Researchers using satellite geodesy and InSAR imagery found the Arabian side of the Dead Sea Transform fault has been moving steadily northwards at around five millimeters per year. The studies suggest that large earthquakes may be less frequent near the southern end of the Gulf, but more investigations are needed for a resilient city.
SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalGeophysical Journal International·TypeSurvey·DateOct 25, 2021
A University of Queensland-led study reveals that hot spot volcanoes do not produce 'pristine' magma from the melting mantle but instead filter a different melt to the surface. This new information supports the notion that detection of magma at the crust-mantle boundary could indicate an upcoming eruption.
SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalGeology·DateSep 14, 2021
The study reconstructs the movement of southwest Japan from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic era using paleomagnetic analysis. The researchers found that southwest Japan experienced two clockwise rotations, indicating tectonic rotations during the Paleogene and Neogene periods.
SourceOkayama University·JournalEarth Planets and Space·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 18, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
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 analyzed data from Kīlauea's caldera collapse to characterize friction at a large scale. The study confirms the role of slip-weakening distance in earthquake mechanics and provides insights into the physics governing caldera collapses.
SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 28, 2021
Researchers uncover how seamounts lubricate tectonic plates, preventing large earthquakes. The study suggests a key difference in the northern and southern parts of the Hikurangi Margin, which contributes to the region's high earthquake activity.
SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalNature·DateJul 7, 2021
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.
New research from the University of Copenhagen reveals that the Tibetan plateau has increased in height over the past 15-18 million years due to a slow collision between the India and Eurasia tectonic plates. This finding sheds new light on Earth's evolution and provides a more accurate understanding of Tibet's geological history.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalGeophysical Journal International·DateMay 26, 2021
Researchers used seismic CT scans and supercomputers to study slow slip earthquakes in New Zealand's Hikurangi subduction zone. The study found that tectonic forces build up before releasing through slow motion tremors, revealing key processes involved in modulating slow slip.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 25, 2021
Researchers investigated seismic anisotropy in the Tianshan Tectonic Belt's upper crust, finding zoning patterns that correlate with tectonic stress fields. Time delays of slow waves also exhibit spatial differences, indicating stronger anisotropy in certain zones.
Researchers at NTU Singapore discovered a 32-year 'slow-motion' earthquake that led to the catastrophic 1861 Sumatra earthquake. The study highlights potential missing factors or mismodelling in global earthquake risk assessments.
SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 11, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers at University of Toronto and Istanbul Technical University have discovered a new geologic process in plate tectonics that reveals early damage to areas of Earth's crust long before they are geologically altered by known plate-boundary processes. This challenges current understandings of the planet's tectonic cycle.
SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 11, 2021
A shallow locked region south of Cartagena city suggests significant earthquake and tsunami hazard, with a magnitude 8.0 earthquake capable of occurring every 600 years. Researchers urge continued densification of the GPS network to better understand and evaluate this hazard potential.
A team of researchers from the University of Houston found that the asthenosphere, a hot and softer layer beneath tectonic plates, is flowing vigorously, driving plate motions. This 'river of rocks' has been actively flowing for eight million years, shaping the Earth's surface and influencing earthquakes.
SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 11, 2021
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Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
Researchers at the University of Houston have located the long-debated Resurrection tectonic plate in northern Canada, shedding light on its existence and significance. The findings could aid in predicting volcanic hazards and mineral deposits.
SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalACM SIGSAM Bulletin·DateOct 20, 2020
Passelègue's groundbreaking study sheds light on the dynamics of faults, finding that initial strain plays a crucial role in determining rupture speed and energy release. His model shows that higher strains trigger faster ruptures while lower strains result in slower ones.
SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 12, 2020
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.
SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 22, 2020
Researchers from Cardiff University have identified specific conditions along the ocean floor where tectonic plates creep past each other instead of generating catastrophic earthquakes. This discovery could help scientists better understand stress at fault lines and improve earthquake forecasting.
SourceCardiff University·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 2, 2020
Researchers found evidence of continental growth starting as early as 4.4 billion years ago, indicating that tectonic plate movement began more than a billion years earlier than previously believed. This discovery challenges our understanding of Earth's geological history and suggests a complex process involving the recycling of crust.
SourceYale University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 27, 2020
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Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
Researchers from Germany, Chile and the US use satellite data to identify Earth's surface deformation months before massive earthquakes. This detection enables scientists to better understand precursor activity that may trigger earthquakes.
SourceUniversidad de Concepción·JournalNature·DateMay 6, 2020
Harvard researchers have detected some of the earliest evidence for modern-like plate motion in ancient rocks from Australia and South Africa, dating back to 3.2 billion years ago. The study suggests that tectonic movement occurred on the early Earth, providing valuable insights into the evolution of life and climate.
