Latest news with #seismic
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Khaleej Times
5.7 magnitude quake strikes southern Iran with no impact on UAE
The National Seismic Network stations of the National Centre of Meteorology recorded a 5.7-magnitude earthquake in southern Iran at 01:30 UAE local time today. The centre confirmed that the earthquake was not felt in the UAE and had no impact on the country.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Climate
- Zawya
5.7 magnitude quake strikes southern Iran with no impact on UAE
EARTHQUAKE The centre confirmed that the earthquake was not felt in the UAE and had no impact on the country ABU DHABI - The National Seismic Network stations of the National Centre of Meteorology recorded a 5.7-magnitude earthquake in southern Iran at 01:30 UAE local time today. The centre confirmed that the earthquake was not felt in the UAE and had no impact on the country. Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
6.1-magnitude earthquake jolts Greek islands with no reported injuries
A Greek coast guard vessel and a helicopter are seen on the northeastern Aegean Sea near Greece, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Panagiotis Balaskas) ATHENS, Greece — An undersea 6.1-magnitude earthquake scale struck off the Greek island of Crete early Thursday and was felt across the Aegean Sea, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage. The powerful quake occurred some 55 kilometres (34 miles) north of the island, according to the Geodynamics Institute of Athens at a depth of 37 kilometres (23 miles) beneath the seabed. A central road in the Cretan port city of Iraklio was cordoned off after chunks of cracked plaster from a damaged and abandoned building crashed to the ground. 'Fortunately, initial reports indicate that due to its significant depth (of the earthquake), there has been no major damage,' Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis told reporters outside Athens before traveling to Crete. The shock was felt extensively across islands throughout the Aegean Sea. Rescue crews were sent to the island as a precaution, officials said. Earthquake and Planning Protection Organization director Efthymios Lekkas noted that deeper earthquakes typically cause less surface damage. Greece sits on major fault lines and experiences frequent seismic activity. The Associated Press
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Why Europe is having more earthquakes – and the science behind the rise
Tourists were urged to 'move away from the coast' after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Crete in the early hours of Monday morning, triggering tsunami warning. The quake, which hit at 3:19am local time, startled residents and holidaymakers alike, a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to seismic shocks. Last year, residents in Lisbon experienced their own terrifying wake-up call when an earthquake struck without warning at 5:11am. To make matters worse, the computer system of Portugal's oceanic and atmospheric agency crashed shortly after the shaking began. No injuries were reported, but those jolted from sleep described moments of panic and disorientation. Patricia Brito, who lives in the centre of the city, says that once she found her footing, she skidded into her parents thinking 'this was the big one'. The shaking lasted less than a minute, but for three hours, she couldn't go to sleep as she and her friends WhatsApped each other from Setubal to Porto as they shared their stories. 'One friend woke up and threw up a minute before it started, so she must have been hypersensitive to it coming.' While the earthquake was moderate, with Lisbon 84km from its epicentre, the news dominated Portuguese and European headlines as it was felt in Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco. The panic among Lisboetas was also understandable as residents of the city are used to living in the shadow of 1755, when a massive earthquake collapsed Lisbon's churches during mass, launched tsunami waves over the city's walls, and caused fires that lasted six days. Scientists estimate the magnitude of that devastating event was 7.7 compared to the 5.4 that occurred on 26 August. What would an earthquake of that size mean for Lisbon today? Given that two-thirds of the city's buildings were built before anti-seismic regulations of the 1980s, the damage could be untold, which is why residents of that city are often exposed to drills whether that is tsunami alarms that are tested near the waterfront of the city, or school children being given instructions of what to do in the event of a catastrophic event. In the aftermath, residents were all sent text messages reminding them to be alert to aftershocks, keep shoes close to them and check for cracks, damage and smells of gas. As southern Europe's seismic activity intensifies, scientists are warning that these recent tremors could be part of a broader and more dangerous pattern. We might not want to think about it, but Lisbon and Crete, like many parts of Europe, is under constant threat. It is just a matter of time before another big one strikes southern Europe. There's no stopping the African tectonic plate on its path northward, threatening major upheaval. Research published this May indicates that the climate crisis has magnified the hazard: rising sea levels and stronger storms can trigger earthquakes and related disasters like landslides and tsunamis. Even a little extra pressure from a full lake or reservoir can initiate seismic slip. This means increased risk for coastal areas around the Mediterranean, which are particularly vulnerable. Not even the UK is safe, where earthquakes might seem exotic from the vantage point of the British Isles. In the 19th century, the popular historian Henry Thomas Buckle insisted that freedom from earthquakes was a precondition for Britain's economic dynamism, since