Seismicity and tectonics Archives

Researchers reassess the magnitude of an earthquake that shook Chile in 1730.

Research Spotlight 24 July 2017

Tsunami Records Show Increased Hazards for Chile’s Central Coast

Simulations of the historical quake raise new concerns: A similar event in the future could cause a devastating tsunami in Chile’s most populated coastal region.

Geology & Geophysics

Salt tectonics at work in this snip of a new hi-res seafloor map of the Gulf of Mexico, made from oil and gas industry data.

Project Update 24 May 2017

A 1.4-Billion-Pixel Map of the Gulf of Mexico Seafloor

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management releases the highest-resolution bathymetry map of the region to date.

11 Comments

Geology & Geophysics

A Scripps research vessel tows a hydrophone array used to collect high-resolution bathymetric to better understand offshore California faults.

Scientific Press Release 8 March 2017

California Fault System Could Produce Magnitude 7.3 Quake

A new study finds rupture of the offshore Newport-Inglewood/Rose Canyon fault that runs from San Diego to Los Angeles is possible.

Geology & Geophysics

David Mackenzie with a balloon and a camera to survey 1889 earthquake ruptures.

Research Spotlight 22 July 2016

Tracking Down Elusive Origins of Kazakhstan's 1889 Chilik Quake

New fieldwork and satellite data suggest that three faults may have caused a large earthquake near Almaty, Kazakhstan, more than a century ago.

Geology & Geophysics

Meeting Report 27 June 2016

Understanding Slow Slip and Tremor on Plate Boundaries

Chapman Conference on Slow Slip Phenomena; Ixtapa, Mexico, 21–25 February 2016

Biogeosciences

A large earthquake devastated parts of coastal northern Ecuador in April 2016.

Research Spotlight 2 June 2016

A New View of the Plate Dynamics Behind Earthquakes in Ecuador

Scientists get one step closer to an updated seismic hazard map that could help Ecuador prepare for future tremors.

Geology & Geophysics

The geothermal power plant of Bagnore situated at the foot of Mt. Amiata and run by Enel Green Power,

Project Update 31 May 2016

Does Geothermal Exploitation Trigger Earthquakes in Tuscany?

For the past 25 years, power production has been accompanied by a small but steady increase in seismicity near geothermal wells. A new project seeks to explore why.

Geology & Geophysics

DONET sensors buried in the seafloor off Japan

Project Update 25 May 2016

Ocean Floor Networks Capture Low-Frequency Earthquake Event

Last August, stations on a newly deployed permanent ocean floor observation network recorded rarely seen, very low frequency signals from shallow earthquakes.

2 Comments

Geology & Geophysics

The active crater of Vulcano viewed from Lipari, in Italy’s Aeolian islands

Project Update 16 May 2016

Understanding Volcanic Eruptions Where Plates Meet

A new project elucidates the relationships between tectonics and volcanic systems and how they influence hazards on Italy's Mount Etna and Vulcano and Lipari islands.

Geology & Geophysics