Unfolding the Catastrophe: Myanmar’s March Earthquake Strikes with Supershear Velocity, Splitting the Earth

On March 28, Myanmar experienced a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8. It resulted in the loss of over 5,000 lives and extensive damage, even reaching surrounding countries.

A recent study in The Seismic Record highlights how parts of the earthquake’s rupture traveled at remarkable speeds of 3.1 to 3.7 miles per second. This phenomenon, known as supershear velocity, likely intensified the earthquake’s devastating effects. Typically, earthquake ruptures move at speeds between 50% and 85% of the S-wave velocity, which are responsible for the most damage during an earthquake.

The quake struck along the Sagaing Fault, which runs north-south through Myanmar. Seismologists noted that around 298.3 miles (480 km) of the fault slipped, an extensive rupture for its kind. They used seismic data and satellite images to find that some areas experienced slips of up to 23 feet.

Thorne Lay, a seismologist at UC Santa Cruz, commented on the clear data indicating supershear rupture. This phenomenon might have contributed to the severe damage felt across a wide area.

Interestingly, this section of the Sagaing Fault had been inactive since 1912. Lay suggested that it might take a long time for the central area to experience another failure.

While predicting earthquakes remains a challenge, advancements in technology are improving early-warning systems. For example, Android’s Earthquake Alerts can now provide timely warnings, proving effective in places lacking traditional infrastructure. These systems issue alerts faster than the seismic waves themselves, offering a brief window for people to prepare.

As experts continue to study these events, it’s important to enhance our understanding of the risks involved. Learning from past earthquakes can help improve safety measures in earthquake-prone regions.

Source link

Earthquakes,Myanmar,seismology