She became interested in the permeability of fractured rocks , demonstrating that seismic waves can unclog fractures . Brodsky identified that the build up of pressure can causes changes in groundwater during earthquakes . After earthquakes , Brodsky drills deep within the fault zone to monitor the temperature . She studied the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami , finding a series of temperature pulses that occur due to the flow of fluids through a zone of increased permeability . Immediately after an earthquake , the fault zone can be damaged and have higher permeability , but heals within a few months . Generally , earthquakes are triggered when tectonic stress overcomes friction , and Brodsky became interested in what causes this friction in the first place . Brodsky has shown that the coefficient of friction after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami was considerably lower than expected . Alongside earthquakes , Brodsky studies volcanoes , geysers , landslides and rivers . Occasionally , volcanoes are triggered by distant earthquakes . Brodsky predicted that , alongside growth of bubbles and overturn of magma chambers , volcanoes could be triggered by failure of rocks surrounding a magma chamber
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Emily Brodsky