SourceHarvard University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 22, 2020
Researchers at the University of Ottawa have found evidence that slow earthquakes are related to dynamic fluid processes at the boundary between tectonic plates. The team used a technique similar to ultrasound imagery and analyzed rock properties to confirm that fluid pressures fluctuate during an earthquake cycle.
SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 23, 2020
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A high-resolution catalog of earthquakes from the 2019 Ridgecrest sequence reveals complex rupturing and crosscutting fault structures. The catalog helps researchers understand the triggering and evolution of the sequence, shedding light on the physics and processes involved.
SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalSeismological Research Letters·DateJan 22, 2020
A new framework for integrated geodynamic models is being developed by a team of researchers, including Clemson mathematician Timo Heister. The Advanced Solver for Problems in Earth's Convection (ASPECT) software will simulate processes in the Earth's mantle, providing insights into geological events and tectonic plate movements.
Researchers have discovered a new petit-spot volcano in the Pacific Ocean near Minamitorishima Island, Japan. The young volcano is thought to have erupted less than 3 million years ago and provides valuable insights into the asthenosphere.
A team from University of Tokyo utilized Summit's AI architecture to develop a faster solver for earthquake simulations, enabling more accurate models. The new approach accelerated simulation times by a factor of 1000, improving the efficiency and reliability of earthquake modeling.
A 900-mile stretch of volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire became dormant for 10 million years due to a prominent bend in the Hawaiian Islands chain and a crack in the Pacific Ocean Plate. The crack, formed by opposing plates moving in opposite directions, disrupted the water-laden conveyor belt that drives volcanic activity.
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AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.
A $2.7 million NSF grant will study an active flat slab in Colombia, investigating its effects on the continental crust and volcanism. The research will compare two parts of the flat slab, allowing scientists to understand the initial migration and cessation of volcanism, as well as the formation of ore deposits.
Researchers investigated surface deformation caused by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake using field investigations, geologic data, seismic reflection profiles, and earthquake relocation results. The study suggests the Pishan earthquake is a folding event that occurred in the upper crust.
SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeosphere·DateApr 18, 2019
A seismic study spanning the Mariana Trench reveals that subduction zones drag about three times more water into the deep Earth than previously estimated. The observations highlight the important role of subduction zones in the global water cycle, with implications for our understanding of the Earth's interior.
SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalNature·DateDec 17, 2018
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Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.
A new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters proposes that plate tectonics could have started as early as the planet's formation. Researchers analyzed noble gas isotopes Helium-3 and Neon-22 to establish a timeline of Earth's tectonic plate cycling, providing insight into the planet's earliest conditions.
SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateSep 26, 2018
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...
SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 26, 2018
Researchers at University of Illinois found geological signs pointing to catastrophic supervolcano eruptions would be detectable hundreds to thousands of years before an eruption. The study suggests that people need not panic, as the precursors to massive eruptions will be long-lasting and far greater than recent seismic activity.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 30, 2018
Researchers suggest a cycle linking supercontinent formation to tidal energy, which controls ocean wave strength. Strong tidal energy fosters nutrient mixing, sustaining ocean life, while low tidal energy may lead to oxygen-starved oceans.
SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 11, 2018
Slow slip events (SSEs) release seismic stress at a lower rate than large earthquakes, potentially triggering megathrust earthquake events. The study analyzed waveform data from beneath Kanto, Japan, and found that seismic activity varied in response to SSEs, through episodic cycles.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 9, 2018
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Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
Researchers created synthetic specimens similar to upper mantle rocks and measured their rigidity under conditions simulating the Earth's mantle. This study challenges a long-held theory that defects involving water absorption in normally dry rocks control seismic wave speeds.
SourceAustralian National University·JournalNature·DateMar 14, 2018
A team of scientists, led by Penn State's Demian Saffer and Laura Wallace, is installing observatories beneath the sea floor to study slow earthquakes. They aim to uncover links between slow earthquakes, large normal earthquakes, and tsunami generation risk.
Recent studies suggest that the Hawaiian hotspot moved southward at a rate of several tens of kilometers per million years. This new evidence contradicts the long-held assumption that hotspots are stationary and supports a dynamic Earth model.
SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 27, 2018
Scientists have mapped the temperature and viscosity of the lower crust for the first time, finding hot rocks under much of the western US that are near their initial melting point. This study suggests significant regions of the lower crust lack strength, potentially leading to mountains being flattened over millions of years.
SourceColorado State University·JournalGeology·DateJan 17, 2018
A new study suggests that heat from a deep-seated oceanic mantle source, rather than a traditional mantle plume, drives crustal melting and surface volcanism in the western US. The research uses seismic tomography to peer into the subsurface and develop a hybrid geodynamic model that better matches observed geologic histories.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Geoscience·DateDec 18, 2017
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GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
New study reveals that frequency and magnitude of large Himalayan earthquakes depend on tectonic plate collision rate, which controls temperature and earthquake generation areas. The team found a link between plate collisions in the Alps and Himalaya, with slower collisions increasing earthquake hazard.
