ScienceDaily: Earthquake News

Seismic gap outside of Istanbul: Is this where the expected Marmara earthquake will originate from?

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:37:37 EDT

Earthquake researchers have now identified a 30 kilometers long and ten kilometers deep area along the North Anatolian fault zone just south of Istanbul that could be the starting point for a strong earthquake. The group of seismologists say that this potential earthquake source is only 15 to 20 kilometers from the historic city center of Istanbul.

New 'embryonic' subduction zone found

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:46:46 EDT

A new subduction zone forming off the coast of Portugal heralds the beginning of a cycle that will see the Atlantic Ocean close as continental Europe moves closer to America.

When will the next megathrust hit the west coast of North America?

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:31:31 EDT

A new study presents our first glimpse back in geologic time of the recurrence interval of large and megathrust earthquakes impacting the vulnerable BC outer coastline.

Earthquake acoustics can indicate if a massive tsunami is imminent

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:51:51 EDT

Scientists have identified key acoustic characteristics of the 2011 Japan earthquake that indicated it would cause a large tsunami. The technique could be applied worldwide to create an early warning system for massive tsunamis.

'Caldas tear' resolves puzzling seismic activity beneath Colombia

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:17:17 EDT

Colombia sits atop a complex geological area where three tectonic plates are interacting, producing seismicity patterns that have puzzled seismologists for years. Now seismologists have identified the "Caldas tear," which is a break in a slab that separates two subducting plates and accounts for curious features, including a "nest" of seismic activity beneath east-central Colombia and high grade mineral deposits on the surface.

New explanation for slow earthquakes on San Andreas

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:23:23 EDT

New Zealand's geologic hazards agency reported this week an ongoing, "silent" earthquake that began in January is still going strong. Though it is releasing the energy equivalent of a 7.0 earthquake, New Zealanders can't feel it because its energy is being released over a long period of time, therefore slow, rather than a few short seconds.

Slow earthquakes: It's all in the rock mechanics

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:40:40 EDT

Earthquakes that last minutes rather than seconds are a relatively recent discovery, according to an international team of seismologists. Researchers have been aware of these slow earthquakes, only for the past five to 10 years because of new tools and new observations, but these tools may explain the triggering of some normal earthquakes and could help in earthquake prediction.

GPS solution provides three-minute tsunami alerts

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:58:58 EDT

Researchers have shown that, by using global positioning systems (GPS) to measure ground deformation caused by a large underwater earthquake, they can provide accurate warning of the resulting tsunami in just a few minutes after the earthquake onset. For the devastating Japan 2011 event the analysis of the GPS data and issue of a detailed tsunami alert would have taken no more than three minutes.

How should geophysics contribute to disaster planning?

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:20:20 EDT

Earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters often showcase the worst in human suffering – especially when those disasters strike populations who live in rapidly growing communities in the developing world with poorly enforced or non-existent building codes. Scientists now illustrate how nearly identical natural disasters can play out very differently depending on where they strike.

Research helps paint finer picture of massive 1700 earthquake

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:06:06 EDT

In 1700, a massive earthquake struck the west coast of North America, but a lack of local documentation has made studying this historic event challenging. Now, researchers have helped unlock this geological mystery using a fossil-based technique. Their work provides a finer-grained portrait of this earthquake and the changes in coastal land level it produced, enabling modelers to better prepare for future events.

Using earthquake sensors to track endangered whales

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Oceanographers used data from seafloor seismometers to analyze more than 300,000 fin-whale calls. By triangulating the position they created more than 150 tracks off the Pacific Northwest coast.

Western Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami hazard potential greater than previously thought

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:37:37 EDT

Earthquakes similar in magnitude to the 2004 Sumatra earthquake could occur in an area beneath the Arabian Sea at the Makran subduction zone, according to recent research.

