Articles tagged with Seismology
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Researchers create novel approach to map stress orientation in the Earth's crust using nonlinear elastic behavior and rock properties. This technique provides valuable insights into continental regions with limited historical geologic information.
Scientists have discovered a heterogeneous structure in the Earth's inner core, with adjacent regions of hard, soft, and liquid iron alloys. This finding challenges traditional models of the planet's magnetic field generation and provides new insights into the dynamics at the boundary between the inner and outer core.
Researchers from GFZ and NGRI used seismic data to identify three phases of a catastrophic flood, including rockslide and debris flow. The study found that seismic networks can be used to warn of impending flash floods, with available warning times varying by distance and speed.
Researchers used extensive 2D and 3D broadband seismic reflection data to visualize and understand the subsurface structures of the Orphan Basin. The study provides context for future assessments of source rock, reservoir, and seal strata in oil and gas exploration.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory calculated moment tensors for 130 underground nuclear and 10 chemical tests to aid explosion monitoring. The study's database of carefully documented explosions will be useful for researchers, allowing them to distinguish explosions from earthquakes and estimate yield.
Five innovative research projects tackle fundamental questions of environmental and earth science, including the origins of Earth and life on Mars. The studies aim to advance our understanding and lead to important scientific breakthroughs.
Researchers deployed 100 short-period seismometers to measure ice flow velocity in East Antarctica, tracking movement of up to 1m over a one-month period. The study found that seismic stations on ice sheets showed shifting longitude distributions, while those on bedrock maintained consistent coordinates.
Earthquakes generated by controlled fluid injection at the Rangely oil field were caused by destabilizing fault pore pressure changes, according to a new mechanistic model. The study revisits data from the decades-old project in light of increased seismicity due to fluid injection.
Scientists aim to develop computer models that can forecast earthquake chances and impact, like weather forecasting. The project will also train students and researchers from diverse backgrounds to work on computational geoscience.
Researchers have determined the crustal thickness of Mars for the first time, with values ranging from 20 to 39 kilometers. This independent measurement allows for a precise map of the planet's crust across its entire surface.
Researchers from ETH Zurich analyzed data from NASA's InSight mission, revealing that Mars' crust, mantle, and core have distinct structures. The findings suggest that Mars was once completely molten, but now has a thinner crust with a relatively high proportion of radioactive elements.
The InSight mission provides clues to Mars' composition, mapping its crust, mantle, and core for the first time. Researchers find a multi-layered crust with an average thickness of 24-72 kilometers and a thick lithosphere beneath.
New research has found that seismic surveys used in oil and gas exploration do not impact the abundance or behavior of commercially valuable fish species in north-western Australia. The eight-month experiment measured the effects of seismic airguns on the community of commercially important species, such as red emperor fish.
Researchers conducted a large-scale experiment near Australia's Pilbara Coast and found no significant effects of seismic surveys on demersal fish abundance or behavior. The study suggests that seismic surveys may not harm tropical fishes, contrary to previous concerns.
Researchers detected seasonal variations in seismic wave velocity due to changes in shallow permafrost ice content, attributed to temperature fluctuations. A linear decreasing trend in velocity was also found between 2009 and 2011, indicating an increasingly melted permafrost layer.
A new study concludes that wastewater disposal has not significantly altered the orientation of stress in the Earth's crust in southern Kansas. The researchers analyzed shear wave splitting data and found no evidence for a significant rotation in the fast direction, contradicting previous estimates.
Researchers used seismic sensors to study subglacial water flow on the Argentière glacier. The study revealed a complex drainage system with multiple cavities producing high water pressure, accelerating glacier movement.
Researchers generated first-of-its-kind data on lightly reinforced concrete walls, which helped revise New Zealand Concrete Structures Standard and U.S. Building Code Requirements. The dataset, published on NHERI DesignSafe cyberinfrastructure, revealed hidden damage in walls that led to improved understanding of earthquake engineering.
Researchers used gravity-defying rock formations to determine the peak ground accelerations that could topple them, setting new design ground motion values for the Clyde Dam. The new values are similar to those used when the dam was built in the 1980s, but with a reduced risk due to modern regulations.
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) develop a new method for real-time seismic imaging using acoustic waves. This breakthrough improves image resolution and accuracy, enabling faster and more efficient exploration of subsurface structures.
Research suggests that earthquakes magnitude 5.0 and larger could cause ground displacement and liquefaction in Salt Lake City, increasing the risk of earthquake-related building damage. The study identified a complex zone of folding and faulting beneath downtown Salt Lake City, which may deform the ground during a large earthquake.
