Fragmented Structure of Seafloor Faults May Dampen Effects of Earthquakes
Trish just published a paper in Nature! Even the abstract is over my head, but the press release is much less daunting:
Examining data from 19 locations in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, researchers led by graduate student Patricia Gregg have found that “transform” faults are not developing or behaving as theories of plate tectonics say they should. Rather than stretching as long, continuous fault lines across the seafloor, the faults are often segmented and show signs of recent or ongoing volcanism. Both phenomena appear to prevent earthquakes from spreading across the seafloor, thus reducing their magnitude and impact.
Congrats Trish!
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