Scientists use earth-embedded GPS antennae to improve quake understanding
While GPS can do pretty much everything from provide basic map locations to help us engage in fun activities like geocaching, it had never occurred to us that it could also be used in seismology. Fortunately for folks living in quake country, geophysicists have figured out how to do just that. According to a paper that was just presented at the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, a joint team from Stanford University and from the University of Indiana have figured out a way to use GPS antennae lodged deep in bedrock that can provide a new model for assessing risk of future earthquakes. Armed with these tools, scientists can now determine how quickly various points on the earth are moving, which allows for a better understanding of how tectonic faults shift. But if anyone's knowledge of earthquakes can be improved, it's certainly ours -- we had no idea they get shaken up occasionally over in Indiana.
Filed under: GPS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Doe @ Dec 16th 2006 2:29PM
Never mind Porkchop. He's one of these people who doesn't RTFA.
That being said HAARP scares the piss out of me. Hey! Lets experiment on something that keeps our planet yah know....alive. I have no issues with passive experiments but HAARP takes things a little too far. Granted the same was said when the first atomic bomb was detonated. Igniting the atmosphere and whatnot.
jott @ Dec 16th 2006 10:54AM
i live in indiana and over the past five years we have had a few earthquakes. we had a 5.0 about 3 or 4 years ago that i rermember, it was a small one but you could still feel it. apparently there is an old 'reawakened' fault line under us.
Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ Dec 16th 2006 12:09PM
Man, it's time people learn about HAARP. For real
Ayle @ Dec 16th 2006 2:02PM
This is not new....Its in my geology book....
John Doe @ Dec 16th 2006 2:30PM
Yep and everyone who reads engadget has your geology book on their shelfs. Please do us all a favor and STFU. Some of us are here to learn about fun\interesting tech. Just because its been done before doesn't mean it isn't worth bloging.
I'm getting really sick of people bitching about Engadget not reporting "news". The site isn't a damn news site. Its a blog.
Kim @ Dec 16th 2006 5:12PM
That picture looks a lot like a second world war picture of burnt out buildings in front of the Big Ben in London, UK. Well, I haven't read the linked article yet, but I fail to understand the apparent connection between earth quakes and Hitler's fire bombing of London?
Oh well, just asking...
Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ Dec 16th 2006 6:37PM
HAARP *can* lead to earthquakes, okay.
Man, some people just have to suck my balls.
klew @ Dec 16th 2006 7:27PM
There are even people who couldn't register trying to sneak into the AGU conference (I got in normally). These are dedicated nerds.
Jason @ Dec 16th 2006 10:00PM
repeat after me: it's Indiana University if it's the university in Indiana.
it's amazing how often this happens for a university that's so big and well known.