Articles tagged with Subduction
New research on jade found in Guatemala's Motagua fault reveals two collision events between the North American and Caribbean plates. The study uses eclogite dating to pinpoint a 130 million-year-old collision, followed by a second event at 70 million years ago.
A new study evaluates expected ground motion in Seattle, Victoria, and Vancouver from earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 - 9.0, providing a tool to build or retrofit structures to withstand seismic waves. Ground motions are estimated for firm ground at the three sites, with a model that engineers can adjust for local soil conditions.
Chevron-shaped dunes are not indicative of mega-tsunamis, contrary to popular speculation. Microbial life extends fossil record by 1.5 billion years, while nanoscale cristobalite fibers in volcanic ash hint at adverse health effects. The largest trilobites ever found provide insight into Earth's first animals and fossil evidence.
A giant Cascadian earthquake could cause severe damage and possible collapse in Seattle's high-rise buildings, particularly those constructed before 1994 building code changes. The Seattle basin amplifies long-period motions, making tall steel buildings susceptible to low-frequency shaking.
Researchers linked pre-historic seismic events on the San Andreas Fault to assess likelihood of future great ruptures. Analysis suggests several events similar to a historical earthquake occurred since A.D. 900 on the southern San Andreas fault.
Researchers have detected slow slip events along a major fault zone beneath the Nicoya Peninsula, shedding light on the full spectrum of motions occurring on the fault. The findings may yield new insights into the events that lead to major earthquakes, but experts caution that more study is needed.
Deep-sea drilling reveals extensive rock deformation and concentrated slip zones in shallow regions, contradicting long-held assumptions. The discovery sheds light on the complex mechanics of faulting and tsunamis, highlighting the megasplay fault as a key contributor to largest tsunami-generating plate slips.
A Caltech-led team found that the subduction zone in Sumatra has not released enough strain from recent earthquakes, increasing the likelihood of another large event. The researchers analyzed seismological records and data gathered by GPS stations to determine that only a quarter of the accumulated stress was released.
Researchers investigated ancient soils in Big Bend National Park, Texas, and found increased chemical weathering during the initial Eocene thermal maximum. The study suggests that increased humidity and CO2 levels led to hydrolysis reactions, potentially serving as a negative feedback to reduce atmospheric CO2.
Researchers have found a potential link between seismic activity on the southern Cascadia Subduction fault and major earthquakes along the northern San Andreas Fault. The study suggests that Cascadia earthquakes may trigger San Andreas earthquakes, with an average recurrence rate of approximately 220 years for both faults.
Researchers found that a geological province previously thought to prevent giant earthquakes broke through, potentially increasing the risk of more severe quakes like those occurring in Cascadia Subduction Zone. This discovery could have significant implications for earthquake preparedness and response worldwide.
A UM Marine geology and geophysics student has been awarded the prestigious MARGINS Student Prize for her research on slow slip and slide dynamics in the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Her study revealed a 'slow slip event', where energy is released over several weeks instead of seconds, sparing damage to the surface environment.
Researchers discovered a rare doublet earthquake event near Japan, with two large quakes occurring over 60 days apart. The second quake was triggered by bending of the Pacific plate, shedding light on seismic dynamics and potential hazards in regions far from tectonic plate boundaries.
Geophysicists Paul Silver and Mark Behn propose a new theoretical model that plate tectonic motions have stopped in Earth's geologic history, suggesting an intermittent process. This finding could impact our understanding of earthquakes, volcanism, and the formation of continents.
Scientists propose that plate tectonics may have halted or slowed down in the distant past and could do so again due to changes in ocean basin closure. This idea challenges current models and may explain differences in igneous rock formation and continental evolution.
Researchers have successfully drilled four boreholes into the ocean floor near a major earthquake fault zone in Japan. The team collected geophysical information about the rock layers while drilling, revealing unexpected differences in physical stress conditions between active and inactive parts of the plate boundary.
Geologists at the University of Illinois report a direct relationship between magma production and tectonic plate convergence rates in a Caribbean submarine volcano. Analyzing rock samples from Kick'em Jenny, they found a higher protactinium-to-uranium ratio indicative of slower melting rates due to slow subduction rates.