fear would discourage investment. He even claimed that earthquake-prone lands were doomed to mental backwardness, for 'there grow up among the people those feelings of awe, and of helplessness, on which all superstition is based'. Nonetheless, the Scottish highlands have a long, well-documented history of small earthquakes. The tiny village of Comrie even became a tourist destination in the 19th century for those curious to feel the earth shake. In 1863, a tremor was palpable across 85,000 square metres of England, and in 1884 a quake centred in Essex caused enough damage to launch a national collection. For a brief moment following these tremors, fear struck the heart of the British empire. Charles Dickens proclaimed that 'we enjoy no immunity from the most sudden, the most irresistible, the most destructive of nature's powers. Another such shock as the Lisbon earthquake may happen this or next year.' The Times warned of 'means, utterly beyond our ken and our computation, far below our feet, by which cities may be subverted, populations suddenly cut off, and empires ruined…Who can say what strange trial of shaking, or upheaving, sinking, dividing, or drying up may await us?' These were passing worries. Earthquakes in the UK were sooner entertainment than hazard. Nineteenth-century Londoners could procure a thrill by visiting the Cyclorama's recreation of the Great Lisbon Earthquake, including moving scenery and offstage screams. British earthquakes were long forgotten when the UK began building nuclear reactors in the 1960s, without anti-seismic reinforcement. Seismologists did their best to raise awareness. In 1983, The New Scientist placed an image on its cover of a cup of tea being thrown from its saucer, with the headline 'Is Britain Prepared for Earthquakes?' The Times responded with a dismissive editorial, insisting that the British 'have other things on their mind'. In the 2010s, reports of tremors in Lancashire were linked to hydraulic fracking, which can trigger earthquakes much as rising water levels do. The government placed a moratorium on fracking in 2019, but fear of a fuel shortage from the war in Ukraine has driven demands to lift it. Experts are still calculating the risks. The earthquakes that threaten southern Europe are roughly 100,000 times more powerful than the ones produced by fracking in the UK. Governments in the region rely on short-term forecasting to avert disaster. Following a deadly earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy in 2009, six seismologists were convicted of manslaughter because they had failed to warn the city of imminent danger. Although their convictions were overturned on appeal, the demand for earthquake forecasts has grown. This is a dangerous trend, since seismologists agree that there's no reliable method for predicting earthquakes. The only way to reduce risk is to avoid building near active faults and to enforce construction codes. The message is clear: facing up to seismic risk requires long-term planning. It also requires cooperation. The most destructive earthquake in Europe's history hit Sicily in 1908. It killed approximately half the residents of Messina and destroyed around 90 per cent of the city's buildings. The disaster struck as Europe's imperial powers seemed headed towards conflict. Just two months earlier, Austria had annexed Bosnia, fanning the flames that would lead to war in 1914. The humanitarian response to the earthquake was prompt and dramatic. Dozens of Russian, British, French, and American ships brought food, blankets, and construction materials. American workers built roughly 3,000 new homes for the survivors with material provided by the US government and the Red Cross. They did so with the explicit aim of promoting 'good feeling between the nations'. Two weeks after the disaster, the cover of a German satirical magazine featured a drawing of two demons, one commenting to the other: 'Everything was so beautifully prepared for a war. Then that meathead comes and makes an earthquake! The whole human race is fraternising again, and we've lost our chance.' Although the demon was sadly mistaken about the chance of war, the earthquake did inspire international partnership in the long term. The International Relief Union was founded in 1927 by a member of the Italian Red Cross who had dedicated several months to recovery work in Messina in 1908. There he learned that responding to disasters would require an unprecedented degree of international coordination. Earthquake preparedness also calls for cooperation with the public. One of the surest ways to collect information about seismic risk while raising public awareness is to encourage citizens to take science into their own hands. Ironically, Europeans tended to be more seismically savvy in the 19th century than today. Back then, scientists built their accounts of earthquakes largely from the eyewitness accounts of survivors. 'Likely in no other field is the researcher so completely dependent on the help of the non-geologist,' wrote one 19th-century geologist; 'and nowhere is the observation of each individual of such high value as with earthquakes… Only through the cooperation of all can a satisfying result be delivered.' Even today, the most sophisticated seismographs alone can't say how much damage a future temblor is likely to cause. That kind of information can only come from people on the ground sharing their observations. As I discovered by reading dusty letters between scientists and citizen observers for my book on the subject, a lively dialogue emerged in the 19th century about how best to live with seismic risk. Scientists learned what the readings of their instruments meant in terms of the felt experience of people on the scene, while observers developed a new curiosity about our dynamic planet. Reviving this dialogue could help Europe build a common language for earthquake safety today.
