Latest news with #GeophysicalResearchLetters
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A Massive Fault Line Was Supposed to Be ‘Dead'. It Sure Seems Like It's Stirring Again.
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: The Tintina fault is thought to have been inactive for more than 40 million years, but new research suggests that earthquakes occurred in the zone much more recently. Researchers from the University of Victoria identified fault scarps that suggest major slips occurred during the Quaternary period (2.6 million years ago to present day). The team estimated that the fault accumulates.2 to.8 millimeters of strain each year, meaning that a release could cause a 7.5 magnitude earthquake—or on that's even bigger. Earthquakes occur when two blocks of earth slip past one another at a fault. While earthquakes are perhaps the most tangible reminder that the ground we stand on is always shifting, not all movement at fault planes is sudden. Sometimes blocks slowly creep past each other across centuries. Some faults, like the Tintina fault, are believed to be inactive, meaning that they no longer have earthquakes. The Tintina fault stretches about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) across the Yukon territory in northwestern Canada, and until recently, scientists believed the zone to have been inactive for over 40 million years. A new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, however, tells a different story. The research team—led by experts from the University of Victoria (UVic)—discovered a 130 kilometer (80 mile) stretch with evidence of recent movement. Now, experts believe devastating earthquakes could be on the way. The team used high-resolution topographic data and LiDAR surveys collected from satellites, airplanes, and drones to identify fault scarps (linear ruptures produced by landscapes) in the area. Researchers found a series of fault scarps passing within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of Dawson City, Canada—evidence that could completely change our understanding of the Tintina fault's movement. 'Over the past couple of decades there have been a few small earthquakes of magnitude 3 to 4 detected along the Tintina fault, but nothing to suggest it is capable of large ruptures,' Theron Finley, lead author of the study, said in a press release. 'The expanding availability of high-resolution data prompted us to re-examine the fault, looking for evidence of prehistoric earthquakes in the landscape.' Along the fault scarps, the team found 2.6-million-year-old glacial landforms offset by approximately 1000 meters (3280 feet). Researchers also discovered other 132,000-year-old landforms that were only offset by 75 meters (246 feet). Both findings confirm that the fault slipped substantially during earthquakes in the Quaternary period—a geological timeframe spanning from 2.6 million years ago to present day. Interestingly, landforms that emerged 12,000 years ago showed no movement, meaning that there haven't been any large ruptures in the area for over 12 millennia. Using the data collected, researchers estimate that the fault accumulates about.2 to.8 millimeters of strain every year, which could mean that a devastating earthquake is imminent. 'We determined that future earthquakes on the Tintina fault could exceed magnitude 7.5,' Finley said in the release. 'Based on the data, we think that the fault may be at a relatively late stage of a seismic cycle, having accrued a slip deficit, or build-up of strain, of six metres in the last 12,000 years. If this were to be released, it would cause a significant earthquake.' Earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.5 or higher are typically noticeable, but cause little damage. Once an earthquake reaches a magnitude of 6.1, however, it can do damage to poorly constructed buildings. As Finley explained, the Tintina fault may exceed magnitude 7.5, meaning that it would be considered a 'major' earthquake on the magnitude scale, and could cause major damage across larger areas. According to the press release, Canada's National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) doesn't currently recognize the Tintina fault as a discrete seismogenic fault source. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A Massive Fault Line Was Supposed to Be ‘Dead'. It Sure Seems Like It's Stirring Again.
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: The Tintina fault is thought to have been inactive for more than 40 million years, but new research suggests that earthquakes occurred in the zone much more recently. Researchers from the University of Victoria identified fault scarps that suggest major slips occurred during the Quaternary period (2.6 million years ago to present day). The team estimated that the fault accumulates.2 to.8 millimeters of strain each year, meaning that a release could cause a 7.5 magnitude earthquake—or on that's even bigger. Earthquakes occur when two blocks of earth slip past one another at a fault. While earthquakes are perhaps the most tangible reminder that the ground we stand on is always shifting, not all movement at fault planes is sudden. Sometimes blocks slowly creep past each other across centuries. Some faults, like the Tintina fault, are believed to be inactive, meaning that they no longer have earthquakes. The Tintina fault stretches about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) across the Yukon territory in northwestern Canada, and until recently, scientists believed the zone to have been inactive for over 40 million years. A new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, however, tells a different story. The research team—led by experts from the University of Victoria (UVic)—discovered a 130 kilometer (80 mile) stretch with evidence of recent movement. Now, experts believe devastating earthquakes could be on the way. The team used high-resolution topographic data and LiDAR surveys collected from satellites, airplanes, and drones to identify fault scarps (linear ruptures produced by landscapes) in the area. Researchers found a series of fault scarps passing within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of Dawson City, Canada—evidence that could completely change our understanding of the Tintina fault's movement. 'Over the past couple of decades there have been a few small earthquakes of magnitude 3 to 4 detected along the Tintina fault, but nothing to suggest it is capable of large ruptures,' Theron Finley, lead author of the study, said in a press release. 'The expanding availability of high-resolution data prompted us to re-examine the fault, looking for evidence of prehistoric earthquakes in the landscape.' Along the fault scarps, the team found 2.6-million-year-old glacial landforms offset by approximately 1000 meters (3280 feet). Researchers also discovered other 132,000-year-old landforms that were only offset by 75 meters (246 feet). Both findings confirm that the fault slipped substantially during earthquakes in the Quaternary period—a geological timeframe spanning from 2.6 million years ago to present day. Interestingly, landforms that emerged 12,000 years ago showed no movement, meaning that there haven't been any large ruptures in the area for over 12 millennia. Using the data collected, researchers estimate that the fault accumulates about.2 to.8 millimeters of strain every year, which could mean that a devastating earthquake is imminent. 