Earthquake monitoring systems require a large number of sensors to be installed, and equipping these sensing systems is expensive. Recently, Viondo, a professor of geophysics at Stanford University, and his team found an inexpensive way.
They laid 5.8 km of fiber optic cables at Stanford University campus. Using fiber optic cable, the vibration of the surface will expand and contract, and other vibration-causing factors (such as passing cars) were eliminated. From September 2016 to the present, 800 earthquakes were recorded , Including the recent Mexican earthquake. what does this mean?
Earthquake Monitoring with Communication Cables, Image Source / Stamen Design and the Victoria and Albert Museum Viondo and his team will begin another test in 2018 in an attempt to monitor small earthquakes that are not detected by traditional seismic stations. Let’s look forward to their research results!
Means that optical cable can not only transmit data, but also can be used as a seismic sensor. You know, tens of thousands of kilometers of communications cables have been laid around the world, so the material is readily available. Admittedly, the monitoring effect of optical cable is not as good as a standard seismic sensor at present, but it is cheaper and more sensitive.
Post time: Jan-02-2020