Articles tagged with Tsunamis
A Michigan State University team is launching a project to study the underwater fault system where the 1946 tsunami originated, measuring vibrations of tectonic plates in the Alaskan-Aleutian subduction zone. This will help scientists assess whether the region poses a risk today and inform building codes.
The project aims to shape future international engineering guidance for coastal infrastructure as climate change increases storm surge risk. Researchers will gather environmental data on saltmarsh systems and work with international partners to develop practical hybrid green-grey infrastructure solutions.
New models reconstruct the movement of faults during the 8.8 magnitude Kamchatka earthquake, revealing limited shallow rupture and affecting tsunami risk. The study provides valuable insights into predicting giant earthquakes and protecting coastal communities.
Researchers previously estimated a powerful earthquake on Chalke Island in 1843 caused up to 600 deaths and a tsunami. However, a new study finds the event was likely a magnitude 5.93 earthquake with no deaths or tsunami reported at the time.
A satellite deployed to measure ocean surface heights captured the first high-resolution track of a great subduction zone tsunami. The track shows an unexpectedly complex pattern of waves dispersing and scattering across the ocean basin.
Researchers estimate a medieval tsunami struck Anegada between 1381 and 1391, based on analysis of coral skeletons. The finding supports efforts to prepare for future tsunamis in the Caribbean region.
Researchers developed a customized parametric insurance system using Probabilistic Tsunami Risk Assessment (PTRA) to quantify tsunami losses and payouts. The proposed framework reduces overpayment by 60.9% while maintaining risk reduction, potentially saving lives and money.
A recent study analyzed seismic waveform data from a tsunami earthquake (Mw 8.3-8.5) that occurred off the British South Sandwich Islands in 2021. The team found a combination of directional variation in rupture propagation and slow slip events contributing to long-duration shaking, differing from conventional models.
A 1,200-tonne boulder in Tonga is one of the largest known wave-transported rocks, providing new insights into past tsunamis. Numerical modelling suggests tsunami heights of 50m lasting 90 seconds dislodged the boulder from its cliff-edge origin.
Scientists have detected landslide-generated tsunamis using satellite data from a ship's receiver, providing life-saving information to coastal communities. The study shows the potential for this approach to improve tsunami detection and warning, confirming its effectiveness in detecting localized ground movement caused by landslides.
Researchers found that taller Japanese black pine trees have deeper roots, making them more resistant to disasters. Shorter trees are more likely to fall due to inadequate root growth.
A new framework evaluates tsunami risk to seaports and the global port network, estimating potential economic losses in trade caused by port disruptions. The study found that a Manila Trench tsunami could damage up to 15 international seaports under present-day sea-level conditions.
Researchers are on the trail of the 2011 mega earthquake's causes through deep-sea drilling. They aim to determine properties and processes in subduction zones, which can contribute to tsunamis.
The expedition aims to understand how extreme geohazards interact and improve the long-term safety of coastal regions. Researchers use innovative technologies to collect real-time data on earthquakes, ground movements, and volcanic gases.
The study discovered significant alterations in the region's state of stress and deformation following the 1975 Kalapana earthquake. The researchers found that Kīlauea's south flank experienced greater displacement prior to the earthquake, pointing to changes in mechanical properties influencing seismic activity.
A new study reveals that a giant meteorite impact, equivalent to four Mount Everests, triggered a tsunami that mixed ocean debris and heated the atmosphere. This led to a rapid recovery of bacterial life, with iron-metabolizing bacteria flourishing in its wake.
A landslide in remote Greenland caused a mega-tsunami that sloshed back and forth across a fjord for nine days, generating vibrations throughout the Earth. The study used mathematical models to recreate the event and demonstrate how the sloshing of water would have continued, matching global seismic recordings.
A massive landslide triggered by climate change melted the glacier at its base, causing a 200-meter (650-foot) tall tsunami that rocked back and forth inside a narrow fjord for nine days. The resulting seiche generated seismic waves that reverberated through Earth's crust, baffling scientists worldwide.
