Lingsen Meng finds that supershear earthquakes are more common than previously believed | Sustainable LA Grand Challenge

Katerina Jowid
November 18, 2022
SLAGC News and Events

Publication: L.A. Times

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

Synopsis: New research, led by Meng, finds that supershear earthquakes are more common than previously believed, particularly along mature strike-slip faults like the San Andreas.

UCLA News: Using advanced imaging technology, a research team led by Meng examined all 86 earthquakes of magnitude 6.7 or greater along strike-slip faults between Jan. 1, 2000, and Feb. 1, 2020. After analyzing each event, the team concluded that 14% of them were in fact supershear earthquakes — a considerable leap, given that supershears were previously believed to account for less than 6% of all earthquakes. “The same amount of energy released by the fault is being released in a shorter amount of time. So that always gives you a stronger shaking,” Meng said. “I’m a little bit surprised we found this many.”