Undersea internet cables can detect earthquakes

Internet cables crisscrossing the sea floor can be used to detect earthquakes and tsunamis or monitor how climate change is altering ocean currents, according to the UK’s National Physical Laboratory.

NPL and its partners added that these communications cables could be used as a giant set of deep-sea scientific sensors. Scientists tested the technology on a fiber-optic link between the UK and Canada.

According to the BBC, the research was published in Science Magazine. Because installing permanent sensors to monitor the ocean floor is so expensive, the scientists say, there are only a few available globally.

“70 percent of the Earth’s surface is water, but all seismic stations are on the ground, because it is very difficult and expensive to install permanent sensors on the sea floor,” said Dr. Giuseppe Mara of the NPL.

But many fiber-optic cables carry data across the world’s seas and oceans. It is estimated that there are more than 430 around the world, spanning distances of 1.3 million kilometers (800,000 miles)

According to Dr. Mara, vibrations, pressure, and temperature changes affect, by a very small amount, the speed of light as it travels through the cable that highly sensitive devices can then detect.

The researchers said they detected earthquakes and “ocean signals,” such as waves and currents, using the 5,860-kilometre EXA Infrastructure optical link between Southport, Lancashire and Halifax, Canada.

The scientists were able to use individual distances of cable between repeaters – devices that help boost the signal – as separate sensors.

“If we apply this technology to a large number of cables, we can turn this underwater infrastructure into a giant array of detectors for earthquakes, ocean currents and more.

“Expanding the seismic network from the ground to the sea floor will improve our understanding of the Earth’s internal structure and dynamic behavior,” he added.

The researchers suggest that cable-based sensors can determine an earthquake’s “central zone” in the same way as Earth seismometers.

This technology has opened up other possibilities, such as monitoring deep water currents for changes caused by global warming.

There is also the untested potential for using cables to monitor how climate change is altering seafloor temperatures.

Tech giant Google was involved in the research as well as the University of Edinburgh, the British Geological Survey and the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica in Italy.

The research could transform scientists’ ability to make measurements over large areas of the Earth’s surface where conventional techniques have been very difficult to use, said Brian Babty, head of the British Geological Survey’s Earth-seismology team.

“It creates a wonderful opportunity to monitor mid-ocean earthquakes at close range as well as the tantalizing possibility to measure other natural phenomena such as undersea volcanic eruptions and future tsunamis,” he said.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos