. 24/7 Space News .
SHAKE AND BLOW
CRUST adds new layer of defense against earthquakes and tsunamis
by Staff Writers
London, UK (SPX) Mar 15, 2017


In the past, risks posed by earthquakes and by the different threats associated with them have been modelled separately, based on different methods, data and assumptions varying from one part of the world to another. This lack of integration and lack of a standard approach has limited models' real-world value as well as the benefits of information sharing between countries.

The first computer model to simulate the whole chain of events triggered by offshore mega subduction earthquakes could reduce losses to life and property caused by disasters like the huge earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan six years ago this Saturday (11 March).

This pioneering new model has been developed by the CRUST (Cascading Risk and Uncertainty Assessment of Earthquake Shaking and Tsunami) project with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The University of Bristol, in collaboration with UCL, has led the work at the head of a multi-national consortium.

Designed to be used in any part of the world potentially vulnerable to offshore subduction earthquakes (where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another), such as Japan, New Zealand, the Pacific Northwest (US and Canada), Mexico, Chile and Indonesia, the model integrates every aspect and consequence of an undersea earthquake - including tsunamis, aftershocks and landslides - into a single disaster simulation tool.

By generating more comprehensive, more accurate maps of all potential hazards and a better understanding of how these are connected with each other, it can be used to strengthen emergency planning, improve evacuation strategies, enable engineers to calculate buildings' resilience more realistically and help the insurance industry produce more reliable financial risk analyses, for example.

In the past, risks posed by earthquakes and by the different threats associated with them have been modelled separately, based on different methods, data and assumptions varying from one part of the world to another. This lack of integration and lack of a standard approach has limited models' real-world value as well as the benefits of information sharing between countries.

Dr Katsu Goda, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering in the University of Bristol's Department of Civil Engineering, who has led the CRUST team, says: "For the first time ever, we've brought genuine joined-up thinking to the whole issue of offshore giant subduction earthquakes and their links to tsunamis, aftershocks and landslides, taking account of how all of these are linked and how one type of event leads, or 'cascades', into another."

With its ability to produce a more reliable and realistic picture of the entire sequence of events and to generate multi-hazard maps, the model will enable governments, emergency services, the financial industry and others to explore alternative disaster scenarios in detail. In the coming months, the CRUST team will focus on refining the model's capabilities as a truly predictive tool.

Dr Goda says: "The magnitude 9 Tohoku earthquake and resulting tsunami waves that hit the east coast of Japan on 11 March, 2011 caused around 19,000 deaths plus economic damage estimated at US$300 billion. We hope our simulation tool will secure wide rollout around the world and will be used to inform decision-making and boost resilience to these frequently devastating events."

SHAKE AND BLOW
Southern California fault systems capable of magnitude 7.3 earthquakes
Los Angeles CA (UPI) Mar 07, 2017
New analysis of coastal fault systems in Southern California suggest the region is capable of a magnitude 7.3 earthquake. Until now, scientists thought the Newport-Inglewood and Rose Canyon faults were separate, but the latest research - published in the Journal of Geophysical Research - showed the two systems, running from Los Angeles to San Diego, are connected. Analysis of t ... read more

Related Links
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SHAKE AND BLOW
Trump, NASA and a rare consensus: mission to Mars

Russia to Build First New-Generation 'Federation' Spacecraft by 2021

COBALT Flight Demonstrations Fuse Technologies to Gain Precision Landing Results

NASA Selects New Research Teams to Further Solar System Research

SHAKE AND BLOW
N.Korea rocket test shows 'meaningful progress': South

SpaceX cargo ship returns to Earth

N. Korea's Kim hails engine test as 'new birth' for rocket industry

Delayed European rocket launch to go ahead after strike

SHAKE AND BLOW
Mars Volcano, Earth's Dinosaurs Went Extinct About the Same Time

Does Mars Have Rings? Not Right Now, But Maybe One Day

ExoMars: science checkout completed and aerobraking begins

Mars Rover Tests Driving, Drilling and Detecting Life in Chile's High Desert

SHAKE AND BLOW
China Develops Spaceship Capable of Moon Landing

Long March-7 Y2 ready for launch of China's first cargo spacecraft

China Seeks Space Rockets Launched from Airplanes

Riding an asteroid: China's next space goal

SHAKE AND BLOW
OneWeb Satellites breaks ground on high-volume satellite manufacturing facility

Globalsat Sky and Space Global sign MoU for testing and offering satellite service in Latin America

Start-Ups at the Final Frontier

Russia probes murder of senior space official in jail

SHAKE AND BLOW
The strangeness of slow dynamics

How fullerite becomes harder than diamond

Ecosystem For Near-Earth Space Control

Why water splashes: New theory reveals secrets

SHAKE AND BLOW
Operation of ancient biological clock uncovered

Fossil or inorganic structure? Scientists dig into early life forms

Gigantic Jupiter-type planet reveals insights into how planets evolve

Visualizing debris disk "roller derby" to understand planetary system evolution

SHAKE AND BLOW
Scientists make the case to restore Pluto's planet status

ESA's Jupiter mission moves off the drawing board

NASA Mission Named 'Europa Clipper'

Juno Captures Jupiter Cloudscape in High Resolution









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.