Earthquake study challenges conventional wisdom: 'A new way of understanding'

The researchers found that the geometric structure of the rocks in which earthquakes occur can play a major role in determining their location and strength.

A study by geologists at Brown University suggests that the alignment of rock formations within fault zones may help explain why seismic activity occurs.

The research, based on analysis of fault lines in California, challenges the traditional theory that the type of friction at faults determines whether earthquakes occur.

“Our paper paints this very different kind of picture about why earthquakes happen,” Victor Tsai, lead author and geophysicist, said in a statement.

Image showing the location of the San Andreas Fault. Researchers suggest that the geometry of fault zones determines the likelihood of earthquakes. Image showing the location of the San Andreas Fault. Researchers suggest that the geometry of fault zones determines the likelihood of earthquakes. Getty Images

“This has very important implications for where earthquakes can be expected to occur versus where earthquakes cannot be expected, and also for predicting where earthquakes will be most damaging.”

A fault is a fracture or area of ​​fractures between plates of rock that make up the Earth's lithosphere – the solid outer part of the planet.

Geophysicists have long believed that earthquakes occur when stress builds up on these faults, causing sudden slips or breaks known as strike-slip behavior. Traditionally, unstable friction was thought to cause these rapid slides, while stable friction led to slower, smoother movements called creep.

However, the new study suggests that complexities in rock structures, such as bends and gaps, are just as important in predicting earthquakes as the type of friction.

For the study, the team examined fault zones in California using the USGS and California Geological Survey's Quaternary fault database. This included the San Andreas Fault, which is the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate and one of the largest faults in the world.

They found that geometrically complex fault zones — where the structures were not lined up and went in different directions — had stronger ground motion than simpler fault zones. Areas where faults were more closely aligned allowed creep to occur, without earthquakes occurring.

“Our findings suggest that it may be more important to look at the geometry of faults in these fault networks, because it may be the complex geometry of the structures around those boundaries that creates this unstable versus stable behavior,” Cai said.

In the opinion of scientists, it is useful to imagine that some defects have jagged teeth like saw teeth.

When rocks are soft, they can slide over each other. However, when rocks have a jagged edge, they may stick together, causing pressure to build up as these structures push and pull.

Eventually, this buildup of pressure causes rocks to break or move apart quickly, causing earthquakes.

Researchers believe this may help explain why some earthquakes generate greater ground motion than others elsewhere, even if they are of similar magnitude.

They hope that their findings will one day lead to more advanced methods for predicting earthquakes.

The full results of the study were published in the journal Nature.

Uncommon knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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