Articles tagged with Seismology
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
Research shows that Mexico City hospitals follow well-established earthquake early warning (EEW) protocols, which have significantly reduced the risk of injuries to staff and patients. The protocols include protective actions such as evacuation procedures, drop-cover-hold, and turning off equipment, with reinforced drills helping to pr...
Researchers confirm that water causes incipient melting, leading to reduced S-wave velocity and enhanced electrical conductivity. The presence of low-velocity zones in continental China is attributed to basal hydration weakening the lithosphere, converting it into asthenosphere.
An international team, led by Eric Sandvol from the University of Missouri, aims to better understand the makeup of the earthquake zone and surrounding areas. The team plans to deploy 250 seismometers around the East Anatolian fault to study energy waves produced by earthquakes.
A study by Revathy Parameswaran and colleagues compared ground motion and magnitude estimates from satellite and seismic records for the 2021 Chignik earthquake. The researchers found that GNSS and strong-motion acceleration seismic data can be used interchangeably or jointly for rapid magnitude or ground motion estimation.
A new statistical model based on a global database of public reports can identify an earthquake as high- or low-impact within minutes. The researchers used over 1.5 million felt reports from 10,000 earthquakes to develop the model, which was able to provide impact results for 393 global events in 10 minutes.
A team of scientists from Arizona State University predicts that silicon-rich crystals will rise in the Earth's outer core, forming 'snow' that can affect seismic velocity anomalies. The research, published in Nature, uses a new method to simulate high-pressure and high-temperature conditions expected for the core.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered a frictional phenomenon that governs how quickly faults heal after an earthquake. This discovery could help scientists understand when and how violently faults move, providing valuable new insights into the causes and potential for large earthquakes.
Researchers investigated the relationship between slow slip events and tectonic strain in Japan's Bungo Channel, Tokai, and Boso-Oki regions. They found that not all accumulated strain is released during SSEs, but rather builds up in shallower areas before a megathrust earthquake can occur.
The study found that seismometers overlying the basin's deepest areas recorded stronger low-frequency amplification, while monitors at shallow edges recorded minimal amplification. Higher frequency amplification was detected in both deeper and shallower areas. This phenomenon is making the ground motion last longer and feel stronger.
A new study by Brown researchers reveals that changes in tectonic plate thickness impact the location of the Denali Fault, a major strike-slip fault. The findings provide key insights into how geological faults behave as they deepen, shedding light on earthquake hazards.
Researchers uncover ancient manufacturing strategy that incorporates self-healing functionalities into Roman concrete. Hot mixing process allows for faster construction and enhanced durability through spontaneous cracking and recrystallization.
Researchers used seafloor video and carbon dating to determine that an underwater landslide scar is too old to be associated with the 1918 earthquake and tsunami. Instead, they propose a rupture of a two-segment fault along the eastern wall of the Mona Rift as the source of the tsunami.
Scientists at Caltech used machine-learning algorithm to chart sills, mapping them with precision and linking them to active volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kīlauea. The study provides new insights into magma storage and transport deep beneath Hawai‘i.
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 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.
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.
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 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 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...