Articles tagged with "infrastructure-resilience"
500 billion data points reveal how quakes could ripple through cities
Researchers led by David McCallen, in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley and Oak Ridge national laboratories, are using supercomputers to develop highly advanced earthquake simulations that predict how seismic waves propagate and impact urban infrastructure. Their project, part of the Exascale Computing Project, has produced EQSIM (Earthquake Simulation Coder), a tool that models earthquake dynamics with unprecedented detail by incorporating geological factors such as fault type, soil composition, and surface topography. These simulations reveal how seismic energy is amplified or dampened by local geology and how buildings and critical infrastructure like water and power systems might respond or fail during earthquakes. Using the Frontier supercomputer, which operates at exascale performance, the team can run simulations covering hundreds of kilometers with up to 500 billion grid points, generating massive datasets of about 3 petabytes per simulation. This computational power allows researchers to identify seismic "hot spots" where ground motions concentrate, varying significantly by location. Notably, the research has found that smaller earthquakes can sometimes
energyearthquake-simulationseismic-wavesinfrastructure-resiliencesupercomputinggeological-modelingEQSIMFears grow over Russian nuclear subs near epicenter of huge 8.8 quake
An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula near Avacha Bay, raising significant safety concerns due to the proximity of Russian nuclear submarine bases. The quake’s epicenter was just 75 miles from Avacha Bay, home to the Rybachiy submarine base, which hosts advanced nuclear-powered Yasen-class cruise missile submarines and Borei-class ballistic missile submarines—key components of Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent. While Russian authorities report no major damage or injuries, satellite imagery and local footage show collapsed buildings, damaged ports, and flooded infrastructure, prompting military analysts to scrutinize the situation closely. Experts are particularly worried about potential unseen damage to submarines, especially those undergoing maintenance with exposed hatches, as seismic activity and the resulting tsunami could have compromised their safety and operational readiness. Although a retired Russian Navy officer emphasized the robustness of these bases, built to withstand nuclear strikes, the combination of seismic waves, tsunami risks, and sensitive nuclear equipment has heightened concerns. Ev
energynuclear-energysubmarine-technologyseismic-safetydisaster-impactstrategic-defenseinfrastructure-resilienceFrom Darkness to Light: Iberia’s Rapid Grid Recovery Explained
Iberian-Peninsulagrid-recoveryrenewable-energyblackoutsSpainPortugalinfrastructure-resilience