研究チームが、海底断層において地震の拡大を防ぐ「ブレーキ」の役割を果たす自然の障壁帯を特定しました。この調査結果は、エクアドル沖にあるゴーファー・トランスフォーム断層の詳細な研究から明らかになったものです。
ゴーファー断層は、太平洋プレートとナスカプレートが互いにすれ違う、エクアドルの西方約1,000マイルの地点に位置しています。この断層では少なくとも30年間にわたり、マグニチュード6のほぼ同一の地震が5〜6年周期で発生しています。科学者たちは、なぜこれほど地震の規模が一定に保たれ、制限されているのかについて長年疑問を抱いてきました。
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A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck on Thursday, May 14, with its epicenter in Chocó and was felt across multiple regions of the country without causing major damage.
A new study indicates that the Cascadia subduction zone and the northern San Andreas fault may trigger earthquakes in close succession, potentially amplifying disaster risks along the U.S. West Coast. Researchers identified evidence of such synchronization in ocean floor sediment cores spanning 3,100 years. This connection could affect cities from San Francisco to Vancouver simultaneously.
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Scientists have captured the first clear images of a subduction zone breaking apart beneath the Pacific Northwest. The Juan de Fuca plate is splitting into fragments as it sinks under the North American plate. The findings, from a 2021 seismic experiment, reveal a gradual tearing process.
Chile's National Seismological Center recorded several earthquakes on Saturday, April 4, with magnitudes from 3.0 to 4.7. The tremors struck northern and southern regions at varying depths. No damage or major alerts have been reported.
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Scientists have revealed that a hidden mantle plume contributed to the formation of the King's Trough Complex, a vast underwater canyon system in the North Atlantic larger than the Grand Canyon. Located about 1,000 kilometers off Portugal's coast, this 500-kilometer structure resulted from tectonic rifting between Europe and Africa millions of years ago. The findings, based on rock samples and seafloor mapping, highlight how deep Earth processes influence ocean floor features.
Researchers at Yale University have proposed a new model explaining the dramatic fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field during the Ediacaran Period, from 630 to 540 million years ago. Their analysis of rocks from Morocco suggests these changes followed a structured global pattern rather than random chaos. The findings, published in Science Advances, could improve reconstructions of ancient continents.
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A new study shows that channels beneath Antarctic ice shelves can trap warm ocean water and accelerate melting from below. Researchers focused on the Fimbulisen Ice Shelf in East Antarctica and found that this process may make even cold regions more vulnerable. The findings suggest current climate models could underestimate future sea level rise.