(Fall 2009) Reservoir-triggered seismicity (RTS) is a phenomenon, which has been observed in several large dam projects all over the world, especially for the reservoirs which are constructed in seismically active regions. Practically all the territory of the Republic of Armenia is characterized as the high seismic active area. A review of reservoir triggered seismicity in Armenia shows that it mainly occurs in large dams which are located near active faults. In this paper it has been shown that the number of microearthquakes increase after Tolors reservoir operation, cause changes of seismic regime in the observed regions.
Fresh aftershock hits China quake region: USGS
(July 13, 2009) A fresh aftershock jolted China’s southwest Monday, three days after an earthquake in the same area killed one person, injured hundreds and directly affected two million people, state media said.
Faults and earthquakes in China monitored from space
(July 3, 2009) China is in a very seismically active area and has had many catastrophic earthquakes during its history. A joint European-Chinese team is using satellite radar data to monitor ground deformation across major continental faults in China to understand better the seismic cycle and how faults behave.
Aftershock strikes Sichuan, destroying houses, bridges
(June 30, 2009) Thousands of houses and dozens of small bridges were destroyed during a 5.6-magnitude aftershock that struck Mianzhu, Sichuan province, at 2:03 am Tuesday morning.
Quake jolts China’s Sichuan, no reports of damage
(June 29, 2009) A small earthquake occured in the early hours of Tuesday in the same part of China that was devastated by a quake last year, a spokesman for the State Seismological Bureau in Beijing said.
Geologists reflect on last year’s earthquake in Sichuan
(June 5, 2009) When the Sichuan province was rocked by a massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake last year, many scientists and government leaders were caught off guard. Previous studies by geologists stated that while the area—on the surface—appeared to be seismically active, their research showed otherwise.
Quake readiness, turning the clock back to 2005
(May 27, 2009) Probe International provides a translation of Qian Gang’s examination of the Chinese government’s existing policies concerning quake readiness and disaster prevention. His story appeared just prior to the one-year anniversary of last year’s deadly Wenchuan earthquake.
An article that should not be ignored
(May 27, 2009) A Science Times article recounting the tale of an unpublished article by Li Youcai and CIO Shuheng, two Chinese scientists, warning of the potential dangers from building dams in the Dujiangyan and Zipingpu area.
5.2-magnitude earthquake shakes northwest China
(May 22, 2009) An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter Scale jolted China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 8:33 p.m. Thursday, according to China’s seismological network.
Bracing for the unknown
(May 14, 2009) Last year’s earthquake in China is a salutary reminder about preparing for risk in the face of uncertainty.
China’s earthquake and early warning system
(May 13, 2009) The Chinese government has announced it is installing an experimental earthquake early warning system, capable of sending warnings within seconds before a quake strikes.
China’s quake readiness: looking back to 2005
(May 11, 2009) The Chinese government is facing more criticism concerning its earthquake safety plans. A recent article in the Southern Weekend by Qian Gang asks if officials have turned any of their earthquake safety plans–dating back to 2005–into action.
China launches public campaign to counter disasters on quake anniversary
(May 10, 2009) China needs stronger steps to promote public preparedness and early warning systems for natural disasters, experts said ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake.
Mounting pressure on Zipingpu dam’s contribution to Wenchuan earthquake
(May 8, 2009) The debate over whether the Zipingpu dam contributed to the severity or timing of last year’s deadly earthquake in China’s Sichuan province continues to attract attention. Fan Xiao, chief engineer of the Regional Geology Investigation Team of the Sichuan Geology and Mineral Bureau, was recently interviewed by Richard Stone for Science magazine.
Dams & Earthquakes
(May 6, 2009) People involved in the design, construction and operation of large dams are normally particularly sensitive to earthquakes.
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