A recent study has shed light on the complex process that leads to devastating earthquakes, revealing that slow and steady displacements at specific stress points are a crucial trigger for giant seismic events.
Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found that slow, aseismic processes are necessary for seismic rupture, driven by localized stress and geometric constraints. This new understanding challenges conventional models of earthquake dynamics and has significant implications for predicting seismic activity and future earthquakes.
The study reveals that weaknesses in the Earth’s crust must build into a crack that can suddenly give way. However, this process is preceded by slow movements that don’t cause the surrounding rocks to shake. The researchers used experimentation and theoretical modeling to explore how these processes evolve and found that small, slow-moving patches of frictional motion are the first steps towards a fracture.
As these patches expand and escalate, they eventually lead to seismic rupture. This new understanding provides valuable insights into stress and friction, which can help improve earthquake prediction models. The study’s findings also suggest that slow, aseismic rupture must always precede rapid seismic rupture, offering a new framework for understanding how and when earthquakes nucleate.
The research, published in Nature, marks an important advancement in the field of earthquake science and could potentially lead to more accurate predictions and warnings for future earthquakes.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/quake-triggers-far-less-earth-shattering-than-we-thought-study-reveals