hidden magnitude-8.2 earthquake as the trigger for the worldwide tsunami, which was buried within complex seismic waves. The study reveals the importance of accurately characterizing big earthquakes to mitigate tsunami hazards.
Researchers used big data imaging to visualize the entire subterranean formation and its effect on regional tectonics. The findings provide critical information for predicting near-future earthquake processes.
The 2018 Anak Krakatau volcano collapse in Indonesia was triggered by long-term destabilization, not a sudden explosive eruption. The study found that the disaster was less likely to have been caused by magma forcing its way to the surface and triggering the landslide.
New research suggests that ultra-low velocity zones in the deep mantle may be regions made of different rocks than the rest of the mantle, with compositions potentially linked to the early Earth. The study's findings imply the presence of layered structures within these zones, shedding light on their origin and evolution.
Researchers have discovered that the Matterhorn sways at a frequency of 0.42 Hertz, oscillating roughly in a north-south direction, with similar frequencies in an east-west direction. The mountain's summit experiences amplified vibrations up to 14 times stronger than the reference station at its base.
The Matterhorn oscillates at two frequencies, with movements up to 14 times stronger at the summit than at the foot. Researchers detected these subtle vibrations using seismometers, which are also found in bridges and high-rise buildings, revealing a broader phenomenon.
Researchers discovered a connection between earthquake characteristics and tsunami size, finding that shallow rupture can produce larger tsunamis. This study suggests reevaluating the use of earthquake magnitude in estimating tsunami threats.
Researchers deployed a seismic array in unused telecom fiber optic cable to detect dozens of aftershocks missed by permanent stations after a magnitude 5.1 earthquake in Tangshan, China. The findings demonstrate how 'dark fiber' can be used for ultra-dense seismic monitoring in urban areas.
A large earthquake off the coast of south-central Chile in 1737 may have caused a substantial tsunami that was absent from historical records. Researchers analyzed sediments and found evidence of widespread sandy layers, dating to the same time as the earthquake, similar to deposits made by tsunami waves in other areas.
Researchers have documented a new type of slow earthquake in British Columbia, Canada, triggered by hydraulic fracturing. The events exhibit unique features suggesting they rupture more slowly than conventional earthquakes, challenging the current understanding of induced earthquakes.
Researchers analyze new seismic data from the Mars InSight mission to plan for future planetary seismographs. The findings provide insights into Martian seismic activity, signal processing, and instrument operation, paving the way for upcoming missions to the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter's moon Titan.
A team of Chinese scholars used deep seismic reflection profiling to uncover the fine details of continental collision, solving a decades-long mystery. The study found four key points: northward subduction, a crustal-scale vertical collision, and southward subduction under the Qilian Mountains.
Researchers analyzed seismic data to uncover the composition of Elysium Planitia's shallow subsurface, revealing a regolith layer and basaltic rocks. The findings provide insights into Mars' geological history and properties that will inform future landed missions.
A research team analyzed seismic noise recorded over the last decade to better understand volcanic processes at Campi Flegrei. They found that directionality loss in noise data indicates the migration of deep fluids towards the eastern caldera, which triggers earthquakes.
The research team developed a technology for remotely assessing the condition of a building during an earthquake based on the readings from the building's seismometer. The new method uses CNN machine learning to quickly assess damage levels and determine if a building can continue to be used.