The NanTroSEIZE expedition aims to retrieve geological samples and provide scientific data from the Nankai Trough fault zone. The program will drill deeply into the Earth to observe earthquake mechanisms in a well-known subduction zone, providing new insights into naturally occurring processes responsible for earthquakes.
A geologist is working with an international committee to develop an emergency plan for Quito, Ecuador, which sits near an active volcano. The plan aims to educate the public and government officials on the dangers of volcanic eruptions and provide escape routes.
Researchers from Oregon State University will travel to Indonesia to collect piston core samples from the seafloor, analyzing evidence of past earthquakes and tsunamis on the Sunda subduction zone. They aim to recreate the seismic history of the region, shedding light on devastating natural disasters.
Researchers used seismic imaging to detect layered structures within the Tonga subduction zone's mantle wedge, revealing unexpected features that contradict textbook models. The study suggests water and fluids played a key role in shaping the mantle structure, with implications for the formation of volcanic arcs.
A geophysicist from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute urges officials to consider all subduction-type tectonic boundaries as lethal due to the unpredictability of massive earthquakes. The expert highlights the importance of warning systems and educational outreach to coastal communities to mitigate the impact of tsunamis.
Researchers have found that tiny tremors and temblors in fault zones are generated by slow-moving earthquakes that may precede mega-quakes. The study suggests that detecting these weak signals could be useful in forecasting seismic hazards, particularly in subduction zones where the most destructive earthquakes occur.
The January special issue of BSSA focuses on the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, which is the best recorded large earthquake in history. The study reveals that great earthquakes can occur in various types of subduction zones, not just fast and young ones.
Seismologists from Stanford University pinpointed the source of non-volcanic signals emanating from a Japanese fault zone, likely caused by 'silent earthquakes' that displace ground without shaking it. These events may foreshadow powerful seismic temblors and contribute to seismic hazard forecasting.
Researchers discovered that slow-moving silent earthquakes can trigger swarms of tiny conventional tremors, potentially providing early warnings for mega-earthquakes. This discovery has raised hopes for seismic hazard forecasting in subduction zones worldwide.
Researchers have recorded non-volcanic tremors in a deep borehole near Parkfield, California, providing insight into the San Andreas Fault's behavior. The findings help geologists understand whether the fault's deeply buried rocks behave similarly to those in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
A massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra challenged long-held assumptions about quakes and subduction zones. The Great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake surpassed a magnitude 9 threshold, which contradicts theory that such large quakes occur at subduction zones with young, fast-moving crust.
Researchers found that sediment-filled basins in subduction zones can strengthen the edge of the plate above, increasing the likelihood of large earthquakes. The Cascadia subduction zone is particularly prone to severe shaking due to its forearc basins, which can be up to 3 miles deep.
Researchers at Yale University discovered a key to identifying areas within subduction zones prone to severe damage during earthquakes. Sediment layers deposited on top of the overriding plate cause it to 'stick,' increasing the likelihood of earthquake events in these regions.
Research suggests climate change will lead to decreased air quality in Texas and the western U.S., while the Midwest is predicted to receive more rain, which could help reduce ozone levels. Satellite data also reveals the temperature of Earth's ring current, with plasma ion temperatures consistent with in situ measurements.
Researchers used various models to recreate the rupture history and variation along the fault, revealing the earthquake's length, epicenter, and speed. The study provided valuable insights into one of the largest earthquakes recorded on modern equipment.
Scientists have discovered that deep-sea tremors can be used to predict large earthquakes with high accuracy. By analyzing data from sensors deployed on the ocean floor, researchers were able to set up an early warning system that successfully predicted six major earthquakes in a 15-kilometer radius.
Researchers developed a system that predicted six major earthquakes along East Pacific Rise transform faults using sensor data and foreshock detection. The study suggests short-term earthquake prediction may be feasible under certain circumstances.
