Calif. could detect massive earthquakes with internet cables. Here's how.

"Scientists cannot accurately predict large temblors, and those that start offshore are even more difficult to track. But a study published Thursday in Science demonstrates how the same tech that brings you a high-speed internet connection could be used to better understand the massive quakes that rupture in the ocean, and also to improve alerts. The researchers used information from fiber-optic cables on land to quickly detect and map an enormous earthquake off the Humboldt coast last December."

"Last winter, the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck miles off the California coast, prompting tsunami warnings for coastal regions and setting off aftershocks. This quake occurred in a highly active area where three tectonic plates converge, sometimes called the Mendocino Triple Junction. The scientists were able to measure how the earthquake wiggled the cables and track the progression of seismic waves. They captured high-resolution images of the ruptu"

Distributed acoustic sensing uses laser pulses sent through fiber-optic cables to measure ground motion along the cable length. Researchers converted existing telecom fiber on land into a dense array of seismic sensors provided by Vero Fiber Networks. The system detected and mapped a magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the Humboldt coast within minutes, tracking wave progression and cable vibrations. The quake occurred near the Mendocino Triple Junction where three plates converge and triggered tsunami warnings and aftershocks. The technique promises faster, higher-resolution imaging of offshore ruptures and could feed earthquake early-warning systems to extend practical notice for coastal communities.

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