Dec 12, 2024 07:08 PM
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067993
INTRO: Scientists have a new method for studying faults that could improve earthquake forecasts, shedding light on where quakes start, how they spread, and where the biggest impacts might be.
A paper in the journal Geology describes the method, which helps determine the origins and directions of past earthquake ruptures — information valuable to modeling future earthquake scenarios on major faults.
By studying subtle curved scratches left on the fault plane after an earthquake, similar to the tire marks left after a drag race, scientists can determine the direction that earthquakes came from to that location.
“Fault planes accumulate these curved scratch marks, which until now we didn’t know to look for or how to interpret,” explained UC Riverside geologist and paper first author Nic Barth.
Curved scratches have been observed on fault surfaces following several historic ruptures including the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes in California. Computer modeling was used to confirm that the shape of the curvature indicates the direction the earthquake came from.
This study is the first to demonstrate that this method can be applied to fingerprint the locations of prehistoric earthquakes. It can be applied to faults worldwide, helping to forecast the effects of possible future earthquakes and improve hazard assessments globally.
“The scratches indicate the direction and origin of a past earthquake, potentially giving us clues about where a future quake might start and where it will go. This is key for California, where anticipating the direction of a quake on faults like San Andreas or San Jacinto could mean a more accurate forecast of its impact,” Barth said... (MORE - details, no ads)
INTRO: Scientists have a new method for studying faults that could improve earthquake forecasts, shedding light on where quakes start, how they spread, and where the biggest impacts might be.
A paper in the journal Geology describes the method, which helps determine the origins and directions of past earthquake ruptures — information valuable to modeling future earthquake scenarios on major faults.
By studying subtle curved scratches left on the fault plane after an earthquake, similar to the tire marks left after a drag race, scientists can determine the direction that earthquakes came from to that location.
“Fault planes accumulate these curved scratch marks, which until now we didn’t know to look for or how to interpret,” explained UC Riverside geologist and paper first author Nic Barth.
Curved scratches have been observed on fault surfaces following several historic ruptures including the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes in California. Computer modeling was used to confirm that the shape of the curvature indicates the direction the earthquake came from.
This study is the first to demonstrate that this method can be applied to fingerprint the locations of prehistoric earthquakes. It can be applied to faults worldwide, helping to forecast the effects of possible future earthquakes and improve hazard assessments globally.
“The scratches indicate the direction and origin of a past earthquake, potentially giving us clues about where a future quake might start and where it will go. This is key for California, where anticipating the direction of a quake on faults like San Andreas or San Jacinto could mean a more accurate forecast of its impact,” Barth said... (MORE - details, no ads)