A holy grail in the earth sciences is the ability to predict earthquakes. Researchers have learned a great deal about why they happen and where they are most likely to occur. But precisely predicting when they will happen continues to be a challenge. WHOI Featured Stories May 15, 2007Rescue Mission on the Seafloor The scientists sought to wrest secrets from the Earth. But first, they had to wrest their seismometers from the bottom of the ocean. Source: Oceanus Magazine  May 15, 2006A 'Book' of Ancient Sumatran Tsunamis Jian Lin, a geophysicist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, was the first American ever invited to co-lead a Chinese deep-ocean research cruise. Read a conversation with Lin: Worlds Apart, But United by the Oceans Source: Oceanus Magazine  May 15, 2006Worlds Apart, But United by the Oceans A conversation with geophysicist Jian Lin Source: Oceanus Magazine  May 2, 2005Rapid Response The earthquakes were coming fast and frequent, as many as 50 to 70 an hour. On the morning of Sunday, Feb. 28, undersea hydrophones began detecting the most intense swarm of earthquakes to occur in the last three years along the Juan de Fuca Ridge, about 200 miles off the Pacific Northwest coast. Source: Oceanus Magazine  March 29, 2005Throwing DART Buoys into the Ocean Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys are the foundation of warning network Source: Oceanus Magazine  March 29, 2005What Could a Tsunami Network Look Like in the Future? WHOI scientists and engineers are working on the next generation of ocean observing technologies platforms. “Our strength is to build new technology and the new scientific knowledge that society can profit from. That’s what we do—we build the new and better mousetrap." Source: Oceanus Magazine  March 29, 2005In the Tsunami's Wake, New Knowledge About Earthquakes If any good came from the devastating earthquakes off Sumatra, it is the clues they gave scientists about how they occur Source: Oceanus Magazine  August 3, 2004Ears in the Ocean If you sought to delve into the forces that drive and shape the face of the earth and that distinguish it from all other planets in our solar system, you would shine a spotlight on the mid-ocean ridges. Source: Oceanus Magazine  June 30, 2004Earthshaking Events Source: Oceanus Magazine  June 22, 2004Peering into the Crystal Fabric of Rocks "Rock solid" is an oxymoron, to my way of thinking. Oh, the expression does have some truth in that minuscule, superficial portion of our planet where humans dwell. But the majority of rocks nearly everywhere else in the earth are continually changing their physical characteristics. Source: Oceanus Magazine  March 5, 2004Listening Closely to 'See' Into the Earth Today, excitement and anticipation is growing because of new generations of seismographs designed for use in the oceans. These new instruments will comprise a new national pool of instruments for use by the scientific community. Source: Oceanus Magazine  March 1, 1998Ocean Seismic Network Seafloor Observatories Our knowledge of Earth’s deep interior is based largely on observations of surface vibrations that occur after large earthquakes. Using the same techniques as CAT scans in medical imaging, seismologists can “image” the interior of our planet. But just as medical imaging requires sensors that surround the patient, seismic imaging requires sensors surrounding Earth. Source: Oceanus Magazine WHOI News Releases July 12, 2007Fragmented Structure of Seafloor Faults May Dampen Effects of Earthquakes Many earthquakes in the deep ocean are much lower in magnitude than expected. Geophysicists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have found new evidence that the fragmented structure of seafloor faults and previously unrecognized volcanism may be dampening the effects of these quakes. Source: Media Relations  February 22, 2006New Instrumentation May Help Scientists Understand Earthquake Mechanics Advances in understanding basic earthquake processes have been limited by available instrumentation, but researchers have solved that problem by developing a device that records both small and large earthquakes at the same time. Source: Media Relations  March 24, 2005Deep-Sea Tremors May Provide Early Warning System for Larger Earthquakes Predicting when large earthquakes might occur may be a step closer to reality, thanks to a new study of undersea earthquakes in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Source: Media Relations  January 13, 2005Major Caribbean Earthquakes and Tsunamis a Real Risk Major earthquakes have struck the Caribbean through history, and WHOI scientists warn this raises the possibility of a tsunami in the populous region Source: Media Relations  April 28, 2000Undersea Cracks along Continental Shelf Could Trigger Tsunamis along U.S. East Coast Source: Media Relations WHOI Researchers, Labs, and Groups Jian LinGeology and Geophysics » Personal Research Page » Visit Web site  Deborah K. SmithGeology & Geophysics » Visit Web site  John A. CollinsGeology & Geophysics » Visit Web site  Jeff J. McGuireGeology & Geophysics » Visit Web site  Robert S. DetrickGeology & Geophysics » Visit Web site  Mark BehnGeology & Geophysics » Visit Web site  Rob L. EvansGeology & Geophysics » Visit Web site  Marine Seismology and Geoacoustics GroupThis group focuses on seismic wave propagation in heterogeneous and anisotropic media typical of the marine environment and on the effects of the seafloor in long-range ocean acoustic propagation. Natural sources (for example, earthquakes, whale calls, and storm generated noise) and controlled sources (for example shipping, explosions and airguns) are considered. Techniques include borehole seismic experiments in the seafloor and time-domain finite-difference synthetic seismogram methods. » Visit Web site Last updated: September 3, 2009 | |||||||||||||
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