Hearing the Russian meteor, in America: Sound arrived in 10 hours, lasted 10 more

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:50:50 EDT

How powerful was February's meteor that crashed into Russia? Strong enough that its explosive entry into our atmosphere was detected almost 6,000 miles away in Lilburn, Ga., by infrasound sensors -- a full 10 hours after the meteor's explosion. A researcher has modified the signals and made them audible, allowing audiences to "hear" what the meteor's waves sounded like as they moved around the globe on February 15.

Scientists retrieve temperature data from Japan Trench observatory

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:13:13 EDT

With the successful retrieval of a string of instruments from deep beneath the seafloor, an international team of scientists has completed an unprecedented series of operations to obtain crucial temperature measurements of the fault that caused the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

Finding a sensible balance for natural hazard mitigation with mathematical models

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:16:16 EDT

Uncertainty issues are paramount in assessing risks posed by natural hazards and in developing strategies to alleviate their consequences. A new model estimates the balance between costs and benefits of mitigation following natural disasters, as well as rebuilding defenses in their aftermath.

No Redoubt: Volcanic eruption forecasting improved

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:37:37 EDT

Forecasting volcanic eruptions with success is heavily dependent on recognizing well-established patterns of pre-eruption unrest in the monitoring data. But in order to develop better monitoring procedures, it is also crucial to understand volcanic eruptions that deviate from these patterns. New research retrospectively documented and analyzed the period immediately preceding the 2009 eruption of the Redoubt volcano in Alaska, which was characterized by an abnormally long period of pre-eruption seismic activity that's normally associated with short-term warnings of eruption.

Earth's center is 1,000 degrees hotter than previously thought, synchrotron X-ray experiment shows

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

The temperature near Earth's center is 6,000 degrees Celsius, 1,000 degrees more than given in an experiment 20 years ago. This experiment with synchrotron X-rays confirms geophysical models that explain Earth's magnetic field and the creation and intense activity of hot-spot volcanoes. The scientists also established why the earlier experiment had produced lower temperature figures.

Calculating tsunami risk for the US East Coast

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:07:07 EDT

The greatest threat of a tsunami for the US East Coast from a nearby offshore earthquake stretches from the coast of New England to New Jersey, according to researchers.

After major earthquake: A global murmur, then unusual silence

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

In the global aftershock zone that followed the major April 2012 Indian Ocean earthquake, seismologists noticed an unusual pattern -- period of quiet, without a large quake. Why did this period of quiet occur?

Measuring the hazards of global aftershock

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

The entire world becomes an aftershock zone after a massive magnitude (M) 7 or larger earthquake -- but what hazard does this pose around the planet?

Mine disaster: Hundreds of aftershocks

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:51:51 EDT

A new study has identified hundreds of previously unrecognized small aftershocks that happened after Utah's deadly Crandall Canyon mine collapse in 2007. The aftershocks suggest the collapse was as big -- and perhaps bigger -- than shown in another study by the university in 2008.

Superstorm Sandy shook the U.S., literally

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:39:39 EDT

When superstorm Sandy turned and took aim at New York City and Long Island last October, ocean waves hitting each other and the shore rattled the seafloor and much of the United States – shaking detected by seismometers across the country, researchers found.

Helping to forecast earthquakes in Salt Lake Valley

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:21:21 EDT

Salt Lake Valley, home to the Salt Lake City segment of the Wasatch fault zone and the West Valley fault zone, has been the site of repeated surface-faulting earthquakes (of about magnitude 6.5 to 7).

Research aims to settle debate over origin of Yellowstone volcano

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:14:14 EDT

A debate among scientists about the geologic formation of the supervolcano encompassing the region around Yellowstone National Park has taken a major step forward, thanks to new evidence.

The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident: Two years on, the fallout continues

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:48:48 EDT

More than two years after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan, scientists are still trying to quantify the extent of the damage.