Researchers found clear reflected seismic phases between 410-km and 660-km, indicating subducted oceanic plates are trapped at the bottom of the mantle transition zone. This discovery sheds light on mantle dynamics and circulation of deep materials.
Researchers from Simon Fraser University and Canadian Space Agency will develop a new system to capture detailed seismic and gravimetric models of the lunar subsurface. This project aims to advance our understanding of the moon's geophysical properties and inform future exploration, potentially enabling human settlement.
A joint research project by Shinshu University and Genesis Research Institute found that electromagnetic anomalies occur before earthquakes due to gas-electric interactions. The anomalies are caused by the trapping of fluid in a fault-valve, which eventually cracks and releases charged gas, generating a large current.
The US Geological Survey, University of Washington and Washington Emergency Management District activate the ShakeAlert system on May 4, sending advance warning of impending earthquakes to millions of people. The system provides seconds to minutes of warning time for earthquakes above magnitude 4.5 or 5.
A high school junior has built a low-cost seismometer device that detects earthquakes with accuracy and provides users with a few seconds of warning to take action. The device, costing less than $100 to make, has been successfully tested and detected several recent earthquakes in Southern California.
Researchers are using 3D printed models to study ground motion after earthquakes, providing a novel platform for seismic experiments. The models replicate complex topographical features and allow scientists to simulate how seismic waves interact with the Earth's surface.
The Black in Geoscience Week aims to increase representation and raise visibility among Black researchers, fostering networks and connections worldwide. The event has generated discussions on the importance of community and awareness among Black geoscientists, highlighting severe underrepresentation in the field.
A network of off-the-shelf smartphones deployed in Costa Rica detected and alerted on five earthquakes, outperforming scientific-grade warning systems. The system, called ASTUTI, uses accelerometers built into phones to provide early warnings for potential disasters.
Scientists have discovered that current methods for calculating stress received by underground pipelines during an earthquake are inaccurate, leading to a significant risk assessment. The new theory of seismic wave propagation addresses this issue, highlighting the need for modernization and replacement of existing pipelines.
Researchers used coda wave interferometry to determine the location of underground chemical explosions and characterize damage caused by an explosion. The technique can improve estimates of larger explosion locations and put a limit on damage extent.
Researchers developed a new method to model complex earthquake rupture processes affecting systems of multiple faults. The approach was applied to the magnitude 7.9 Gulf of Alaska earthquake, revealing irregular behavior linked to pre-existing ocean floor features, including fracture zones and plate-bending faults.
A novel convolutional neural network, FMNet, was developed to determine the source focal mechanism of earthquakes rapidly using full waveforms. The method proves effective in calculating parameters within one second with minimal computing resources.
Researchers analyzed data from dense seismic, geodetic and tsunami networks to understand the 2011 quake. The study found that a large coseismic fault slip ruptured into a shallow part of the Japan Trench's megathrust fault.
The 2021 SSA Annual Meeting will showcase the latest seismological research globally, with sessions on recent earthquakes and new technologies for monitoring glacier change. Journalists can register for free access to technical presentations and events.
Researchers use fin whale songs to probe Earth's crust at seafloor, producing lower-resolution results than traditional air-gun signals. The method complements conventional techniques and avoids harming ocean life caused by powerful blasts.
A new study reveals common seismological equipment is vulnerable to cyberattacks, posing risks to data collection and processing. Seismic networks may be exposed to security breaches if devices use non-encrypted data, insecure protocols, and poor user authentication mechanisms.
A new framework predicts likelihood and impact of earthquakes over an entire region by simulating hundreds of thousands of years of seismic history in California. The results compare well with historical earthquakes and display a realistic distribution of earthquake probabilities.
A new study highlights the impact of socioeconomic factors on eyewitness accounts of earthquake shaking reported through online systems like DYFI. The research found complex trends in California and India, with differences in self-reported reports based on neighborhood income levels and literacy rates.
The Gulf of Mexico holds vast untapped offshore oil deposits, thanks to a remarkable geologic past that began 200 million years ago. A unique combination of fine- and coarse-grained sediments, salt layers, and seals has made the basin a formidable petroleum resource.
The study provides a detailed understanding of the crustal deformation mechanism in the western Qilian Mountains, northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The researchers discovered a decoupled crustal deformation with intra-crustal decollement layers, which reveals the Asian lithospheric mantle being underthrust beneath the region.
