The titanic forces at work during marine earthquakes can result in disasters like tsunamis, but they can also cause much smaller, quieter tremors. So, what are the forces that push those tremors to dangerous levels — and how does an ocean of water affect the severity of those underwater tectonic plate collisions? A new study published in the journal Nature offers new perspective and possible answers. One of the authors of the study is Samer Naif, assistant professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.