The resilience of the Chilean coast after the earthquake of 2010

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:44:44 EDT

In February 2010, a violent earthquake struck Chile, causing a tsunami 10 m in height. Affecting millions of people, the earthquake and giant wave also transformed the appearance of the coastline: the dunes and sandbars were flattened, and the coast subsided in places by up to 1 m. But although the inhabitants are still affected for the long term, the shore system quickly rebuilt itself.

Rocky mountains originated from previously unknown oceanic plate

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:14:14 EDT

The mountain ranges of the North American Cordillera are made up of dozens of distinct crustal blocks. A new study clarifies their mode of origin and identifies a previously unknown oceanic plate that contributed to their assembly. Geologists were able to locate the remnants of several deep-sea trenches that mark subduction sites at which oceanic plates plunge at a steep angle into the mantle and are drawn almost vertically into its depths.

Earth is 'lazy' when forming faults like those near San Andreas

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:42:42 EDT

Some geoscientists have taken an uncommon, “Earth is lazy” approach to modeling fault development in the crust and it is providing new insights into how faults grow. In particular, this group is studying irregularities along strike-slip faults, the active zones where plates slip past each other such as at the San Andreas Fault of southern California.

Seismic hazards: Seismic simulation code speeds up

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:45:45 EDT

Scientists have developed a highly scalable computer code that promises to dramatically cut both research times and energy costs in simulating seismic hazards throughout California and elsewhere.

Congestion in Earth's mantle: Mineralogists explain why plate tectonics stagnates in some places

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:55:55 EDT

Seismic measurements show that in some regions of the Earth's mantle, plate tectonics stagnates. The causes of the 'congestion' of the subducted plate are still unknown. In a new study, mineralogists from Germany explain the phenomenon for the first time.

Scientists image deep magma beneath Pacific seafloor volcano

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:41:41 EDT

Since the plate tectonics revolution of the 1960s, scientists have known that new seafloor is created throughout the major ocean basins at linear chains of volcanoes known as mid-ocean ridges. But where exactly does the erupted magma come from? Researchers now have a better idea after capturing a unique image of a site deep in the earth where magma is generated.

2011 Oklahoma temblor: Wastewater injection spurred biggest earthquake yet, study says

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

A new study is the latest to tie a string of unusual earthquakes, in this case, in central Oklahoma, to injection of wastewater underground. Researchers now say that the magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Prague, Okla., on Nov. 6, 2011, may also be the largest ever linked to wastewater injection. Felt more than 800 miles away, the quake -- the biggest ever recorded in Oklahoma -- destroyed 14 homes, buckled a highway and left two people injured. Earthquakes continue to be recorded in the area.

Can intraplate earthquakes produce stronger shaking than at plate boundaries?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

New information about the extent of the 1872 Owens Valley earthquake rupture, which occurs in an area with many small and discontinuous faults, may support a hypothesis that these types of quakes could produce stronger ground shaking than plate boundary earthquakes underlain by oceanic crust, like many of those taking place along the San Andreas fault.

Roman mausoleum tested for ancient earthquake damage

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

A Roman mausoleum was knocked off-kilter, and the likely cause was an earthquake, according to a new detailed model.

Scientists discover 'lubricant' for Earth's tectonic plates: Hidden magma layer could play role in earthquakes

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:27:27 EDT

Scientists have found a layer of liquefied molten rock in Earth's mantle that may be acting as a lubricant for the sliding motions of the planet's massive tectonic plates. The discovery may carry far-reaching implications, from solving basic geological functions of the planet to a better understanding of volcanism and earthquakes.

Slabs of ancient tectonic plate still lodged under California

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:04:04 EDT

The Isabella anomaly -- the seismic signal of a large mass of cool, dehydrated material about 100 kilometers beneath central California -- is in fact a surviving slab of the Farallon oceanic plate, according to new research. Most of the Farallon plate was driven deep into the Earth's mantle as the Pacific and North American plates began converging around 100 million years, eventually coming together to form the San Andreas fault.

