Articles tagged with Seismology
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A new study published in Seismological Research Letters found that California's current 100-year earthquake hiatus is highly unlikely, occurring at a 0.3% chance over the past 1000 years. The researchers analyzed long paleoseismic records and concluded that the gap isn't a statistical fluke, but rather an exceptional event.
A new method combines seismic data with crowdsourced information from the internet, smartphones, and Twitter to detect earthquakes more quickly. This approach reduces detection time for felt earthquakes to just 1-3 minutes, improving situational awareness.
Researchers Christoph Sens-Schönfelder and Tom Eulenfeld used seismic waves generated by surf and tidal effects to study subsurface properties. They found that the velocity of these waves can reveal information about deformations in the Earth's material, allowing for non-destructive analysis of subsurface stress and strain fluctuations.
A new study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America has revealed signs of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake in a high-resolution map of the offshore northern San Andreas Fault. The map shows two large zones of slope failure on the seafloor, indicating that the fault ruptured in multiple strands.
A team of geophysicists from LMU München used simulations to study the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, which ruptured over 20 fault segments. The model showed that a weakly loaded fault was boosted by gradual slippage and low frictional resistance.
Scientists have discovered a new way to monitor carbon dioxide storage plumes underground using coda waves, which reveal the location of gases in the ground. This method could enable more frequent and cost-effective tracking of these plumes, allowing for better estimation of total gas reserves.
Researchers found rough topography on the 660-km boundary, rivaling the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, using data from a massive Bolivian earthquake. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the Earth's formation and function.
The study found that the Palu earthquake propagated unusually fast, identifying it as a supershear. Supershear earthquakes release more energy in a shorter time due to the rapid movement of the rupture along the fault.
Researchers analyzed the Sulawesi island earthquake to identify its propagation speed of 4.1 km/s, which falls between seismic wave speeds. The study's findings suggest that steady rupture at unexpected speeds can occur on damaged rocks and may enhance cascading effects.
A mathematical model of a train's movements during the 1906 earthquake suggests ground shaking was equivalent to at least a 'severe' level. The calculations are consistent with previous simulations and provide insights into future earthquakes in the region.
A 2-month lasting ultra-slow earthquake occurred south of Istanbul, coinciding with moderate-sized seismicity at shallow depth. The study sheds light on the interaction between aseismic slow deformation and seismically released energy, enhancing regional seismic risk assessment for the densely populated city.
A study using algae deaths reveals the amount of uplift during the 2016 magnitude 7.6 Chiloé earthquake was approximately 25.8 centimeters, confirming a 3-meter maximum fault slip. This finding helps assess seismic hazards in the Chilean Subduction Zone and informs efforts to predict future major earthquakes.
Researchers from GFZ found micro-earthquakes prior to a 4.2 magnitude earthquake in June 2016, south of Istanbul. The study suggests that analyzing these small events could extend warning times for future earthquakes in the region.
A new study by the University of Texas at Austin found that where produced water is stored underground increases earthquake risk. The research identified factors that can help reduce seismicity, including managing injection rates and regional volumes.
Scientists have discovered that winds blowing across Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf cause it to vibrate, producing a near-constant set of seismic tones. The vibrations can be used to monitor changes in the ice shelf from afar and may provide insights into climate change.
Researchers developed a method to estimate seismic risk by modeling various earthquake scenarios and identifying common impacts. The study suggests that most scenarios produce lower impacts than the worst-case scenario, with urban areas posing less risk than rural western Nepal.
Researchers developed a new seismic risk modeling approach to assess earthquake impacts and identify common hazards across multiple scenarios. The 'ensemble modeling' method provides critical information on likelihood and probable scale of future earthquakes' impacts, enabling targeted disaster mitigation resources distribution.
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey's Mid-Atlantic Resource Imaging Experiment (MATRIX) provides new insights into gas hydrate features and structures below the seafloor. The research cruise acquires over 2,000 kilometers of marine seismic data, revealing shallow gas deposits and structural features beneath methane seeps.
A team of scientists used infrasonic microphones, seismometers, satellite, and ground camera images to calculate the Michigan bolide's time, location, height, and yield. The analysis could help assess near-Earth object threats and improve detection capabilities for clandestine nuclear tests.
Researchers map San Gabriel and San Bernardino sedimentary basins in greater detail than previous studies, revealing the San Gabriel basin is deeper and has an irregular shape. The study provides new insights into the structure of these basins, which may act as a 'waveguide' to focus energy from earthquakes.
