Fault lines

Earthquake-related news from the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR).

ICLR
Science
New Earthquake Math Predicts How Destructive They’ll Be
Quanta Magazine - Robin George Andrews
The “pinball” model of a slipping fault line borrows from the mathematics of avalanches. When a fault slips, it unleashes a torrent of seismic waves, …
April 21
ICLR
A new map reveals which parts of the US are most at risk of earthquakes in unprecedented detail — including quakes caused
Business Insider - Tyler Sonnemaker
Scientists have mapped seismic stress across North America in unprecedented detail, revealing the areas most at risk of earthquakes. "We see things we've never seen before that require geologic explanation.
April 25
ICLR
New study finds connection between fault roughness and the magnitude of earthquakes
phys.org - McGill University
A new study led by McGill University has found that tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface can show varying degrees of roughness and could help …
April 24
ICLR
Science
Fiber optic internet cables could monitor earthquakes - Futurity
futurity.org - Jim Erickson-Michigan
A study provides new evidence that the same optical fibers that deliver high-speed internet and HD video to our homes could one day double as …
April 1
ICLR
Seismic biomarkers in Japan Trench fault zone reveal history of large earthquakes
mcgill.ca
In the aftermath of the devastating Tohoku-Oki earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan in March 2011, scientists were stunned by the …
March 6
ICLR
San Diego faces critical earthquake danger from fault long believed to be inactive
Los Angeles Times - Rong-Gong Lin II
The conventional thinking has long been that the San Diego region faces less danger from a devastating earthquake than the Los Angeles or San Francisco areas. But a new landmark study shows just how a
March 4
ICLR
Machine learning picks out hidden vibrations from earthquake data
phys.org - Jennifer Chu
Over the last century, scientists have developed methods to map the structures within the Earth's crust, in order to identify resources such as oil …
March 2
ICLR
'Tectonic time bomb:' Maps show where massive California earthquakes cause the most shaking and destruction - Los Angeles
Los Angeles Times
California has suffered some destructive earthquakes in the last few decades — among them Sylmar in 1971, Whittier Narrows in 1987, Loma Prieta in 1989 and Northridge in 1994. All those quakes caused destruction
Dec 17, 2019
ICLR
A year after the magnitude 7.1 earthquake, what now lurks underfoot?
adn.com - Art Nash
It has been a little more than a year since the second-largest U.S. earthquake in 2018 rattled Southcentral Alaska. The direct health damage of …
January 8
ICLR
Two of the biggest US earthquake faults might be linked
nature.com - Alexandra Witze
Provocative analysis of sea-floor cores suggests that quakes on the Cascadia fault off California can trigger tremors on the San Andreas. Two of North …
Dec 5, 2019
ICLR
News (U.S.)
New USGS hazard map shows increased earthquake risks in San Jose and East Bay
CBS News
The U.S. Geological Survey released a new seismic hazard map which puts areas of the East Bay and San Jose at a higher risk for damage, CBS station …
Dec 13, 2019
ICLR
This is what a devastating earthquake in California would look like
Los Angeles Times - Rong-Gong Lin II
The high-rise towers that served as landmarks of this city are mostly gone. Blocks where historic brick buildings once stood are now vacant. At the city’s center, Christ Church Cathedral remains in ruins.
