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Tag: earthquakes

Deep Sea Awakens: Axial Seamount’s Looming Eruption & Its Role in Shaping Ocean Life

Deep Sea Awakens: Axial Seamount’s Looming Eruption & Its Role in Shaping Ocean Life

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano nearly 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is rumbling with seismic activity, hinting at an imminent eruption before the end of 2025. Known for past eruptions in 1998, 2011, and 2015, this deep-sea volcano lies at the intersection of a tectonic plate boundary and a geological hotspot. As magma accumulates beneath the surface, scientists are closely monitoring the site for what could be a spectacular yet safe eruption offering a window into Earth’s inner workings and its influence on ocean ecosystems. What Is Axial Seamount? Axial Seamount also known as Coaxial Seamount or Axial Volcano is a submarine shield volcano located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the Pacific Ocean. Situated about 480 kilometers west of Cannon Beach, Oregon, it rises roughly 1,100 me...
Can Climate Change Trigger Earthquakes? Scientists Explore the Link Between Water, Faults & Earthquakes

Can Climate Change Trigger Earthquakes? Scientists Explore the Link Between Water, Faults & Earthquakes

Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks
While earthquakes are primarily caused by tectonic movements scientists are now examining whether climate change and human activity might indirectly influence seismic activity. New studies suggest that changing water patterns  from rain, droughts, melting glaciers, and even reservoirs can alter stress on Earth's crust, potentially affecting earthquake behavior. Water Weight and Fault Stress: A Surprising Connection Earthquakes occur when stress along faults in the Earth’s crust surpasses a breaking point. This stress typically builds due to the movement of tectonic plates. But scientists are studying whether climate-induced surface water changes such as rainfall, snowmelt, or groundwater depletion can subtly shift the balance of stress and possibly influence earthquake timing or freq...
AI Revolutionizes Disaster Risk Management as Market Set to Cross US$ 2,150 Billion by 2031

AI Revolutionizes Disaster Risk Management as Market Set to Cross US$ 2,150 Billion by 2031

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Tech
The global market for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in disaster risk management is experiencing explosive growth. According to a new report by InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd., the market, valued at US$ 479.5 billion in 2023, is projected to surge to US$ 2,150.1 billion by 2031 growing at an impressive CAGR of 21.3%. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters worsened by climate change and rapid urbanization is driving the urgent need for smarter disaster response solutions. AI is playing a transformative role by enabling predictive analytics, early warning systems, real-time risk assessment, and faster recovery optimization. These technologies process massive data sets, from satellite imagery to historical disaster patterns, to predict threats with greater accuracy and impr...
Earthquakes, Climate Change, and Rising Risks: What We Know and Why It Matters

Earthquakes, Climate Change, and Rising Risks: What We Know and Why It Matters

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks
Earthquakes triggered by the shifting of tectonic plates, continue to cause widespread destruction and trauma across the globe. Although earthquakes themselves are not directly caused by climate change, emerging research shows that changing climate conditions may indirectly affect fault lines and earthquake risks. With worsening climate impacts, earthquake-prone areas could face greater vulnerabilities, adding pressure to infrastructure, insurance systems, and disaster response mechanisms worldwide. How Are Earthquakes Formed? Tectonic plates are always moving, though we usually don't notice it. Earthquakes form when Plates move apart (divergent boundaries), Plates collide into each other (convergent boundaries), or Plates slide past each other (transform boundaries). At these ...
2 Earthquakes Shakes Western Nepal Jajarkot district to Kathmandu

2 Earthquakes Shakes Western Nepal Jajarkot district to Kathmandu

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Two moderate earthquakes struck western Nepal’s Jajarkot district on Friday evening sending tremors across several nearby regions. The first quake measuring 5.2 in magnitude, hit at 8:07 PM, followed just three minutes later by a stronger 5.5-magnitude tremor at 8:10 PM, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring Centre. Both quakes were centered in the Panik area of Jajarkot, approximately 525 kilometers west of Kathmandu. While the tremors were widely felt in surrounding districts including Surkhet, Dailekh, and Kalikot, no immediate casualties or major damage were reported. Authorities have placed the region on high alert as aftershocks remain a possibility. Nepal, located in a highly seismic zone, frequently experiences such events, prompting continued vigilance and structur...
Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Aftershocks Rattle Region

Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Aftershocks Rattle Region

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday March 28, causing widespread damage in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. The quake, recorded at a depth of 10 km by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock. Tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where several buildings shook, and in parts of India and Bangladesh. In Mandalay, parts of the historic former royal palace suffered damage, and multiple buildings collapsed. The Sagaing region, southwest of Mandalay, reported the collapse of a 90-year-old bridge and damage to sections of the highway linking Mandalay to Yangon. In the capital Naypyitaw, religious shrines and homes sustained damage, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Tha...
Mexico City Shallow Earthquakes Reveal Unexpected Risks Study Finds

Mexico City Shallow Earthquakes Reveal Unexpected Risks Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
A new study has highlighted the surprising strength of ground shaking caused by recent shallow earthquakes in Mexico City, raising concerns about the potential impact of moderate seismic events on the city's buildings. Researchers Miguel Jaimes and Gerardo Suárez from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) have modeled earthquake scenarios to assess possible damage emphasizing the role of local geology in amplifying shaking. Published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, the study analyzed three regions based on past seismic activity: La Magdalena Contreras (2023), San Juan de Aragón (2018), and the Milpa Alta and Juchitepec earthquakes (1995 and 1985, respectively). Their findings suggest that even moderate earthquakes, up to magnitude 5.5, could cause signi...
Devastating Earthquake Strikes Nepal High Casualties Feared as Tremors Shake Himalayan Region

Devastating Earthquake Strikes Nepal High Casualties Feared as Tremors Shake Himalayan Region

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
Kathmandu: A powerful earthquake struck Nepal early Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves across the Himalayan region and triggering widespread destruction. The tremors, felt in neighboring India, China, and Bhutan, caused buildings to collapse, landslides to block key highways, and panic among millions. The full scale of the disaster is yet to be determined, but officials fear high casualties as rescue efforts intensify. According to seismologists, the quake was a result of the Indian tectonic plate pushing into the Eurasian plate at a rate of approximately 5 cm per year, a process that continuously builds stress beneath the Earth's surface. When this stress reaches a breaking point, it is released as a powerful seismic event. The Himalayas, being one of the most geologically active regi...
Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
A vast majority of earthquakes occur within the infamous Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot encircling the Pacific Ocean. Yet, when these earthquakes strike, the areas that experience the most intense shaking aren’t always the ones that suffer the worst destruction. Recent research has uncovered a hidden factor contributing to earthquake devastation: migration patterns and housing vulnerabilities. The 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake: A Case Study Taiwan’s catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, which claimed over 2,400 lives, presented an unexpected pattern of destruction. Contrary to expectations, the worst damage was not in the bustling city centers but in the suburbs and outer regions. Similar trends have been observed in earthquakes that hit China, Chile, and Nepal, raising questions about...
Ethiopia Faces Earthquake Surge, Volcanic Eruption Fears

Ethiopia Faces Earthquake Surge, Volcanic Eruption Fears

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
Ethiopia's Afar and Oromia regions have experienced a series of earthquakes since early 2025, sparking fears of volcanic eruptions near the Fentale and Dofen volcanoes. The strongest quake, with a magnitude of 5.7, struck on January 4, a day after a 5.5-magnitude tremor hit the same area. Two additional earthquakes followed over the weekend of January 11. The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Council is relocating around 60,000 residents to temporary shelters, citing risks of further quakes and potential volcanic activity. The earthquakes are linked to magmatic activity, where magma (molten rock) is intruding beneath the Fentale and Dofen volcanoes. Ethiopia lies within the East African Rift System, a geologically active zone, making both earthquakes and volcanic activity common. ...