Breaking Ground: Real-Time Capture of ‘Slow-Motion’ Earthquakes Reveals Secrets of the Earth’s Movements

Slow-motion earthquakes, also known as slow slip earthquakes (SSEs), release geological energy over days or weeks instead of the usual seconds. Recently, scientists managed to monitor these quakes in real time.

Researchers from the University of Texas tracked two SSEs in 2015 and 2020 near the Nankai Trough off Japan’s coast. Here, the Philippine Sea plate pushes under the Eurasian plate, acting like a seismic cushion. Josh Edgington, a hydrogeophysicist, compares this slow movement to ripples along a fault line.

“It’s a game-changer,” said Edgington. Understanding these subtle shifts helps scientists predict more powerful earthquakes and tsunamis that can follow.

Slow earthquakes may not be a direct threat, but they significantly affect stress levels along faults. The Nankai Trough is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which has caused some of history’s strongest quakes and tsunamis.

Demian Saffer, a geophysicist, emphasizes the importance of monitoring areas like Cascadia off North America’s west coast. Cascadia has the potential for magnitude 9 earthquakes, posing severe tsunami risks. “We need to see if there are signs of shifting energy,” he warns.

Advancements in technology have made it easier to detect even the tiniest of ground shifts, sometimes just a few millimeters. This precision monitoring is crucial; slow earthquakes can signal high geological pressure and independent pressure release along faults.

Their findings can improve models that predict earthquakes and tsunamis, potentially saving lives. The last major quake in the Nankai Trough was in 1946, resulting in over 1,300 deaths and significant property damage.

As scientists continue their research, they’re piecing together the complex puzzle of earthquake prediction. Each study adds to our understanding and helps refine the models we use to foresee seismic activity.

In future research, integrating slow earthquake data could enhance our ability to forecast seismic threats. Understanding how stress accumulates and is released is key to improving safety measures in vulnerable areas.

For more on slow earthquakes, you can check out the detailed research published in Science.

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