'We determined that future earthquakes on the Tintina fault could exceed magnitude 7.5,' Finley said in the release. 'Based on the data, we think that the fault may be at a relatively late stage of a seismic cycle, having accrued a slip deficit, or build-up of strain, of six metres in the last 12,000 years. If this were to be released, it would cause a significant earthquake.' Earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.5 or higher are typically noticeable, but cause little damage. Once an earthquake reaches a magnitude of 6.1, however, it can do damage to poorly constructed buildings. As Finley explained, the Tintina fault may exceed magnitude 7.5, meaning that it would be considered a 'major' earthquake on the magnitude scale, and could cause major damage across larger areas. According to the press release, Canada's National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) doesn't currently recognize the Tintina fault as a discrete seismogenic fault source. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life? Solve the daily Crossword
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
‘Sleeping Giant' Fault Under Canada Shows Major Earthquake Potential
After 12 millennia of relative inactivity, a geologic fault that stretches across the territory of Yukon, Canada, and Alaska now appears capable of producing a major earthquake, according to a new study. The findings point to an underrecognized source of seismic hazard in northwestern Canada. Scientists previously believed that the Tintina fault, which extends roughly 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) from northeast British Columbia through the Yukon and Alaska, remained quiet for the last 40 million years. These new findings, published July 15 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, challenge that theory. Using high-resolution topographic data, a team of researchers identified an 81-mile-long (130-kilometer-long) segment of the Tintina that produced multiple large earthquakes far more recently. The last one occurred about 12,000 years ago, and stress has been building on the fault ever since. When it ultimately ruptures, the quake could be powerful—potentially exceeding magnitude 7.5. Such a quake would threaten small Yukon communities situated near the Tintina, particularly Dawson City, home to over 1,500 people. Severe shaking could trigger landslides and damage near highways and mining infrastructure. Over the last 20 years, there have been a few small earthquakes of magnitude 3 to 4 along the Tintina, but no large ruptures, according to Finley. He and his colleagues set out to determine whether this fault is capable of producing larger quakes. 'In the last couple of years, there's been a much more widespread availability of high-resolution topographic data,' Finley told Gizmodo. His team used data collected from satellites, airplanes, and drones to scan the area near the Tintina for fault scarps. These features form when earthquakes rupture Earth's surface, serving as evidence of past quakes. The researchers found an 81-mile-long (130-kilometer-long) series of fault scarps passing within 12 miles (20 kilometers) of Dawson City. To determine the timing of the earthquakes that created them, they observed landforms left by glacial incursions that occurred 12,000, 132,000, and 2.6 million years ago. This revealed that the fault has produced multiple large earthquakes over the last 2.6 million years, likely slipping several meters each time. However, the 12,000-year-old landforms were not offset by the fault, indicating that there hasn't been a major rupture since then. Over these millennia, the Tintina has been accumulating strain at a rate of about 0.2 to 0.8 millimeters per year, according to the study. Based on this, Finley and his colleagues estimate that roughly 20 feet (6 meters) of total slip deficit have built up. Eventually, the building strain will cause the fault to rupture and potentially produce a major earthquake, Finley said. However, that does not mean this region is in immediate danger. 'Although large earthquakes can occur on this fault, they likely occur with many thousands of years between them,' Finley said. 'It's impossible to say, from our current understanding, whether one is imminent or thousands of years away.' Still, the possibility of a major Tintina quake warrants some reconsideration of the seismic hazard in Northwestern Canada. The nation's National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM)—which informs seismic building codes and other engineering safety standards—does not currently recognize the Tintina as a discrete seismogenic fault source, according to a UVic release. Finley's findings will eventually be integrated into the NSHM and shared with local governments and emergency managers to improve earthquake preparedness. 'What our information does is refine the location of where some of the largest hazards would be in this seismic hazard model,' he said.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fault line on Canadian border thought dormant for years could cause major earthquake, new study shows
A fault line on the Canadian border, thought to be dormant for tens of millions of years, could cause a major earthquake, a new study has revealed. The Tintina fault stretches about 600 miles from northeastern British Columbia into Alaska. It was previously thought to have last been active around 40 million years ago. But a study published in Geophysical Research Letters earlier this month found signs of more recent activity. New topographic data collected from satellites, airplanes and drones showed about an 80-mile-long segment of the fault where 2.6 million-year-old and 132,000-year-old geological formations are laterally shifted across the fault. 'We further show that the fault has not ruptured in a major earthquake for at least 12 thousand years, and could generate an earthquake of at least magnitude 7.5 in the future,' the study read. 'The Tintina fault therefore represents an important, previously unrecognized, seismic hazard to the region.' An earthquake with a 7 to 7.9 magnitude is considered major and can create serious damage, according to Michigan Tech. These types of earthquakes are fairly rare, with only 10 to 15 estimated to occur each year. Michigan Tech warns earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or greater, which typically occur only once every year or two, can destroy communities near the epicenter. 'Based on the data, we think that the fault may be at a relatively late stage of a seismic cycle, having accrued a slip deficit, or build-up of strain, of six meters in the last 12,000 years,' Theron Finley, a recent University of Victoria phD graduate and lead author of the new study, explained in SciTechDaily. 'If this were to be released, it would cause a significant earthquake.' The Daily Mail reported, citing seismologists, there are fears the fault line could send tremors into British Columbia, Alberta and Montana. Dr. Michael West, state seismologist at the Alaska Earthquake Center, told the Mail, 'It is one of the least studied fault systems in North America, and that needs to change.'