A recent study found that the 2023 Greenland megatsunami generated a week-long oscillating wave in Dickson Fjord, revealing new insights into seiche dynamics. The research also sheds light on the impacts of landslides in Greenland and similar regions around the world.
A recent study improves earthquake and tsunami hazard assessment by revealing the Cascadia Subduction Zone's complex geometry. The zone is divided into four segments, each potentially insulated against movements, and has a megathrust fault that can trigger massive earthquakes and tsunamis.
The study identified two main reasons for the amplification of tsunamis: a lens effect due to shallow waters and wave refraction, as well as diffraction at capes and multiple reflections. These local conditions contributed to the high tsunamis in Iida Bay.
Research in the Alaskan-Aleutian subduction zone found evidence of splay fault uplift generating additional tsunami activity in half of last eight earthquakes. Splay faults can create local tsunamis reaching shores in under 30 minutes, exacerbating coastal destruction.
Researchers at University of Alaska Fairbanks have developed a new detection method that can identify landslides within minutes and determine if they pose a tsunami hazard. The method uses seismic data to estimate a landslide's location, volume, and potential impact, with the goal of issuing warnings in under 5 minutes.
A self-powered movable seawall system harnesses microtidal energy to generate electricity, protecting ports against tsunamis and providing emergency power. The system is feasible in 20 Japanese ports along the western coast, facing the Nankai Trough, which is prone to megathrust earthquakes and tsunamis.
Researchers found that mixed tree species in coastal forests can withstand tsunami impacts with less damage than monoculture forests made of black pine. The study analyzed satellite images and aerial photographs before and after the Great East Japan Earthquake tsunami on 11 March 2011.
Scientists at ETH Zurich develop a novel method to measure seismic tremors using fibre-optic networks' active noise suppression systems. The technique enables accurate earthquake measurements even on the ocean floor and in regions with limited resources.
Researchers from Ohio State University studied a past underwater landslide and developed a novel approach to analyze the risk of deadly tsunamis. They found that slide velocity may help determine the threat of dangerous waves, and their findings could improve our understanding of submarine landslides and tsunamigenic events.
GEOMAR researchers used 3D seismics to recreate the 1650 Kolumbo volcano eruption, finding that a landslide followed by an explosion created the devastating tsunami. The study provides valuable insights for monitoring submarine volcanic activity and potentially developing early warning systems.
A 10-year study found that even low doses of radiation may contribute to an increased risk of diabetes among emergency workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Researchers analyzed data from over 6,000 workers and found a significant association between low-dose radiation exposure and a higher risk of developing diabetes.
Researchers have identified that ancient quakes occurred in shallow faults on the Puget Lowlands in western Washington, which could lead to another devastating event. The study used tree rings to pinpoint the dates of these quakes and found a link between them, suggesting regional hazard models may need to be updated.
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.
Researchers reconstructed the seafloor morphology around Santorini to better understand volcanic tsunamis. The study revealed undulating bedforms formed by pyroclastic flows and instabilities of the volcanic flanks, indicating that slope instabilities can contribute to tsunami generation.
Scientists have discovered weak, fossilised sediments beneath the seafloor of Antarctica's eastern Ross Sea, which led to massive underwater landslides. These layers made the area susceptible to failure due to past climate change.
Researchers developed an AI-based early warning system that combines acoustic technology with artificial intelligence to classify earthquakes and determine potential tsunami risk. The system uses underwater microphones to measure acoustic radiation, which travels faster than tsunami waves and carries information about the tectonic event.
A team at Cardiff University developed an AI-powered tsunami early warning system that uses real-time classification of underwater earthquakes to detect tsunamis more reliably and earlier. The system enables faster evacuation by identifying the size and scale of tsunamis through acoustic-gravity waves, reducing false alarms.
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.
A new study analyzed the 2022 Tongan volcanic eruption, finding it triggered a mega-tsunami with waves up to 45 meters high, which claimed few lives due to the location and COVID-19 pandemic efforts
Researchers analyzed concentric terraces around the Santorini caldera to better understand massive underwater volcanic eruptions. The study found that sedimentation waves can impact the sea surface, creating tsunamis and scouring the seafloor during shallow submarine eruptions.