Researchers at UMass Amherst used advanced seismic imaging and data from the National Science Foundation's EarthScope program to construct a detailed model of the tectonic plate beneath the Adirondack Mountains. They discovered a 'pillow' of low-density, relatively light rock material that appears to have been squeezed up under the mou...
Researchers have discovered a nearly 15.5-mile-long fault zone with two parallel master faults and hundreds of smaller cross faults at the southern tip of the San Andreas Fault. The 'Durmid Ladder' structure may be the site of the region's next major earthquake, posing an increased surface-rupture hazard.
Researchers discover highly faulted and organized 'Durmid ladder structure' in southern California, which could be nucleation site for next M>7.5 earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. The structure is at least 25 km long and features tens of master faults along its edges.
Researchers deciphered seismometer readings from a 2017 Montecito landslide to determine the disaster's scale and location. The findings suggest that seismometers can be used to provide an early warning of incoming debris flows, potentially saving lives.
Haiying Gao will study five subduction zones across the globe to characterize differences and similarities in large earthquakes. Her advanced modeling techniques will rely on sensor data from land-based and deep-ocean seismic stations.
Researchers find that a flat continental shelf off Mexico's coast efficiently traps edge waves, leading to unusually long-lasting tsunami waves. This phenomenon could pose a significant tsunami hazard in other regions with similar shelf shapes, such as the Pacific Northwest and northern Japan.
Seismologists reexamine the risk of megathrust earthquakes in the Caribbean, considering tsunami scenarios for a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and its potential impact on emergency management planning.
Researchers used eyewitness accounts from 2014 and 2016 to reconstruct the 1946 tsunami's heights and distances, challenging previous estimates. The study found tsunami heights over five meters and flooded areas of up to 600 meters inland.
Researchers at Nyiragongo volcano use a combination of seismic, infrasound, and satellite data to track the lava lake level, providing insights into magmatic system activity. The study helps improve eruption forecasting by understanding the relationship between pressure changes in the magmatic system and lava lake fluctuations.
Scientists use satellite radar imaging to pinpoint detonation site and yield of North Korea's latest nuclear test, which caused displacement and subsidence at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. The research provides a detailed view of the site, including the explosion's impact on the mountain above.
Researchers reexamined historical seismograms from the 1906 Meishan earthquake to uncover a new mechanism that better fits fault rupture and damage patterns. This discovery will help improve understanding of complex fault systems in the region.
A 2017 Mw 5.4 Pohang earthquake in South Korea is believed to have been triggered by fluid injection at a nearby Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) site, the largest-induced quake ever recorded at an EGS location.
A Rice University-led study has provided first clues about internal structure of the Galicia margin using a seismic probe. The data revealed seismic images of the S-reflector, a prominent detachment fault within the continent-ocean transition zone, which accommodated slipping along the zone.
Using computer modeling, University of Oregon scientists have unveiled a thick crustal transition zone that may control the movement of magma emerging from the Earth's mantle. This discovery provides a new explanation for the geology underlying recent seismic imaging of magma bodies below Yellowstone National Park.
A study by GFZ scientists found that water pressure at the plate interface zone can lead to 'aquaplaning', initiating earthquakes. The researchers suggest that fluid pressure becomes close to lithostatic at deeper interfaces and lower at shallower ones, triggering catastrophic events.
A sediment core from Sluice Pond has identified a layer of light brown organic-rich mud deposited between 1740 and 1810, suggesting an underwater landslide possibly triggered by the 1755 Cape Ann earthquake. The discovery provides new evidence for historic seismic activity in New England.
Researchers developed a new measurement called Radiated Energy Enhancement Factor (REEF) to capture variations in earthquake rupture complexity, revealing regional patterns and differences in fault properties. This improvement could help seismologists better understand earthquake mechanics and hazards.
Researchers at MIT and Australian National University found that seismic waves are essentially blind to water in the Earth's upper mantle. The team's experiments showed that even tiny amounts of water have no effect on seismic wave speeds, contradicting previous assumptions.
Researchers found that stable gas hydrates can indirectly destabilize sediment above, triggering submarine landslides. The new process, independent of climatic changes, involves the formation of fluid conduits beneath the seafloor, leading to hydro fractures and shallow slope failure.
Researchers from GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel identified a stratification of the seafloor as responsible for at least one landslide in the region. The discovery was made by combining drilling and seismic data, which revealed a layer of clay overlying ooze composed of fossil planktonic organisms.
