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Research: In recent years, the seismicity of Nengdeng Peninsula in Japan is related to weather factors such as rain and snow

Xinhua News Agency, Tokyo, May 24 The research team composed of personnel from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Tokyo, Japan and other institutions recently published an article in the journal Progress of Science in the United States, saying that in addition to the influence of plate movement, the seismicity of Japan's Nengdeng Peninsula since December 2020 is also related to the influence of weather factors such as rain and snow.

Nengdon Peninsula is located on the side of the Sea of Japan on Honshu Island, Japan, and its northern part has become active since December 2020. According to statistics, more than 500 felt earthquakes with intensity above 1 have been observed in the three years up to the end of December 2023. On May 5, 2023, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake will occur in Nengdeng Peninsula; On January 1, 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurred again.

The research team used the seismic activity data of Nengdeng Peninsula from 2012 to 2023 this time, and found that the seismic activity in this area was not active and sporadic before the end of 2020, and environmental factors had little impact on earthquake occurrence; After the second half of 2020, when the seismic activity is active, the seismic wave propagation speed, fluid pressure in rock crevices, the timing of earthquake occurrence and weather conditions show a certain correlation.

The research team found that during the above period of active seismic movement in Nengdeng Peninsula, the occurrence of rain and snow, especially heavy snow, was highly consistent with the increase of fluid pressure in rock crevices, the decrease of seismic wave propagation speed, and the timing of earthquake occurrence. For example, in January 2021, when there is a lot of snow, there will be an obvious rise in fluid pressure in the rock layer, and then earthquakes will occur frequently for a period of time.

This study shows that environmental factors such as snowfall will have an impact on the underground stress state, and heavy snow and other precipitation phenomena are closely related to the timing of earthquake occurrence in Nengdeng Peninsula. That is to say, although the fundamental cause of the earthquake is still plate movement, the weather is also one of the influencing factors when it happens.

The research team plans to observe and study the relationship between rain, snow and earthquakes in areas outside the Nengdeng Peninsula in the future, and expects that these results can be used for earthquake prediction and disaster prevention in the future.