Researchers have developed a way to quickly detect and assess glacial valley landslides in coastal Alaska, which can trigger dangerous local tsunamis. They use seismic data to pinpoint landslide events and estimate their volume, aiming to develop an operational detection tool for tsunami centers.
A new study by ICM-CSIC unveils the structure beneath Mexico's Jalisco-Colima continental margin, revealing large oceanic ridges that subduct beneath the North American plate. This discovery helps explain the high seismogenic and tsunamigenic potential of the region.
Researchers from GEOMAR discover a second major landslide on the Norwegian shelf, 12,000 years earlier than previously thought. The Nyegga landslide, named after its discovery site, has been found to be responsible for about one-third of the material displaced during the Storegga event.
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 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.
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...
A Martian megatsunami was likely triggered by an asteroid collision similar to the Chicxulub impact that led to mass extinctions on Earth. The crater formed as a result of this impact may have caused a tsunami that reached over 1,500 kilometres from the center, measuring up to 250 meters tall on land.
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.
A new study led by ICM-CSIC has revealed the complex geometry of the Alboran Sea faults system, which has been absorbing most of the deformation from plate collision. The research demonstrates that this region is one of the most important fault systems in the western Mediterranean and has a significant tsunami risk.
Scientists have found that the tectonic stress in Japan's Nankai subduction zone is less than expected, contradicting predictions of a major buildup of pent-up energy. The research suggests that the fault may not be as unstable as thought, but still requires further investigation and long-term monitoring.
Researchers found the Tonga tsunami reached 90 meters in height, outperforming previous tsunamis like 2011 Japan tsunami. The event emphasized the need for improved detection systems, as volcano-based tsunamis are currently 30 years behind earthquake-based event monitoring tools.
Researchers at Nagoya University used satellite data to track ionospheric disturbances after the 2022 Tonga underwater eruption, detecting earlier signs of tsunami waves. The team found that electromagnetic waves traveled 1000 km/s, much faster than air pressure waves, allowing for potentially quicker tsunami warnings.
Seismologists analyzed historical accounts of the 1860 Jour de Pâques earthquake sequence, which may have released strain in a key fault zone. The analysis suggests that two large events occurred in 1860, one magnitude 6.0-6.4 and another 6.6-6.9, releasing built-up stress before recent earthquakes.
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 new approach based on deep learning AI detects weak gravitational signals, or PEGS, generated by large-mass motion in megaquakes. This allows for real-time tracking of earthquake growth after a magnitude 8 event.
Researchers identified a mechanism responsible for the exceptional tsunami's rapid spread across the globe. The tsunami was driven by acoustic-gravity waves (AGWs) triggered by the powerful volcanic blast, which interacted with the ocean to amplify the wave.
Current predictive models underestimate tsunami severity by as much as 100%, according to USC researchers who found a correlation between tsunami strength and outer wedge width. The study identifies high-risk subduction zones, including Iran and the Cascadia zone, which could experience massive tsunamis.
A new method for detecting tsunamis using existing GPS satellites has been developed by an international team of researchers. The system can issue warnings within 15 minutes of an earthquake or tsunami, and can be implemented in countries with a sparse GPS network.
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.
Sediment cores suggest 15m of megathrust slip occurred offshore during the massive 1700 Cascadia earthquake, leading to 1m+ coastal subsidence. This finding will refine seismologists' understanding of this event and constrain coastline impact predictions.
A new undersea detector has successfully detected a mild tsunami in Tokyo Bay using the power of muons and cosmic rays. This innovative system uses sensitive detectors to measure changes in ocean swells, providing accurate data for early warning systems and potentially revolutionizing tsunami monitoring.
Geophysicists and computer scientists collaborate to better understand the dynamics of earthquakes and tsunamis. The team has identified three major characteristics that play a significant role in determining an earthquake's potential to stoke a tsunami, including stress along the fault line, rock rigidity, and sediment layer strength.