By effectively simulating little earthquakes and landslides in a lab, researchers at the University of Amsterdam’s Institute of Physics have shed insight on the intricate systems that cause these natural disasters.
The experiments could change our understanding of earthquakes and improve prediction methods, which have long been a significant challenge in geophysical research.
The research team, led by physicists Kasra Farain and Daniel Bonn, constructed a unique experimental setup that replicates the granular nature of the Earth’s crust. Using a thin layer of microspheres, each as wide as a strand of human hair, the scientists mimicked the geological conditions found at tectonic fault lines and steep mountain slopes.
The team was able to watch how the granules behaved under stress by adding a controlled external force to this device, which was a rotating disc that was placed up against the granules. The pivotal moment occurred when scientists bounced a ball near to the setup, creating a minor seismic wave that caused the granules to shift substantially and ultimately sparked off a lab-scale earthquake.
These results are especially fascinating because of the granules’ ephemeral behavior, which consisted of them acting like a liquid for a short while before hardening into a different shape.
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