A hidden mechanism discovered in a new study

A new study has revealed a hidden mechanism that could explain how earthquakes start, offering a new perspective on how slow creeping motion leads to the explosive shaking we feel during seismic events.

Researchers have discovered how slow “seismic creep” leads to powerful earthquakes

Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates, which are large pieces of the Earth's crust, move against each other. Initially, these plates stick together at certain points along their edges, causing pressure to build up.

Over time, this pressure becomes too much for the plates to bear, leading to sudden rupture and the violent shaking associated with earthquakes. But what causes this shift from slow motion to sudden, devastating force?

A study conducted by Professor Jay Feinberg and his team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem provides a new explanation. This research, published in the journal Nature, challenges long-standing ideas about earthquake formation and offers hope for better predictions in the future.

According to LiveScience, the team discovered that before the plates rupture, there is a slow, almost undetectable process.

This process, known as “seismic creep,” occurs when plates move slowly, without causing any noticeable shaking. This movement, although quiet, may be a decisive step in causing the earthquake.

To better understand how this process works, researchers used a material called plexiglass in laboratory experiments. They applied pressure to sheets of plexiglass, simulating the forces acting on tectonic plates.

They found that when pressure increased, cracks formed in the material. However, these cracks do not appear immediately. Instead, the material is first subjected to slow creeping motion, similar to the seismic motion observed in faults in the real world.

Scientists have discovered how small cracks lead to large seismic ruptures

As the creeping motion continues, cracks begin to grow. Eventually, this slow motion reaches a breaking point where the crack accelerates, causing rapid rupture, PhysOrg reported. This sudden release of energy is what causes an earthquake.

The researchers found that the energy needed to create this rupture builds up slowly at first, but once it exceeds a certain threshold, it is quickly released, just like a spring bursting.

Using advanced mathematical models and laboratory experiments, the researchers were able to prove that initial slow motion releases no energy into its surroundings. However, once the crack goes beyond a certain point, excess energy is released, causing the sudden shaking we associate with earthquakes.

The researchers suggest that by monitoring the slow, creeping movement of faults, scientists can determine when an earthquake is about to strike, giving people more time to prepare.

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