Mar 5, 2019
ICLR
Geology
The 'slow earthquakes' that we cannot feel may help protect against the devastating ones
phys.org - Sandrine Ceurstemont
Earthquakes are sudden and their shaking can be devastating. But about 20 years ago, a new type of earthquake was discovered. We cannot feel them, …
Dec 10, 2019
ICLR
Natural Disasters
Analyzing seismic patterns to forecast the magnitude of the largest earthquake aftershocks
phys.org - by Research Organization of Information and Systems
Earthquakes can have devastating impacts on communities all around the world. They strike without warning, often resulting in large fatalities. Since …
Dec 3, 2019
ICLR
Science
Research sheds new light on earthquake that killed 9,000 people
phys.org - University of California - Riverside
A new understanding of a fault that caused a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake can help scientists better understand where and when the next big one …
Nov 12, 2019
ICLR
Geology
3-D models of cascadia megathrust events match coastal changes from 1700 earthquake
phys.org
By combining models of magnitude 9 to 9.2 earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone with geological evidence of past coastal changes, researchers …
Oct 29, 2019
ICLR
Unprecedented movement detected on California earthquake fault capable of 8.0 temblor
Los Angeles Times - Rong-Gong Lin II
A major California fault capable of producing a magnitude 8 earthquake has begun moving for the first time on record, a result of this year’s Ridgecrest earthquake sequence destabilizing nearby faults,
Mar 5, 2019
ICLR
How Technology Has Made the Bay Area More Earthquake Safe
nbclosangeles.com - NBC Southern California
The Bay Area will never forget how many lives were lost and how much damage was done during the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989. …
Oct 14, 2019
ICLR
Earthquake size is not foretold in the first second of rupture, study finds, shortening warning times |
temblor.net - by Temblor
A new comprehensive study of almost 100,000 earthquakes in Japan suggests that large or small, quakes look alike in the first 0.2 seconds. Citation: …
Oct 15, 2019
ICLR
Determining whether the worst earthquake has passed
nature.com - Emily E. Brodsky
When a big earthquake occurs, it is hard to tell if it will be followed by a larger quake or by only smaller ones. A method has been developed that …
Oct 9, 2019
ICLR
Quanta Magazine
Quanta Magazine - Ashley Smart
After successfully predicting laboratory earthquakes, a team of geophysicists has applied a machine learning algorithm to quakes in the Pacific …
Sep 19, 2019
ICLR
$Researchers may have discovered a way to predict fracking-caused earthquakes$
Researchers may have discovered a way to predict fracking-caused earthquakes
CBC News - Sarah Rieger
Researchers at the University of Calgary have discovered a precursor to earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracturing, which they say may be able to …
Aug 29, 2019
ICLR
Most of California's Big Earthquakes Are Preceded by Ghostly 'Foreshocks' Weeks in Advance | Live Science
Live Science - Brandon Specktor
How do earthquakes begin? It's an ancient question — and while scientists have ruled out the vengeful gods blamed over the past few millennia, …
Aug 26, 2019
ICLR
Government gives go-ahead for 'once in a lifetime' revamp of Christchurch's quake-affected redzone
tvnz.co.nz - 1 NEWS
Minister Megan Woods has given the Government's go-ahead to Regeneration Christchurch's plan to revamp the city's 602-hectare redzone with an …
Aug 22, 2019
ICLR
Science
Scientists finally know how big earthquakes start: with many smaller ones
phys.org - by Rong-Gong Lin Ii
The vast majority of earthquakes we feel come soon after smaller ones, according to new research that offers new insights into how seismology …
Aug 20, 2019
ICLR
The Faults That Ruptured in Twin California Quakes Are Very, Very Weird, Geologists Say.
Live Science - Jeanna Bryner
On July Fourth, the most powerful earthquake to hit Southern California in nearly 20 years struck a remote part of the Mojave Desert. A day later, an …
Jul 7, 2019
ICLR
It's Really Hard to Predict an Earthquake, but Scientists Are Getting Closer
Popular Mechanics - By David Grossman
New research shows hidden foreshocks might offer hints of big quakes. Earthquakes are among the most surprising natural disasters. Unlike, say, hurricanes, the early-warning systems for quakes are still
Aug 14, 2019
ICLR
Lab-made quakes suggested that we should see hints of activity before a big event, but this pattern has been elusive in nature—until now.
Groundbreaking earthquake catalog may have just solved a seismic mystery
National Geographic - Jenny Howard
Aug 13, 2019
ICLR
Physiology
Hospitals across California questioning effectiveness of earthquake standards - - Daily Commercial News
constructconnect.com - Daily Commercial News
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — A Southern California hospital spent $72 million on a building designed to do two things after an earthquake: stay standing and …
Aug 6, 2019