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Deep underground forces explain quakes on San Andreas Fault
phys.org ^ | 09/04/2020 | University of Southern California

Posted on 09/05/2020 7:07:28 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Rock-melting forces occurring much deeper in the Earth than previously understood appear to drive tremors along a notorious segment of California's San Andreas Fault, according to new USC research that helps explain how quakes happen.

The study from the emergent field of earthquake physics looks at temblor mechanics from the bottom up, rather than from the top down, with a focus on underground rocks, friction and fluids. On the segment of the San Andreas Fault near Parkfield, Calif., underground excitations—beyond the depths where quakes are typically monitored—lead to instability that ruptures in a quake.

The findings are significant because they help advance the long-term goal of understanding how and where earthquakes are likely to occur, along with the forces that trigger temblors. Better scientific understanding helps inform building codes, public policy and emergency preparedness in quake-ridden areas like California. The findings may also be important in engineering applications where the temperature of rocks is changed rapidly, such as by hydraulic fracturing.

The researchers observed that, after a big quake ends, the tectonic plates that meet at the fault boundary settle into a go-along, get-along phase. For a spell, they glide past each other, a slow slip that causes little disturbance to the surface.

It's a different way of looking at the San Andreas Fault. Scientists typically focus on movement in the top of Earth's crust, anticipating that its motion in turn rejiggers the rocks deep below. For this study, the scientists looked at the problem from the bottom up.

"It's difficult to make predictions," Barbot added, "so instead of predicting just earthquakes, we're trying to explain all of the different types of motion seen in the ground."

(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: sanandreasfault

1 posted on 09/05/2020 7:07:28 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

The mole people at work


2 posted on 09/05/2020 7:14:02 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: BenLurkin

The always unfolding onion of knowledge of any subject.


3 posted on 09/05/2020 7:15:37 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: BenLurkin

Also, deep underground forces (political correctness (AKA spirit of antichrist) explain the delusional lies of the DNC, the media, and the radical Left.


4 posted on 09/05/2020 7:17:13 AM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: Jim W N

5 posted on 09/05/2020 7:20:23 AM PDT by clearcarbon
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To: butlerweave

Arne Saknussemm is down there I just know it.


6 posted on 09/05/2020 7:30:28 AM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: BenLurkin

The Parkland fault has been having more movement over the last 100 years than anywhere on the coast and a vast majority of the country. Never big, just movement. I hope the big one doesn’t happen as there is some really good wine country on the west side of it east of San Luis Obispo.

rwood


7 posted on 09/05/2020 8:01:16 AM PDT by Redwood71
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To: BenLurkin
Deep underground forces explain quakes on San Andreas Fault

Earthquakes are caused by forces underground? I would have never imagined!

8 posted on 09/05/2020 9:24:04 AM PDT by pepsi_junkie (Often wrong, but never in doubt!)
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To: pepsi_junkie

Graboids.


9 posted on 09/05/2020 9:31:16 AM PDT by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds.)
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To: Redwood71

J. Lohr in Paso Robles produces an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery might be damaged in a ‘big one’ but the vines will be fine.


10 posted on 09/05/2020 9:41:39 AM PDT by CARTOUCHE (This response has been peer reviewed.)
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To: All

I thought earthquakes were the product of global warming../s


11 posted on 09/05/2020 10:26:22 AM PDT by PrairieLady2
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To: pepsi_junkie

Indeed tectonic plates move who knew what will they think of next.
Earl Smoot research lab hard at work.


12 posted on 09/05/2020 11:19:12 AM PDT by Vaduz (women and children to be impacIQ of chimpsted the most.)
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To: BenLurkin

There are Graboids moving about.
Tremors
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100814


13 posted on 09/05/2020 11:20:06 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (homeless guy. He just has more money....He the master will plant more cotton for the democrat party)
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