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Say A Major Earthquake Fault Line Is Waking Up
Small recreational vehicle driving the Dempster Highway near Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. Credit - Robert Postma/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group—Getty Images High up in Canada's Yukon Territory, a seismic gun is being cocked and aimed at the little community of Dawson City—population 1,600. If a new study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters is correct, that town or one of many others in the region could be rocked by a major earthquake pretty much at any moment. The source of the danger is a 1,000 km (620 mi.) formation known as the Tintina fault that cuts northwest across the Yukon and terminates in Alaska. It has been mostly still for the past 12,000 years but appears to be getting ready to lurch to life. 'Over the past couple of decades there have been a few small earthquakes of magnitude 3 to 4 detected along the Tintina Fault, but nothing to suggest it is capable of large ruptures,' said Theron Finley, a recent PhD graduate at Canada's University of Victoria and the lead author of the study, in a statement. That's not the full story, though, Finley says. What the last few decades suggest and what the geological record now shows are two different things—and according to the paper, Tintina is a lot more menacing than it seems. What caught the interest of Finley and his colleagues is a 130-km (80 mi.) segment of the fault that runs near Dawson City, with surface features suggesting that numerous large earthquakes occurred in relatively recent geological history—during the Quaternary Period, which runs from 2.6 million years ago to the present. To get a better understanding, the researchers used an existing library of high-resolution imagery from airplanes, satellites, and drones, some of them captured by lidar—which uses pulsed laser emissions to produce 3D maps of the surface. This allowed them to study that stretch of the fault in unprecedented detail—and find a number of geological secrets hiding in plain sight. At one point in the Tintina segment, they discovered a fault scarp—or a ridged crack in the surface—where the land broke and shifted by 1,000 m (3,280 ft.). That is a clear fingerprint of an earthquake, one that, according to the rounding and wear and sloping of the scarp, occurred about 2.6 million years ago. At another spot they found another scarp, misaligned by a more modest 75 m (250 ft.), that they estimate to have been caused by a smaller but still considerable quake that occurred about 132,000 years ago. No evidence of significant quakes turned up at any time in the past 12,000 years, meaning Tintina has been relatively stable throughout the entirety of the Holocene Epoch, which runs from 11,700 years ago to the present. But for modern day folks living in Dawson and elsewhere, that recent period of quiescence is actually bad news. Just because a fault isn't causing quakes doesn't mean it isn't on the move. Finley and his colleagues estimate that Tintina is moving and accumulating strain on the order of 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm a year. Over the course of 12,000 years, those millimeters add up, and when the strain is suddenly released—which it ultimately must be—the result will not be pretty. "We determined that future earthquakes on the Tintina fault could exceed magnitude 7.5,' said Finley in a statement. 'Based on the data, we think that the fault may be at a relatively late stage of a seismic cycle, having accrued a slip deficit, or build-up of strain, of six metres [20 ft] in the last 12,000 years. If this were to be released, it would cause a significant earthquake.' The estimated 7.5 magnitude of the quake would put it on a scale with some of history's bigger temblors, including China's 1976 Tangshan event which claimed an estimated 240,000 to 650,000 lives; and the 2020 Haiti quake, which killed 300,000. The Yukon Territory is much more sparsely populated than Tangshen or Haiti, meaning fewer casualties. Still, there would quite likely be deaths, along with damage to local highways, mines, and other infrastructure. The area is also prone to landslides which could be triggered by a quake. 'Our results,' the researchers wrote, 'have significant implications for seismic hazard in the Yukon Territory and neighboring Alaska. If 12,000 years have elapsed since the last major earthquake, the fault may be at an advanced stage of strain accumulation.' It is impossible to know exactly when that strain will be released, of course—one of the things that makes seismology such a confounding science. The best the scientists can do is warn locals of the long term risks and leave them to prepare go bags, survival kits, and evacuation plans. The Earth will quake at will; we can only react. Write to Jeffrey Kluger at