Sustainability Times
21-05-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Volcano Awakens Beneath Pacific': Axial Seamount Heats Up Rapidly as Scientists Prepare for High-Risk Underwater Eruption
IN A NUTSHELL 🌋 Axial Seamount , a submarine volcano off Oregon, shows signs of imminent activity with increased seismic events. , a submarine volcano off Oregon, shows signs of imminent activity with increased seismic events. 📊 The volcano's magma chamber is inflating, causing thousands of small earthquakes, a precursor to potential eruptions. is inflating, causing thousands of small earthquakes, a precursor to potential eruptions. 🔍 Scientists from the National Science Foundation are monitoring the volcano, planning to livestream future eruptions for public engagement. are monitoring the volcano, planning to livestream future eruptions for public engagement. 🌊 Despite harsh conditions, life thrives around hydrothermal vents, showcasing the resilience of marine ecosystems in extreme environments. Deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, the restless Axial Seamount volcano is stirring once again, sending ripples of anticipation through the scientific community. Located off the coast of Oregon, this underwater giant is showing signs of imminent activity. While predicting the exact timing of an eruption is a complex task, researchers are closely monitoring the situation, as the volcano could erupt as early as this year or possibly tomorrow. This seismic spectacle unfolds nearly a mile beneath the ocean surface, where the Pacific and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates are slowly separating, creating a dramatic and dynamic seafloor landscape. Magma Rising, Pressure Building In recent times, Axial Seamount has been steadily inflating with magma, a clear indication of its brewing activity. This buildup is accompanied by an increase in small earthquakes, a harbinger of the volcano's potential eruption. In 2015, the region experienced a staggering 10,000 earthquakes in just 24 hours as magma flowed from the volcano, creating a 25-mile-long trail underwater. The magma chamber beneath Axial Seamount has collapsed multiple times, forming a deep basin known as a caldera. Despite the harsh conditions, life thrives around the hydrothermal vents scattered across the caldera floor. These vents release mineral-rich fluids, attracting a vibrant community of microbes and other organisms. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as 'snowblowers.' Even after eruptions wipe out these life forms, they astonishingly regenerate within months, showcasing the resilience of life in extreme environments. 'Manta Ray Drones Are Coming': New Underwater Robots to Glide in Swarms With Unprecedented Military and Scientific Precision Ocean Feels the Shift, Land Remains Unaware While the underwater activity of Axial Seamount may have profound effects on marine life, it is unlikely to be noticed by people on land. According to experts, the eruptions are not explosive events that produce ash clouds visible above water. Instead, they are more akin to underwater fountains. Historical data suggests that these eruptions are most likely to occur between January and April, as seen in past events in 1998, 2011, and 2015. The gravitational influence of the moon, combined with seasonal shifts, may play a role in triggering these eruptions. As Earth moves farther from the sun during the early months of the year, the moon's gravitational pull on ocean tides causes variations in seafloor pressure. When magma is already near the surface, even minor stress changes can lead to an eruption. High tides, in particular, seem to correlate with increased seismic activity, potentially pushing the magma chamber to its limits. UK Unleashes Instant Drug Scanner: New High-Tech Street Weapon Can Detect Narcotics Before They're Even Consumed Scientific Endeavors and Public Engagement Researchers from the National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative, operating the Regional Cabled Array at the University of Washington, are at the forefront of monitoring Axial Seamount. Their work is crucial in understanding the intricate dynamics of this underwater volcano. The observatory plans to livestream future eruptions, providing a unique opportunity for public engagement and education about these fascinating geological events. By capturing real-time data and imagery, scientists aim to unravel the mysteries of Axial Seamount and its impact on marine ecosystems. The collaboration between geophysicists, marine biologists, and oceanographers is essential in advancing our knowledge of underwater volcanoes and their role in shaping oceanic environments. This Green Concrete Is Made From Urine: German Scientists Recreate Sandstone Texture Using Waste in Eco-Tech Breakthrough The Resilient Ecosystems of Axial Seamount The resilience of life around Axial Seamount's hydrothermal vents is a testament to nature's ability to adapt and thrive in extreme conditions. These ecosystems, once devastated by volcanic eruptions, quickly bounce back, demonstrating the tenacity of life in the ocean's depths. This phenomenon highlights the potential of underwater volcanoes as major contributors to oceanic biodiversity. As scientists continue to explore and study these resilient ecosystems, they gain valuable insights into the origins of life on Earth and the potential for life on other planets. The unique conditions found at hydrothermal vents provide a window into the past and a glimpse of what might exist beyond our planet. As we stand on the brink of another potential eruption of Axial Seamount, the scientific community remains vigilant, ready to capture every moment of this geological spectacle. The mysteries of the deep ocean continue to intrigue and inspire, reminding us of the powerful forces at play beneath the surface. What new discoveries await in the depths of the Pacific, and how will they shape our understanding of the world? Did you like it? 4.4/5 (23)