Sea floor earthquake zones can act like a 'magnifying lens' strengthening tsunamis beyond what was through possible

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:48:48 EST

Until now, it was largely believed that the maximum tsunami height onshore could not exceed the depth of the seafloor. But new research shows that when focusing occurs, that scaling relationship breaks down and flooding can be up to 50 percent deeper with waves that do not lose height as they get closer to shore.

Waves generated by Russian meteor recorded crossing the US

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:45:45 EST

A network of seismographic stations recorded spectacular signals from the blast waves of the meteor that landed near Chelyabinsk, Russia, as the waves crossed the United States.

Earthquakes in small laboratory samples

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:47:47 EST

Mechanical failure of materials is a complex phenomenon underlying many accidents and natural disasters ranging from the fracture of small devices to earthquakes. Despite the vast separation of spatial, temporal, energy, and strain-rate scales, and the differences in geometry, it has been proposed that laboratory experiments on brittle fracture in heterogeneous materials can be a model for earthquake occurrence.

Quake test: Can NYC's row houses handle an earthquake?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:45:45 EST

Researchers will conduct a rare -- if not unprecedented -- large-scale earthquake simulation to determine how vulnerable New York's unreinforced masonry buildings (row houses) are to temblors.

Stress change during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake illuminated

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:14:14 EST

The March 11, 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake produced the largest slip ever recorded in an earthquake, over 50 meters. Such huge fault movement on the shallow portion of the megathrust boundary came as a surprise to seismologists because this portion of the subduction zone was not thought to be accumulating stress prior to the earthquake. In a recently published study, scientists shed light on the stress state on the fault that controls the very large slip.

The deep roots of catastrophe: Partly molten, Florida-sized blob forms atop Earth's core

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:20:20 EST

A seismologist analyzed seismic waves that bombarded Earth’s core, and believes he got a look at the earliest roots of Earth’s most cataclysmic kind of volcanic eruption. But don’t worry. He says it won’t happen for perhaps 200 million years.

Cargo container research to improve buildings' ability to withstand tsunamis

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:21:21 EST

A research team has determined just what the impact of cargo containers could be and will present findings at an international conference in June. The goal is to supply structural engineers with information to design buildings in areas vulnerable to tsunamis.

Hoodoos: Key to earthquakes?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:37:37 EST

In the absence of long-term instrumental data, fragile rock formations, called hoodoos, may be key to understanding seismic hazard risk. In a new study, researchers consider two hoodoos in Red Rock Canyon region to put limits on expected intensity of ground motion from earthquakes along the Garlock fault.

Disasters prompt older children to be more giving, younger ones to be more selfish

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:18:18 EST

A natural disaster can bring out the best in older children, prompting 9-year-olds to be more willing to share, while 6-year-olds become more selfish. Researchers made this finding in a rare natural experiment in China around the time of a horrific earthquake.

Scientists underestimated potential for Tohoku earthquake: Now what?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:39:39 EST

The massive Tohoku, Japan, earthquake in 2011 and Sumatra-Andaman superquake in 2004 stunned scientists because neither region was thought to be capable of producing a megathrust earthquake with a magnitude exceeding 8.4. Now earthquake scientists are going back to the proverbial drawing board and admitting that existing predictive models looking at maximum earthquake size are no longer valid.

Ancient Earth's geochemistry: Some tectonic processes driving volcanic activity occurred 3.8 billion years ago

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:01:01 EST

Researchers still have much to learn about the volcanism that shaped our planet's early history. New evidence demonstrates that some of the tectonic processes driving volcanic activity, such as those taking place today, were occurring as early as 3.8 billion years ago.

Faulty behavior: New earthquake fault models show that 'stable' zones may contribute to the generation of massive earthquakes

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:12:12 EST

In an earthquake, ground motion is the result of waves emitted when the two sides of a fault move rapidly past each other. Not all fault segments move so quickly, however -- some slip slowly and are considered to be "stable." One hypothesis suggests that creeping fault behavior is persistent over time, with stable segments acting as barriers to fast-slipping earthquakes. But a new study shows that this might not be true.