Researchers developed a state-of-the-art model that revealed high complexity in rupture processes even in simple oceanic faults. The study used seismic data from around the world to build a model of the 2020 Caribbean earthquake, finding variations in rupture speed and direction.
Researchers provide a 4D image of an active linkage zone between two major faults, offering insights into fault behavior and implications for seismic hazard assessment. The study highlights the importance of reevaluating 'silent' seismogenic sources in assessing earthquake risk.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered a mantle plume beneath central Greenland that melts the ice from below, bolstering understanding of volcanic activities and global sea-level rising.
Research suggests that some parts of the Alpine Fault, particularly around Hokitika and Greymouth, may experience strong ground shaking more often than previously thought. The study found evidence of a 19th-century earthquake along the fault's northeastern end, indicating that smaller earthquakes could occur between large rupture events.
Al-phase D mineral discovered to transport and host water up to 1200 km in lower mantle, improving stability against pressure and temperature. Researchers measured sound velocities and density of Al-phase D using synchrotron X-ray techniques, providing clear understanding of seismic velocities of hydrous rocks.
Researchers have used powerful seismic imaging techniques to study the Alaska coastline's volcanic activity, revealing unexpected details about tectonic plates and volcano distribution. The new research highlights complexities in subduction zones and how they control volcano formation.
A new study has created the first high-resolution seismic images of a rocky tectonic plate within Earth's mantle transition zone. The research provides evidence that the slab hasn't completely mixed with the surrounding mantle, shedding light on the processes that shaped Earth's surface over billions of years.
A team of researchers has discovered more about the grain-scale fluid connectivity beneath the earth's surface, shedding new light on fluid circulation and seismic velocity anomalies in subduction zones. The study found that fluids with minor components, such as CO2 and NaCl, can have a significant impact on the dihedral angle between ...
A new model has been developed to predict earthquake propagation speeds, resolving a long-standing inconsistency between theory and observations. The 3D model overcomes the limitations of previous 2D models and accounts for oblique sliding, making it more accurate in predicting seismic wave behavior.
Researchers measured rocks formed by seismic slips in central Japan's subduction zone to identify conditions leading to earthquake faulting. This study provides insights into the thermal fracturing process, which could contribute to generating frictional melt and accelerating seismic slip.
The Hayabusa2 mission's artificial impact crater on asteroid Ryugu revealed significant boulder movements and seismic shaking, up to 40m from the center. The study provides valuable insights into asteroids' resurfacing processes and can be used as a benchmark for numerical simulations.
Researchers have found that the Earth's mantle has a different composition to its upper layer, contradicting long-held assumptions. Lab experiments and seismic wave analysis suggest that silicon is present in the lower mantle, not the core.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake triggered by hydraulic fracturing in a Chinese shale gas field occurred along a fault about one kilometer deep. The event challenges current understanding of seismic risk for shallow faults, highlighting the need to reassess evaluation strategies.
The study found that long-period buildings experienced the most amplification of shaking from the Ridgecrest earthquake, with maximum amplification occurring in the western part of the L.A. basin and the south-central San Fernando Valley. This could result in high-rise buildings in those areas experiencing shaking four times larger tha...
A Stanford-developed model shows that fluids ascending by fits and starts weaken the fault, propelling the boundary or locking depth upward. This process can trigger earthquake swarms, strings of quakes clustered in a local area, often too subtle to notice but sometimes strong enough to rattle cities.
New seismic data gathered by Stanford University researchers provides the first west-to-east view of the subsurface where India and Asia collide. The study suggests two competing processes are operating beneath the collision zone: movement of one tectonic plate under another, as well as thinning and collapse of the crust.
Researchers at ETH Zurich propose an alternative theory for the formation of the Alps, suggesting that the mountains were uplifted by the subduction of the Eurasian plate beneath the Adriatic microplate. This new model simulates the processes leading to the formation of the Alps and explains the observed seismicity in the region.
A recent study used OBS data to clarify the formation mechanism of the Double-peak seamount in the Northwest Sub-basin (NWSB) of the South China Sea (SCS). The survey revealed a high velocity layer at the bottom of the crust, indicating possible in-situ mantle serpentinization or lower crust magma underplating. The study enriches the d...
A magnitude 5 earthquake near Le Teil in southern France revealed unexpected surface rupture and ground displacement, reactivating the ancient La Rouvière fault. The event raised concerns about seismic risk in France and Western Europe, with potential for other faults producing similar surface ruptures.