Paleoseismology is the scientific discipline that investigates prehistoric and pre-instrumental earthquakes through geological records, primarily using stratigraphic, geomorphic, and structural evidence preserved in sediments and rocks. It relies on trenching across active or suspected faults, dating displaced or deformed strata (e.g., by radiocarbon, luminescence, or dendrochronology), and analyzing offset geomorphic markers to reconstruct the timing, location, magnitude, and recurrence intervals of past seismic events. These data constrain long-term fault slip rates, characterize earthquake recurrence behavior, improve seismic hazard assessments, and test models of fault interaction and earthquake cycle processes beyond the limited span of historical and instrumental records.
Erosion rates on parts of the Kaikōura Peninsula more than doubled after the 2016 earthquake, showing major quakes can "rapidly alter" the way coastlines evolve, an Otago researcher says.
Earth Sciences
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New research led by the University of New England's Dr. Timothy Chapman has uncovered the trigger behind slow earthquakes, providing valuable answers for those living in disaster-prone areas. The research has been published ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 29, 2026
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Earthquakes usually occur along fracture zones in Earth's crust, where large tectonic plates slide past one another and become locked. Stress builds up over long periods and is suddenly released in the form of an earthquake. ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 8, 2026
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A fault line running alongside the Hunua Ranges in South Auckland is now identified as active and has the potential to cause a major earthquake with serious consequences, University of Auckland researchers say.
Earth Sciences
Jun 2, 2026
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The underground laboratory in Nevada where the U.S. conducts nuclear subcritical experiments is riddled with faults. Researchers have not confirmed whether any of these faults are active and could rupture during an earthquake, ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 16, 2026
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In a world-first use of medical imaging technology, scientists have revealed the earthquake-generating potential of faults in the Hamilton and Hauraki areas. The study shows that hidden geological faults in Hamilton city ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 19, 2026
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In the Pacific Northwest, big faults like the Cascadian subduction zone located offshore, get a lot of attention. But big faults aren't the only ones that pose significant hazards, and a new study investigates the dynamics ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 5, 2026
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Marine turbidites are layers of mud and sand deposited on the deep ocean floor by massive underwater landslides and are often used as a historical record for reconstructing earthquake histories.
A common misconception about research is that it takes place in climate-controlled labs with microscopes, beakers, and Bunsen burners. While that is true for many fields, obtaining geoscience data can demand fieldwork in ...
Earth Sciences
Dec 4, 2025
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A fault line in Canada's Yukon territory has stirred after more than 12,000 years of geological sleep. Researchers studying the Tintina Fault, which stretches 1,000 kilometers from northeast British Columbia into the Yukon ...
Environment
Dec 2, 2025
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