Understanding Slow Earthquakes: Gradual Seismic Events and Their Impact on Fault Mechanics

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A slow earthquake is a seismic event that releases energy over a much longer period than typical earthquakes. It is difficult to detect with traditional seismometers because it does not produce sharp seismic waves. Slow earthquakes may happen all around Washington State, yet no one knows what is happening.

Slow earthquakes, also known as slow slip events, unlike regular earthquakes, which release energy almost instantaneously and can be felt as a sudden shaking, can last from several days to months and even years.

Slow earthquakes can last from hours to months and are often associated with subduction zones. Because of how they occur, most people are completely unaware of them.

Main Characteristics of Slow Earthquakes:

Occurring over extended time periods, slow earthquakes may range from a few days to several years.

As a slow earthquake occurs, the energy is gradually released as opposed to a violent, sudden burst of an earthquake.

Scientists are still working to detect how slow earthquakes happen. Using high-precision GPS instruments rather than traditional seismometers, they can sometimes detect movement; however, it’s much slower and more subtle than that of a regular earthquake. For this reason, many refer to slow earthquakes as “silent earthquakes.”

Is a "silent earthquake" the type of earthquake that registers under 2 on the earthquake scale? Many wonder about this. The short answer is "No." It's actually a bit more complicated than that. Washington State has many earthquakes that register under 3; most people are unaware of them then. That's part of what makes slow earthquakes so confusing.

Due to their slow energy release, these aren’t felt as much as a regular earthquake. However, they can do just as much damage; it just takes longer for the damage to occur.

What causes slow earthquakes?

Several different factors cause slow earthquakes.

These typically occur along tectonic plate boundaries. They most commonly occur in subduction zones when one plate slides underneath another plate.

Believed to be caused by variations in friction on the fault lines, some sections of the fault may experience low-friction sliding, which results in a slow and steady movement as opposed to a sudden slip and jolt like a typical earthquake.

How are slow earthquakes valuable to scientists?

By understanding a slow earthquake better, scientists can assess seismic hazards and improve their earthquake prediction parameters.

The insight provided by slow earthquake mechanics and conditions may lead to future seismic events.

All in all, these offer a unique area of study within seismology that can help scientists to better understand the complex behavior of earthquakes and their varied nature of seismic activity.

Had you ever heard of a slow earthquake before this article?

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