SourceElsevier·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateDec 4, 2017
Researchers at University of Toronto and Istanbul Technical University propose an 'active drip' model for the formation of the Central Anatolian Plateau, where the lower tectonic plate has dripped below Earth's surface. This process is linked to the planet's crust and upper mantle thickening and sinking into the lower mantle.
SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 28, 2017
Researchers found that the strength of olivine increases with decreasing grain size, indicating the mantle is weaker than believed. This discovery may help understand how tectonic plates form and deform.
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 2, 2017
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.
Researchers at Oxford University have discovered that tectonic plates are weaker than previously believed, thanks to laboratory experiments. The study sheds light on how plates break and form new boundaries, with implications for understanding earthquake-generating faults.
SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 13, 2017
Researchers used instrumented nanoindentation to measure olivine's strength, finding it weaker with larger diamond tips. The study resolves a long-standing debate on the mineral's strength and has implications for understanding plate tectonics and volcanic activity.
SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 13, 2017
Researchers developed a method to analyze hot spot tracks and found most groups are fixed and relatively motionless, moving at about 4 millimeters per year. This contradicts previous findings that suggested hot spots moved as much as 33 millimeters a year.
SourceRice University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 18, 2017
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.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 24, 2017
A new study reveals that the 60-degree bend in the Hawaiian-Emperor chain is primarily caused by a directional change in the Pacific plate motion. The research also suggests that some southward plume motion is required, but this cannot be explained by current mantle convection models.
SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 8, 2017
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
Researchers have developed a new method to investigate underwater volcanoes that produce Earth's tectonic plates. The study found that molten rock is present deeper than expected, indicating faster cooling of the plate, which affects friction at collision zones and megaquake sizes.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 24, 2017
Researchers estimate that the next major earthquake in Istanbul will originate from the Eastern Marmara Sea due to a build-up of energy from entangled tectonic plates. This could lead to a shorter early warning period, but potentially less severe ground shaking than expected.
SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalGeophysical Journal International·DateMay 16, 2017
The Kaikoura earthquake triggered widespread slow slip events, producing simultaneous patches of slip in other areas. Ground faulting was complex, rupturing at nine to 12 faults with multiple orientations, resulting in a combined rupture length of about 180 kilometers.
Researchers found that a divergent plate boundary can be forced to converge, leading to the formation of a new subduction zone. The study suggests that buoyant but weak plate material at a divergent boundary can resist subduction, but eventually gives way to denser older material, creating a self-sustaining subduction zone.
SourceSaint Louis University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2016
Researchers found evidence that the mantle flows in a direction ahead of recent changes in plate motion, suggesting it may be responsible for past and current changes. The study also explored magma supply under mid-ocean ridges, finding larger volumes at segment ends than previously thought.
SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJul 28, 2016
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
Researchers are analyzing data from the September 16, 2015 magnitude 8.3 earthquake in Illapel, Chile, to gain insights into the boundary's dynamics and predict future earthquakes. The study aims to map out strain release, identify active faults, and describe deformation of the top plate.
A new study suggests that oceans may be a significant source of free hydrogen gas, produced by slow-spreading tectonic plates on the seafloor. This finding could have far-ranging implications for our understanding of life on Earth and the potential for clean energy.
SourceDuke University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 20, 2016
A new study suggests that the Riasi fault in Indian Kashmir has been building up pressure for thousands of years, potentially leading to a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake. The fault's lack of recent seismic activity increases the likelihood of a major event, posing a significant threat to millions of people in the region.
SourceOregon State University·JournalGeological Society of America Bulletin·DateMay 18, 2016
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
Scientists have found that pieces of the underside of the North American Plate are peeling off, sinking into the mantle, and causing earthquakes in the southeastern US. This process is likely to produce more earthquakes in the future due to unbalanced stresses in the plate.
SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·DateMay 3, 2016
Geologists now track tectonic plate motion to understand ocean and mountain range formation, as well as animal species distribution. The technology reveals new geological relationships in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, with implications for predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
SourceJames Cook University·JournalEarth-Science Reviews·DateApr 10, 2016
Researchers have identified 10 additional superchrons in the Proterozoic Eon, revealing a similar rate of geodynamo-driven reversals for most of the past two billion years. This discovery challenges existing models of core evolution and the geodynamo process.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateFeb 3, 2016
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
Scientists have discovered evidence of ancient continental collisions in the Teton Range, dating back 2.68 billion years, providing new insights into the early history of plate tectonics. The study found significant differences in the composition of the ancient crust compared to modern plates.
SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta·DateJan 29, 2016
A new study suggests that a thicker Earth mantle may be responsible for some of the planet's inner processes. The research found a significant increase in the Earth's mantle viscosity at depths of 1,000 kilometers, challenging previous estimates.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateDec 10, 2015