Found a way to detect large earthquakes early by ... gravity waves

A new method that helps us measure the magnitude of huge earthquakes in minutes.

According to NDTV, scientists have just developed a new method to help us quickly estimate the intensity of very large earthquakes, from 8.5 on the Richter scale. This method is very significant in determining earthquakes early.

We now know the scale of earthquakes with seismic waves . A new analysis of the largest earthquake in Japanese history is Tohoku in March 2011 that has helped scientists find a new seismic measurement method .

Accordingly, immediately after the earthquake takes place, we can record the instant noise of gravity before detecting seismic waves. This new method can accurately forecast magnitudes of 9 or more in just a few minutes. This is an extremely impressive achievement compared to the 3-hour timeframe used by the Japanese meteorological agency to identify Tohaku as strong as 9.1.

Scientists have announced a new seismic measurement method using gravitational signals on Earth.

Right at the scene, gravitational displacement is difficult to detect, so scientists have had to try to observe the weak gravitational signals to know their origin.

Because it is quite sensitive to the intensity of the earthquakes, these gravitational signals or gravitational waves are very significant in the early identification of a large earthquake. According to the researchers, when earthquakes take place, the balance of forces on earth will be strongly overturned and seismic waves begin to spread. Seismic waves moving at 3-10 km will interfere with the gravity field of the earth and generate another type of signal moving at the speed of light (300 thousand km / s).

This type of signal can be detected by seismographs 1-2 thousand km from the epicenter within just 2 minutes before the seismic wave. The very fast velocity of the newly formed wave gives us enough time to record it before it is seized by seismic waves.

The road surface breaks down after the earthquake.

During the Tohaku earthquake in 2011, scientists discovered new types of gravitational waves based on data from 10 seismographs located 500-3,000 km from the epicenter.

According to the researchers, there are two factors that make up this new type of gravity wave.The direct factor is that the gravitational change at the location of the seismograph will change the equilibrium position in the mass of the gauge. The indirect factor is the gravitational change everywhere on the earth that will interfere with the balance of forces and produce new seismic waves. These two factors show that the type of gravity wave is very sensitive to large earthquakes. Thus, they will help us quantify the intensity of large earthquakes more quickly.

Gravity waves are very significant in early identification of a major earthquake.(Photo: Geology Page).

This work is by researchers from Paris Diderot universities in France, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) famous in the US. The results were published in Science, following another separate study presented at the annual meeting of the American Geological Society. At the meeting, there is a theory that in 2018, the world will witness a series of earthquakes because the earth's self-rotation will take place at a slightly slower speed. Therefore, these new inventions in detecting and preventing earthquakes are very significant.

The new challenge for researchers is to detect gravity waves in earthquakes of magnitudes below 8.5 richter. Because below this threshold, gravity waves are too weak compared to seismic waves, so it is more difficult to recognize it.

Tohaku earthquake

The Tohaku earthquake in March 2011 was recorded as the largest earthquake in Japanese history. This is the earthquake that caused a giant tsunami that killed thousands of people and collapsed three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. According to NDTV, the total number of people killed by Tohaku amounted to 12,000.

Physical concepts in lesson

The gravity field of the planet is the environment in which the planet causes gravity around it. Gravity field is a specific case of gravitational field, the concept that refers to the environment in which an object causes gravity around it.

Gravitational wave: A type of wave formed by vibrations that bend space-time in the universe, for example, the fusion of two black holes is the interaction between objects of enormous mass . Gravitational waves come from Einstein's general theory of relativity and have been confirmed by scientists thanks to the LIGO interferometer observatory in recent years.

Gravity wave : A case of gravitational waves in a planet, vibrations alter the environment there. Gravity waves that we can see with our eyes are usually waves on the sea, lake, tide, tsunami, wind blowing on a mountain, waves on clouds . created when the atmosphere or lake surface , the sea surface is disturbed.