A new study maps induced earthquake risk in the Permian Basin of West Texas, highlighting areas prone to seismic activity from fluid injection. The detailed stress map provides quantitative data for oil companies to inform more effective drilling operations and reduce the probability of larger earthquakes.
A satellite-based earthquake early warning system called G-FAST performed well in a replay of three large earthquakes in Chile, providing accurate magnitude and epicenter estimates. The system's performance suggests it could provide early warnings for Chile's coastal communities.
Research analyzes earthquake sequences in eastern Ohio from 2013-2015, finding that hydraulic fracturing increases seismic hazard with maturity of activated faults. Deep earthquakes tend to be larger and persist after HF ceases, suggesting a long-term impact on seismic hazards.
Researchers at the University of Arizona and partnering universities are working on a NSF-funded project to develop buildings that won't collapse under major earthquakes. The focus is on lateral force transfer through steel collectors, which horizontally transmit earthquake forces.
Scientists developed a model to estimate the maximum magnitude of an earthquake caused by wastewater injection from hydraulic fracturing. The model takes into account the energy stored on nearby faults and predicts the distance an earthquake can propagate beyond an injection site.
Researchers from GEOMAR and Universidad de Chile found that the 2016 earthquake released accumulated energy from a previous quake in 1960, with a slip of over 4.5 meters. This study suggests reevaluating seismic cycles for risk assessment and construction recommendations
Researchers are developing a new method to monitor hurricane intensity using seismic data, analyzing pressure changes on the surface that generate seismic waves. The technique, called beamforming backprojection, can detect even when the storm is still out at sea, offering a remote way to track storms.
A team of researchers is mapping areas at risk from liquefaction, a devastating form of seismic phenomenon caused by earthquakes. The LIQUEFACT project aims to assess community resilience to liquefaction-induced disasters, producing a framework for building vulnerability evaluation and mitigation strategies.
The ShakeAlert system, developed for the US West Coast, is fine-tuning a U.S. prototype that could be in limited public use in 2018. Key components include dense networks of seismic stations and education/training on using alerts.
Researchers have discovered a faster method for estimating large earthquake magnitudes by analyzing 'elasto-gravity' signals, which travel at the speed of light. These signals consistently arrive before seismic wave counterparts, allowing for near-real-time magnitude detection and more accurate estimates.
Researchers simulated 50 scenarios of a magnitude-9.0 Cascadia earthquake, finding that coastal areas would be hardest hit and locations in sediment-filled basins like Seattle would shake more. The intensity of shaking can vary by a factor of 10 depending on the scenario.
The MIPT Center for Molecular Electronics developed a seismic station that can reveal underground reservoir structures at great depths. The device has a wider bandwidth than existing seismic stations, allowing it to pick up low-frequency waves and detect potential hydrocarbon reserves more effectively.
Exposure to seismic signals from air gun surveys increased scallop mortality rates and altered physiological characteristics, including reflex responses and hemolymph biochemistry. These findings suggest potential effects of anthropogenic aquatic noise on marine life.
Scientists have documented a clear-cut instance of a massive earthquake triggering slow slip events in New Zealand, some occurring as far away as 300 miles from the epicenter. This study provides new insights into the relationships between slow slip events and earthquakes.
Seismic reflection data from the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake revealed a frontal prism, reflective zone, and subducted horst-and-graben structures in the Japan Trench. This provides insights into the behavior of large shallow slip zones and potential tsunami earthquakes.
Seismologists have discovered that processes beneath the Andean Plateau produce far more continental rock than previously thought. The findings suggest that mountain-forming regions could create larger volumes of continental crust in less time, leading to significant changes in our understanding of Earth's geological history.
The USGS has awarded $4.9 million to six universities and a non-profit organization to support the transition of the ShakeAlert system into a production system. The partnership aims to improve the sensor and telemetry infrastructure across the western United States.
A new study published in Nature Communications suggests that the Tibetan Plateau's unique shape may be explained by the strength of the tectonic plates involved in its formation. The research found that a strong Asian plate results in a narrow plateau, while a weak Asian plate produces a broad one.
A University of Oklahoma study reveals the complex relationship between wastewater injection and seismicity in Oklahoma. The research found that foreshocks correlated with wastewater injection rates and stress interactions between earthquakes, ultimately leading to the September 3, 2016, 5.8 magnitude earthquake near Pawnee, Oklahoma.
Researchers used repair petitions to trace damage from the magnitude 7.3 event in Aguadilla, finding a consistent picture with modern-day data. The study provides detailed 'ground truth' of the 1918 quake's impact, useful for predicting future earthquake damage.