Re: NetQuakes

The USGS is trying to achieve a denser and more uniform seismograph spacing in Northern California to provide better measurements of ground motion during earthquakes. To do this, we have developed a new type of digital seismograph that communicates it's data to the USGS via the Internet. These instruments connect to a local network using WiFi and use existing Broadband connections to transmit data after an earthquake.

We are looking for people living in Northern California who are willing to host these "NetQuakes" seismographs. Use the map on the left to zoom to your location by using the controls or by typing your address. The blue symbols represent areas where we are particularly interested in placing instruments. If your home, business, or other building is covered by a colored symbol your site could qualify. The NetQuakes seismographs will access the Internet via a wireless router connected to your existing broadband Internet connection.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/waveforms/netq/nocal.php

Last month National Geographic had a show (called "Naked Science" about the Reno earthquake swarm from winter-spring 2008. Besides being completely sensationalized and utterly ridiculous for most of the show (widespread panic in Reno? I don't think so!), there was one statement by a Univ of Nevada researcher saying the sensors they are putting in the ground in Reno are sensitive enough to record waves crashing onto the seashore on the west coast. Use your brain on that one...LOL

But, no matter, comedy routines are quite common in documentaries. As far as the connect-a-sensor project, why not? Thousands of people are connected already to the weather service. And look how well they do.

References:

National Geographic

and

University of Nevada

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Vince
there was one statement by a Univ of Nevada researcher saying the sensors they are putting in the ground in Reno are sensitive enough to record waves crashing onto the seashore on the west coast. Use your brain on that one...LOL

What's your point, Vince?

Response: I say, why not connect up? Might get better science. The more the merrier. From a grade of A to F, everyone knows sciences get an incomplete grade, and if they don't, then we know everything, and that's a foolish attitude.

If EQ sensors are placed and can sense ocean waves in Reno, these things would have to be buried awfully deep. (The ones in Reno were placed about a foot underground...enough to sense those ocean waves plus all the I-80 semis).

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Vince
From a grade of A to F, everyone knows sciences get an incomplete grade, and if they don't, then we know everything, and that's a foolish attitude.

Could somebody please translate that to english?

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If EQ sensors are placed and can sense ocean waves in Reno, these things would have to be buried awfully deep.

Wrong.

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(The ones in Reno were placed about a foot underground...enough to sense those ocean waves plus all the I-80 semis).

Do you understand why the semis and the waves might be sensed differently?

I know a wonderful professor at IU that would be glad to give a lil tutorial

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LeeVining
I know a wonderful professor at IU that would be glad to give a lil tutorial

IU?

The scientist on the Nat Geo program said on TV the sensors would sense waves crashing on the coast. Watch the show, he said it. You judge for yourself. I said it's ridiculous. Also download the 3D view from UNR...the scientists claim there is no earthquake fault there yet you can see it in 3D. It's great fun watching scientists know how to say Ummm and they do it well on this subject.

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Vince
I said it's ridiculous.

Thus showing off your considerable education in science.

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eeek

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Vince
I said it's ridiculous.

Thus showing off your considerable education in science.

In Vince's defense:
he has never claimed in this forum that he passed any of his physics or journalism courses at SDSU.

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szalkowski

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eeek

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Vince
I said it's ridiculous.

Thus showing off your considerable education in science.

In Vince's defense:
he has never claimed in this forum that he passed any of his physics or journalism courses at SDSU.

As usual if there's even a tiny smidgen of controversy in any topic I comment on, the topic becomes me and not the topic. Szalkowski follows me around like a lost puppy. Well have a nice day, see you out there some day.

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Vince
As usual if there's even a tiny smidgen of controversy in any topic I comment on, the topic becomes me and not the topic.

The problem is that you make claims about science and completely refuse to back up those claims. You don't even show the slightest bit of competence in the subjects. I gave you an opening in this thread to defend your claim. Instead of defending it you just waved your hands and tried to act like everybody should know it to be true. That kind of pathetic behavior might work with people that barely made it out of high school; it won't work here.

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eeek

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Vince
As usual if there's even a tiny smidgen of controversy in any topic I comment on, the topic becomes me and not the topic.

The problem is that you make claims about science and completely refuse to back up those claims. You don't even show the slightest bit of competence in the subjects. I gave you an opening in this thread to defend your claim. Instead of defending it you just waved your hands and tried to act like everybody should know it to be true. That kind of pathetic behavior might work with people that barely made it out of high school; it won't work here.

A cursory websearch yielded this as the first hit (psu = Penn State Univ.):
<http://eqseis.geosc.psu.edu/~cammon/HTML/Classes/IntroQuakes/Notes/seismometers.html#seis_signals>;

Of particular interest might be the last sentence in the section titled WAVES: “We can detect ground motion in Missouri caused by increased surf activity as a hurricane or large storm system approaches the eastern coast of the lower 48 states.”

[Disclaimer: the above link contains log-log graphs which may be extremely confusing to certain persons reading this website.]

These earthquakes near Lovelock never happened. The technology is fallible.

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Vince
These earthquakes near Lovelock never happened. The technology is fallible.

Well, duh! All technology is fallible. But that has nothing to do with anything in this thread. So why are you bringing it up?