Seismic fabric coming on the market

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:57:57 EST

In the case of earthquakes, only seconds may remain for a safe escape from buildings. Debris falling down and obstructing the escape routes may even aggravate the situation. A new product extends the time for saving lives by reinforcing walls and keeping off the debris.

More serious earthquakes predicted in the Himalayas

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 08:40:40 EST

Scientists have discovered that massive earthquakes in the range of 8 to 8.5 magnitudes on the Richter scale have left clear ground scars in the central Himalayas. This ground-breaking discovery has huge implications for the area along the front of the Himalayan Mountains, given that the region has a population density similar to that of New York City.

Will the world end on December 21, 2012? What we know and don't know about forecasting natural disasters

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:03:03 EST

Based on interpretations of the ancient Maya calendar, some people are predicting the world will end on December 21, 2012, Others believe that instead of doomsday and destruction, the day will mark a new era for humanity and will be a time for celebration. Such beliefs aside, what we know with certainty is that Earth has a tremendous capacity to generate natural disasters on any day of any year. For this reason, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists continue to look for ways to better forecast a wide range of natural hazards and protect our communities.

Great-earthquake hot spots pinpointed

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:30:30 EST

The world's largest earthquakes occur at subduction zones – locations where a tectonic plate slips under another. But where along these extended subduction areas are great earthquakes most likely to happen? Scientists have now found that regions where 'scars' on the seafloor, called fracture zones, meet subduction areas are at higher risk of generating powerful earthquakes.

Oceanography student uses crashing waves on shorelines to study Earth's interior

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:10:10 EST

Scientists have long used the speed of seismic waves traveling through the Earth as a means of learning about the geologic structure beneath the Earth's surface, but the seismic waves they use have typically been generated by earthquakes or human-made explosions. A graduate student is using the tiny seismic waves created by ocean waves crashing on shorelines around the world to learn how an underwater plateau was formed 122 million years ago.

Seeing stars, finding nukes: Radio telescopes can spot clandestine nuclear tests

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:09:09 EST

In the search for rogue nukes, researchers have discovered an unlikely tool: astronomical radio telescopes. Researchers from the same university previously demonstrated another unlikely tool, when they showed that South Korean GPS stations detected telltale atmospheric disturbances from North Korea’s 2009 nuclear test. Both techniques were born out of the discovery that underground nuclear explosions leave their mark—on the outer reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.

Pacific Northwest and Himalayas could experience major earthquakes, geophysicists say

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:22:22 EST

Recent research by scientists focused on geologic features and activity in the Himalayas and Pacific Northwest that could mean those areas are primed for major earthquakes.

Russian Far East holds seismic hazards: Potential to trigger tsunamis that pose risk to Pacific Basin

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:58:58 EST

Research shows that the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands, long shrouded in secrecy by the Soviet government, are a seismic and volcanic hotbed with a potential to trigger tsunamis that pose a risk to the rest of the Pacific Basin.

Geoscientists cite 'critical need' for basic research to unleash promising energy resources

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:22:22 EST

Developers of renewable energy and shale gas must overcome fundamental geological and environmental challenges if these promising energy sources are to reach their full potential, according to a trio of leading geoscientists.

NASA's TRMM satellite confirms 2010 landslides

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:12:12 EST

A NASA study using TRMM satellite data revealed that the year 2010 was a particularly bad year for landslides around the world.

Models for evacuation procedures in big cities after massive earthquakes

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:08:08 EST

Researchers in Japan report on models for evacuation procedures in big cities after massive earthquakes based on the behavior of people in Tokyo after the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake on March 11, 2011.

Government, industry can better manage risks of very rare catastrophic events, experts say

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:23:23 EST

The mindset that uses the extreme unlikelihood of a catastrophic event as a rationale for not taking measures before a disaster happens, factored into the risk management failures of the Fukushima Tsunami, 9/11 and other such events, but a better approach is available, experts say.