The Global Seismographic Network can track seismic signals in real-time, allowing researchers to compile and interpret information about potential hazards sooner. The network's unparalleled detail enables scientists to quickly determine the magnitude and location of an event in near real-time.
The Indonesian earthquake's unique combination of a subduction zone and shallow depth made it particularly deadly, resulting in over 150,000 deaths. Scientists have developed technology to warn people of pending tsunamis, but an early warning system is lacking in the Indian Ocean.
Scientists studying uplift along the Oregon coast reveal similarities with past earthquakes, indicating an accumulation of strain for a potential future earthquake. A tsunami could cause widespread damage from Northern California to Vancouver, B.C., with waves arriving within minutes after shaking ends.
The Alpine fault begins as a single fault, unlike most other strike slip faults which form from multiple small faults. It exhibits significant seismicity at the southern and northern ends but is relatively aseptic in the central portion.
Researchers analyze daily temperature ranges to explain global warming trends. A new seismic model reveals the cause of New Zealand's volcanism by tracking magma movement. Small robotic aircraft can now patrol the ocean, providing high-resolution oceanographic observations.
Scientists from Japan, Canada, and the US conclude a 1700 Japan tsunami was caused by a magnitude 9 North American earthquake. Computer simulations reveal the Cascadia subduction zone can produce such a massive earthquake, posing a threat to coastal regions.
Scientists mapped locked zones on the Cascadia megathrust, revealing a 56-mile swath of land faces a greater threat from earthquakes than previously thought. Another major earthquake is expected within the next 200 to 800 years, putting rapidly growing inland cities at risk.
Scientists have discovered a hydrothermal siphon connecting two seamounts in the northeast Pacific, allowing water to flow northward over 50 kilometers. This phenomenon has significant implications for understanding heat flow through the crust, ocean chemistry, and microbial communities living on the ocean floor.
Researchers at UCL create first laboratory-generated deep and intermediate focus earthquakes, recreating extreme pressure and temperature conditions. The study reveals dehydration reactions as the cause of these enigmatic earthquakes, which can occur hundreds of kilometers below the Earth's surface.
Scientists at the University of Michigan have developed a model that explains how slabs in the Earth's mantle drive convection and surface plate motion. The research found that slabs attached to plates can directly pull them towards subduction zones, while those not well attached create suction forces drawing nearby plates towards the ...
Researchers have found evidence of recent earthquakes in a deep-sea core, suggesting the Cascadia subduction zone was active as recently as 300 years ago. The discovery provides new insights into earthquake cycles and helps establish methods to trace the history of earth's active crust.
A new study simulates the Atlantic Ocean floor's movement over millions of years, predicting that it will plunge beneath the North American continent. The process is expected to take around three million years, triggered by water seeping into offshore rock and making it softer.
Chris Kincaid of the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography has received a $143,000 NSF grant to study subduction zones and their impact on volcanic arcs and seismicity. The project aims to develop 3D models of subduction using laboratory apparatus, enhancing our understanding of mantle dynamics.
Scientists investigated subducting lithosphere and deep earthquakes near Fiji, finding a group of deep earthquakes off to the side that cannot be connected to the actively subducting lithosphere. The researchers suggest that similar slabs may exist elsewhere, preserving a significant primordial component of the mantle.
Researchers have found no evidence of gradual dinosaur extinction but rather a catastrophic event. Scientists also explore the formation of the Hawaiian volcanic Island of Hilo Ridge, which challenges previous theories on its origin.
Researchers found that rigidity of rock and sediments increases with depth in subduction zones, affecting earthquake duration and seismic waves. This discovery provides a powerful tool for seismologists to improve earthquake probability calculations and better understand destructive earthquakes.
Dr. Jeanne Sauber will present a lecture on the earthquake hazard in Alaska, studying subduction from space, at the National Science Teachers Association convention in Boston. She will discuss direct measurements of subduction using space-based data and its implications for Alaskan plate movement.
Researchers will use Logging While Drilling technology to sample physical and chemical properties of rocks and sediments on the ocean floor. They aim to determine the age, composition, and physical properties of the area's rocks and sediments, as well as understand why some areas have low heat flow.