Earthquake
monitoring has come a long way since the squiggly lines on paper that
we all imagine when we hear of them occurring. Almost everything now
is computerized. An electronic seismometer is a state-of-the art
data logger system. They can accurately record both small
local earthquakes and large distant ones. These recording devices
are commonly used in scientific experiments or monitoring situations,
where there is the need to collect information where accuracy is
crucial. Examples of the types of information a data logger
system can collect include temperatures, sound frequencies,
vibrations, times, electrical currents, pressure and changes in
states of matter.
Technology
is at the point where scientists now have the ability to record the
areas of ground-motion of large magnitude earthquakes, providing maps
that are crucial to finding the areas that have suffered the largest
damage and losses. Information recorded by a data logger system
can include: seismic waveforms, electromagnetic
data, GPS data, and earthquake parametric data. Extensive
earthquake data has been cataloged and archived by researchers
utilizing a data logger system. This information is useful in
potentially predicting seismic activity along the many tectonic
plates (fault lines) across the globe.
Obviously,
we haven’t reached the ability to predict earthquakes as of yet.
The ability to do so would save millions of lives and infrastructure.
Scientists are working hard to give people early warning of an
earthquake with the help of a data
logger system.
Sophisticated sensors measuring ground motion are continually being
developed for the purpose of an early warning system. Small
earthquakes occur on a continual basis and are always recorded by
researchers armed with this state-of-the-art technology. It's the
larger, potentially destructive earthquakes that define the purpose
of an early warning system.
BIOPAC
develops, manufactures, and supports data acquisition and analysis
systems for life science research and education, including data logger systems and
accessories. BIOPAC is used in thousands of labs worldwide.
