Publication: Physics.org

UCLA Expert: Lingsen Meng: Associate Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences

Synopsis: Powerful supershear earthquakes, once considered rare, are much more common than previously thought, according to a study led by Meng.

UCLA News: In a previous study, Meng's research group identified the catastrophic 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi in 2018 as a supershear event. The temblor and ensuing tsunami killed at least 4,000 people. "Supershear earthquakes are potentially more destructive than other kinds of earthquakes because they are more effective at generating seismic waves, with more shaking, which could cause more damage."

Read more at Physics.org.