GPS Clues Pinpoint Likely Megathrust Quake Zones

UC Riverside researchers use a GPS-based method to measure tiny crust movements and identify locked fault segments (asperities) in subduction zones, revealing where a rupture is likely to occur. The approach narrowed down the rupture location for a Kamchatka megathrust quake in 2025, but cannot predict exact timing. The team plans to apply the method to other major zones (Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Pacific Northwest) to improve disaster response, stressing that forecasting should supplement, not replace, public preparedness.