Latest news with #ChinaEarthquakeAdministration
Borneo Post
16-05-2025
- Science
- Borneo Post
Two decades of volcano monitoring in northeast China's Changbai Mountains
Photo taken on April 25, 2025 shows Zhong Guangpei, an engineer at the Tianchi crater lake volcanic monitoring station, walking to a monitor spot on Changbai Mountains in northeast China's Jilin Province. – Xinhua photo CHANGCHUN (May 17): Ascending the Changbai Mountains in northeast China, the fresh green of early spring slowly gives way to lingering snow. On a slope stands a three-story building – the largest volcanic monitoring station in the country. Located in Jilin Province, the Changbai Mountains are well-known for their mysterious Tianchi crater lake, yet few know that they were the site of one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history. In 946 AD, an eruption dispersed ash more than 10,000 kilometers away to Greenland. To strengthen China's capacity to study and predict volcanic activity, the station was established in the mid-1990s by the China Earthquake Administration and the Jilin provincial government. Over the past two decades, it has evolved into China's most comprehensively equipped volcanic monitoring facility. The station now operates 15 monitoring points across the northern, western and southern slopes of the mountains, and its research team has expanded from just three people to 10. Kong Qingjun, head of the station, remembers the challenges in the early days, when there was no optical fiber communication. 'Most of the data had to be stored on hard disks and retrieved manually every 10 days,' he said. 'Once, my colleague and I got lost in heavy fog while trying to replace the hard disks.' Thanks to infrastructure improvements in recent years, many field stations now have optical fiber and Wi-Fi connections, which greatly enhance real-time data transmission, Kong said. But challenges remain. 'Continuous data collection is crucial,' he said. 'Yet the harsh conditions – strong winds, heavy snow and lightning – demand constant vigilance from our technicians.' An undated photo shows Kong (left) and his colleague taking a sample of hot spring gas on Changbai Mountains in northeast China's Jilin Province. – Xinhua photo Globally, volcano research has a much longer history. The world's first observatory was founded in 1841 at Italy's Mount Vesuvius, followed by the first modern observatory at Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano in the United States around 70 years later. By comparison, China still lags behind some developed countries in volcanic monitoring, facing challenges such as limited historical data, a shortage of advanced equipment and insufficient monitoring technologies. 'Volcanic eruptions are rare and occur over long cycles, so we place great importance on collaborating with scientific institutions both domestically and internationally,' said Liu Guoming, the station's chief engineer, noting that researchers from the station have visited volcano observatories in countries like Italy and the United States, sometimes even witnessing eruptions firsthand. With its growing academic reputation, the station has built long-term partnerships with volcano experts and institutions in countries such as the United States, Japan, Italy and Russia. Moreover, China's continued investment in the field has brought in new technologies, such as satellite remote sensing and drone-mounted instruments. Photo taken on April 23, 2025 shows Tianchi crater lake on Changbai Mountains in northeast China's Jilin Province. – Xinhua photo According to Kong, the station is now working with the Jilin Earthquake Agency to upgrade its early warning system. 'We're building an AI-powered platform to improve our ability to detect and issue warnings for potential volcanic activity,' he said. 'After over 20 years of continuous monitoring, we are gradually uncovering the secrets of the Changbai Mountains,' he noted. 'Our goal is to grow into a world-class volcanic monitoring station.' – Xinhua Changbai Mountains China volcano Xinhua
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes China's Tibet
An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck Tibet early on Monday (May 12, 2025), the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) said. The quake hit the city of Shigatse at 5:11 a.m. (2111 GMT), at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Authorities have dispatched emergency response services and no casualties have been reported so far, CEA said. In January, more than 120 died in a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Tibet's Tingri county, around 240 km (149 miles) away from Shigatse.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Earthquake of magnitude 5.5 strikes southwest Tibet
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Shigatse in southwestern Tibet on Monday, according to Chinese authorities. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km at 5.11am local time (2111 GMT). China's Earthquake Administration authorities said emergency services were deployed and that no casualties have been reported so far. Shigatse lies in the southwestern part of Tibet and is the region's second-largest city. Earlier, on 8 May, an earthquake of magnitude 3.7 jolted the region. Monday's tremor comes just months after a devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Tingri county – about 240km (149 miles) from Shigatse – in January, killing more than 120 people and injuring more than 180. The quake in January was felt across Nepal, Bhutan, and India. It was caused by deep tectonic shifts in the Lhasa block, part of the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The United States Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.1, while the China Earthquake Networks Center measured it at 6.8. EQ of M: 5.7, On: 12/05/2025 02:41:24 IST, Lat: 29.02 N, Long: 87.48 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Tibet. For more information Download the BhooKamp App @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia — National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) May 11, 2025 Tibet has experienced multiple massive earthquakes over the past few decades, including a devastating 8.6-magnitude quake in 1950. According to a study published last year, the Indian tectonic plate – which collided with the Eurasian plate – is now gradually tearing apart beneath Tibet. This phenomenon, known as a 'slab tear', occurs when the upper crust of the Indian plate separates from its denser lower layer, generating considerable seismic activity. While this deep subterranean rift is unlikely to produce visible surface fractures, it has the potential to geologically divide Tibet into two distinct zones. Scientists are closely monitoring the region, analysing seismic waves, deep-focus quakes, and gas emissions to better understand the risks posed by this evolving tectonic shift.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Earthquake of magnitude 5.5 strikes southwest Tibet
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Shigatse in southwestern Tibet on Monday, according to Chinese authorities. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km at 5.11am local time (2111 GMT). China's Earthquake Administration authorities said emergency services were deployed and that no casualties have been reported so far. Shigatse lies in the southwestern part of Tibet and is the region's second-largest city. Earlier, on 8 May, an earthquake of magnitude 3.7 jolted the region. Monday's tremor comes just months after a devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Tingri county – about 240km (149 miles) from Shigatse – in January, killing more than 120 people and injuring more than 180. The quake in January was felt across Nepal, Bhutan, and India. It was caused by deep tectonic shifts in the Lhasa block, part of the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The United States Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.1, while the China Earthquake Networks Center measured it at 6.8. Tibet has experienced multiple massive earthquakes over the past few decades, including a devastating 8.6-magnitude quake in 1950. According to a study published last year, the Indian tectonic plate – which collided with the Eurasian plate – is now gradually tearing apart beneath Tibet. This phenomenon, known as a 'slab tear', occurs when the upper crust of the Indian plate separates from its denser lower layer, generating considerable seismic activity. While this deep subterranean rift is unlikely to produce visible surface fractures, it has the potential to geologically divide Tibet into two distinct zones. Scientists are closely monitoring the region, analysing seismic waves, deep-focus quakes, and gas emissions to better understand the risks posed by this evolving tectonic shift.
Business Recorder
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Business Recorder
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes China's Tibet
BEIJING: An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck Tibet early on Monday, the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) said. The quake hit the city of Shigatse at 5:11 a.m. (2111 GMT), at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Authorities have dispatched emergency response services and no casualties have been reported so far, CEA said. Earthquake of magnitude 6.0 strikes Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, GFZ says In January, more than 120 died in a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Tibet's Tingri county, around 240 km (149 miles) away from Shigatse.
