Fiber-optic network will help to predict earthquakes

2017-10-22 14:42

Fiber-optic network will help to predict earthquakes
Earthquake — one of the most destructive natural disasters.

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Sometimes even a few minutes warning about them could be crucial. And now scientists from Stanford put forward an interesting proposal on how to create a truly global network for early detection of earthquakes.

Now this system requires the installation of highly sensitive sensors that will measure slightest tremors, able to signal that big trouble is near. But the standard sensors can not cover all, so a group of scientists from Stanford have proposed another solution: the fiber-optic network.

Fiber optic cables transmit information at nearly the speed of light and used by telecommunications companies worldwide. But they are also used for oil and gas companies to monitor small tremors caused by the drilling equipment. If such measurements need cables feature called “backscatter”, by measuring the movement of the cables and recording seismic events.

On one end of the cable is a laser that sends out light. Part of the light falls on impurities and defects in the glass walls of the cable and displays: this is “backscatter”, which was discussed. The signal obtained in such conditions may vary depending on, moving whether that part of the cable where there was reflection and fixation of such signals can give scientists a map of seismic activity over a large area.

Typically, fiber optic detectors attached to pipes or other equipment, but for the detection of earthquakes, researchers need loose cables, and it is considered almost impossible, since according to most loose cable will generate too many signals to be useful.

But using the five-kilometer cable across the University, researchers demonstrated that fibers suitable for such purposes. With the help of their network they were able to detect about 800 seismic shocks, including the earthquake in Mexico and two small local earthquakes by 1.6 and 1.8 points.

This means that scientists can detect earthquakes by using already existing fiber optic network of communications companies. Of course, such cables do not compare in sensitivity with traditional seismometers, but they are much cheaper and give better coverage of the territory.