Cal Poly Humboldt Turns Dark Fiber Into Earthquake Sensors in Year 2
Updated
Updated · Jefferson Public Radio · Jul 15
Cal Poly Humboldt Turns Dark Fiber Into Earthquake Sensors in Year 2
1 articles · Updated · Jefferson Public Radio · Jul 15
Summary
Unused fiber strands inside California internet cables are being turned into earthquake sensors by Cal Poly Humboldt, with the project now entering its second year.
Laser-based instruments send light through the dark fiber and read tiny vibrations as quake waves stretch and compress the glass, letting researchers measure movement along an entire cable rather than at one point.
Humboldt County gives the effort a prime test bed because it sits near the junction of the San Andreas Fault and the Cascadia Subduction Zone, one of North America's most active seismic regions.
The collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey and Vero Networks also taps California's middle-mile broadband buildout, while creating geophysics research opportunities for Cal Poly Humboldt students.
Researchers are still improving data processing, with a long-term goal of feeding the cable-based measurements into operational earthquake warning systems.
How can AI distinguish a real megaquake from a city's digital noise using fiber optic sensors?
What prevents America's entire fiber network from being turned into a national disaster prediction grid?
Can repurposed internet cables give the West Coast enough warning time to survive the looming Cascadia 'Big One'?
Transforming Earthquake Monitoring: The Rise of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and Fiber-Optic Networks for Real-Time Seismic Early Warning
Overview
Seismology is experiencing a major transformation with the rise of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), a fiber-optic technology that is rapidly changing how earthquakes are monitored and understood. DAS has shown great promise in revolutionizing earthquake research, early warning, and hazard monitoring by providing dense, real-time data on seismic activity. A key milestone is the launch of dEPIC, a real-time early warning system that integrates DAS with existing seismic networks, improving both offshore and onshore earthquake detection. These advances highlight the growing impact of DAS in advancing seismic science and enhancing public safety.