Spring Break
Researchers size up seismic activity
Earthquake activity in Maupin, ORe. has OSU scientists looking for cause
Rebecca Johnson
Issue date: 1/14/09 Section: News
What makes this fault unusual is that researchers did not think water could be present at that depth.
OSU researchers were able to take advantage of equipment that was present in 2007 for an ongoing project called Earthscope. The goal of the project is to better understand the geology and seismic activity of the nation.
The equipment is placed in an area, beginning on the West Coast, and left there for two years to record data. Once the two years are up, the equipment is picked up and moved east along a grid until the entire country has been studied.
In 2007, when half of the earthquakes were occurring, Earthscope was able to record the activity and provide data to researchers at OSU.
Braunmiller said the data collected by this equipment is the best they have seen so far.
The equipment is no longer there, but the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) adopted three of the Earthscope stations in Oregon, one being near the town of Maupin; therefore, researchers are confident that they will still receive quality information.
"Our efforts now are to get a handle on the area," Braunmiller said. "We want to see how much we can condense it by looking at the seismograms."
Past data has been showing an area of activity around three square miles. Braunmiller believes that research will prove the area is actually smaller, less than one square mile.
He explained that knowing the size of the area of activity is important because it indicates the size of the fault. Braunmiller is also interested in seeing if snowmelt and rainfall have anything to do with water being present in the fault, but he says he will have to observe the earthquake activity for a few more years.
According to Anne Trehu, a member of the research team and professor in the COAS, researchers are still awaiting the approval of funds from the United States Geological Survey. Trehu said that until funding is approved, they have been "bootlegging" the research in their free time.
"It's interesting because it's in our own backyard," Trehu said.
Other major contributors to the research were John Nabelek, an associate professor for the COAS, and Mark Williams, a Master's student in geophysics.
Rebecca Johnson, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
OSU researchers were able to take advantage of equipment that was present in 2007 for an ongoing project called Earthscope. The goal of the project is to better understand the geology and seismic activity of the nation.
The equipment is placed in an area, beginning on the West Coast, and left there for two years to record data. Once the two years are up, the equipment is picked up and moved east along a grid until the entire country has been studied.
In 2007, when half of the earthquakes were occurring, Earthscope was able to record the activity and provide data to researchers at OSU.
Braunmiller said the data collected by this equipment is the best they have seen so far.
The equipment is no longer there, but the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) adopted three of the Earthscope stations in Oregon, one being near the town of Maupin; therefore, researchers are confident that they will still receive quality information.
"Our efforts now are to get a handle on the area," Braunmiller said. "We want to see how much we can condense it by looking at the seismograms."
Past data has been showing an area of activity around three square miles. Braunmiller believes that research will prove the area is actually smaller, less than one square mile.
He explained that knowing the size of the area of activity is important because it indicates the size of the fault. Braunmiller is also interested in seeing if snowmelt and rainfall have anything to do with water being present in the fault, but he says he will have to observe the earthquake activity for a few more years.
According to Anne Trehu, a member of the research team and professor in the COAS, researchers are still awaiting the approval of funds from the United States Geological Survey. Trehu said that until funding is approved, they have been "bootlegging" the research in their free time.
"It's interesting because it's in our own backyard," Trehu said.
Other major contributors to the research were John Nabelek, an associate professor for the COAS, and Mark Williams, a Master's student in geophysics.
Rebecca Johnson, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.