Here’s a collection of stories pertaining to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami as well as articles about plate tectonics. Photo: Sendai Airport (Reuters/Kyodo)
Jarring raw footage of the tsunami that inundated northeast Japan
https://gizmodo.com/jarring-raw-footage-of-the-tsunami-that-inundated-north-5780979
At 2:46 p.m, Tokyo time, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the northeast coast of Japan sent a powerful wall of water inland, destroying coastal towns and property. More »
What are the long-term problems facing tsunami survivors?
https://gizmodo.com/what-are-the-long-term-problems-facing-tsunami-survivor-5781145
The initial impact of a tsunami is dramatic, but the long-term effects of such flooding can be just as devastating for survivors. More »
A video of the Japanese tsunami rolling through the Bay Area
https://gizmodo.com/a-video-of-the-japanese-tsunami-rolling-through-the-bay-5781210
Mark Demma recorded this amazing footage from Emeryville, California of the Japanese tsunami coming through the San Francisco metropolitan area. More »
Two new building materials that could defend cities against earthquakes and floods
https://gizmodo.com/two-new-building-materials-that-could-defend-cities-aga-5780827
Imagine if bridges were made with cement that could repair itself in an earthquake. And ships were coated in a protective shell that could patch itself if damaged by debris. More »
Frog genes reveal the birth of the Himalaya mountains
India and China’s plates smashed into each other 55 million years ago, and this collision ultimately created the Himalayas, home to the world’s biggest mountains..but we weren’t exactly sure when this part happened. Now, thanks to frog genes, we know. More »
Antimatter deep underground may be key to predicting quakes
A massive particle detector located a mile underground has found bits of antimatter known as geo-neutrinos deep inside the Earth. The find proves the Earth derives most of its power from radioactivity and could help us predict volcanoes and earthquakes. More »
A history of supercontinents on planet Earth
Earth’s continents are constantly changing, moving and rearranging themselves over millions of years – affecting Earth’s climate and biology. Every few hundred million years, the continents combine to create massive, world-spanning supercontinents. Here’s the past and future of Earth’s supercontinets. More »
Why The Chile Earthquake Deformed The Earth And Shortened Our Days
The devastating 8.8 quake that hit Chile last year was a rare “megathrust” earthquake, among the most powerful known, and it affected the very shape of the planet. How did it do that, and will you notice the difference? More »
How humanity survived for 8000 years on the most extreme islands on Earth
Imagine a life of almost complete isolation, spent on a barren island constantly hit by a mix of volcanoes, tsunamis, and long, brutal winters. For thousands of years, that’s what people have endured on the Kuril Islands, an archipelago stretching from Russia to Japan that just might be the most extreme place humans have ever lived. More »
Where Tectonic Plates Meet in a Volcanic Pool
You’re looking at the Afar Depression in Ethiopia, a 12-foot-wide hot springs that exists at the junction of three massive tectonic plates. It also sits on top of a volcano. More »
A Map of the World That Reveals Natural Disaster Hot Zones
Want to know where you should live if you are hoping to avoid the next catastrophic earthquake, flood, megavolcano, or storm? Consult our map of disaster hot zones of the world. More »
Where to follow earthquakes on Twitter
For those of you with a penchant for plate tectonics, there are plenty of places on Twitter to follow our planet’s earthquakes as they happen. More »
