Earthquakes Content

Nitrogen-eating Microbes Could Prevent Building Collapse in Earthquakes

Andy Fell — January 11, 2023 - 4:03pm

Naturally occurring microbes could help stabilize the ground under buildings during earthquakes due to the way they reduce the water content in soils, according to new research. This novel microbe-based technique costs half as much and results in far lower carbon emissions than existing soil stabilization methods, as researchers presented at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2022 in Chicago Dec. 14.

Investigating Bridges Under Pressure

Andy Fell — July 12, 2022 - 10:04am

Can a bridge withstand an earthquake? One of the big unknowns is how far a bridge might settle from seismic shaking, especially if the shaking triggers a quicksand-like soil response called liquefaction.

Ridgecrest Shows How Earthquakes Damage Earth’s Crust

Andy Fell — February 18, 2022 - 12:39pm

In July 2019, a series of earthquakes including two major shocks of magnitude 6.4 and 7.1 a day apart struck near Ridgecrest, CA, between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. For local residents, it was a violent interruption to the Fourth of July holiday. For seismologists, it was a rare opportunity to study how earthquakes damage the Earth’s crust.

Evidence for Shared Earthquakes Between San Andreas and San Jacinto Faults

Andy Fell — December 14, 2021 - 8:30am

The San Andreas and San Jacinto faults have ruptured simultaneously at least three times in the past 2,000 years, most recently in 1812, according to a new study by geologists at the ��о��, and San Diego State University. The work was published Dec. 7 in the journal Geology.

Reviewing Earthquake Predictions, Forecasts and Nowcasts

Andy Fell — October 11, 2021 - 4:17pm

John Rundle, distinguished professor of physics and of earth and planetary sciences at ��о��, and colleagues were recently invited to contribute to the prestigious physics journal Reports on Progress in Physics on their work in earthquake forecasting and nowcasting.

New Clues to Deep Earthquake Mystery

Andy Fell — May 27, 2020 - 3:31pm

A new understanding of our planet’s deepest earthquakes could help unravel one of the most mysterious geophysical processes on Earth.

2 Elected to National Academy of Engineering

Andy Fell — February 08, 2017 - 2:58pm

Two engineering professors at the ��о��, Deb Niemeier and Ross Boulanger, have been elected as members of the National Academy of Engineering, among the highest honors in the profession. Both are faculty members in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering.