Are Branch Faults the “On-Ramps” that Lead to Great Continental Transform Earthquakes?

map of historic and Feb 2023 Turkiye earthquakes

25 September 2024–The five largest continental transform earthquakes since 2000 all originated on a branch of the main fault—and two researchers predict that the next great earthquake of this type will also get its start on a branch or splay fault. Last year’s magnitude 7.8 Pazarcık earthquake in Türkiye was … Continue Reading »

Precariously Balanced Rocks in New York, Vermont Provide Limits on Earthquake Shaking

10 September 2024–Five boulders, delivered by glacier and balancing delicately on rocky pedestals in northern New York and Vermont, can help define long-term maximum shaking intensity of earthquakes in the region. Seismologists examine the fragility of precariously balanced rocks, or PBRs, to determine the intensity of shaking would be needed … Continue Reading »

In-Building Data from Small to Moderate Earthquakes Can Help Predict Structural Response

Grenoble City Hall building

15 August 2024–Data recorded by seismic instrumentation in buildings where ground motion is weak to moderate can help engineers better understand structural responses to earthquakes, according to a new paper published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. Philippe Guéguen and Ariana Astorga at Université Grenoble Alpes – … Continue Reading »

Sichuan Province Earthquake Offers Lessons for Landslide Prediction from GNSS Observations

Landslides along a river in Sichuan, China following the 2022 Luding earthquake

7 August 2024–Using data collected from a 2022 magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Luding County in China’s Sichuan Province, researchers tested whether Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations could be used for rapid prediction of earthquake-triggered landslides. In their report in Seismological Research Letters, Kejie Chen of the Southern University of … Continue Reading »