QuakeFinder Blog

Tom Bleier and Jon Riley recently travelled to Chile to upgrade the communication systems at several previously installed sites. After getting the upgraded cell and fiber systems working, we focused on developing collaboration partners in Chile who will work with us to develop an operational earthquake warning system in that country. We visited several universities (PUCC – Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, University of Concepción, and UNAB – Universidad Andres Bello), and contacted several commercial companies (EnorChile, GOA Projects and Investments, and General Electric), as well as CIGIDEN – National Research Center for Integrated Natural Disaster Management, to develop those partnerships. PUCC and the CIGIDEN group in Santiago, including Juan Carlos, Juan Soto, and Santiago Barros were very responsive in agreeing to help maintain the initial 4 instruments which QuakeFinder donated, developing a new initiative to help in the research, and to solicit funding to expand the initial network to areas where future large earthquakes may occur. Rodrigo Abarca and Elias Ovalle of the University of Concepción took the lead in adding their expertise in ionospheric studies to the repertoire of electromagnetic phenomena that we wish to study and fuse together. Felipe Lobos is helping maintain the site in Iquique. Miguel Pradenas (UNAB) is helping with the site in Quintay. Ariel Cesped (GE) is helping at El Tabo, and is adding his experience with infrared processing. Overall, a great spirit of cooperation and collaboration in Chile. The photo at the left shows our site in El Tabo, and at Iquique (Atacama Desert) on the right.

Tom Bleier and Bob Camins recently travelled to Banda Aceh, Indonesia, the site of the 2004 M9 earthquake and tsunami which killed over 200,000 people along the western coastline. During this trip, we received excellent support from partners Dr. Teuku Reza Ferasyi from Syiah Kuala University, and from Aidil Adhari, the local Tower Bersama (cell tower company) representative who helped us install the instruments inside their cell tower security enclosures. We installed instruments near Banda Aceh and every 40 km southward along the coastline, facing the famous subduction zone fault line. The installations were difficult due to heavy rain and high temperature/humidity, but the team of QuakeFinder, Syiah Kuala University, and Tower Bersama worked really well together to get the job done on time. In addition to the in-country team, many thanks are due to the “home” team, including Clark Dunson, who handled several midnight calls for support back in the Bay Area, and Jim Lemon, who kept a vigilant eye on the status of systems after they were installed. The Banda Aceh area is calm now and does not show much of the damage and heartbreak from the 2004 tragedy. We hope this joint effort for earthquake forecasting research will help to lessen the loss of life from future earthquakes.

Work has  begun at QuakeFinder to analyze data from the 6.0 earthquake that occurred at 3:20am local time on August 24 near Napa, California. Our Napa Valley site was the closest, between 9-10 miles away. More soon…

As we learn of the retirement of Dr. John LaBrecque, Lead, Earth Surface and Interior Focus Area at NASA Headquarters, we want to extend our warmest thanks and wishes for a relaxing (and exciting) retirement. John has been a major NASA force in supporting, encouraging, advising, critiquing, and funding QuakeFinder over the last 10+ years. When many in the community scoffed at electromagnetic monitoring of earthquake processes, John saw a raw, untapped potential there, and did something about it. For his willingness to listen and to explore with us, and for his general positive attitude and warm, friendly demeanor, we applaud your work and sincerely thank you for your service to the country. The best to you and your family in retirement from Celeste Ford, Tom Bleier and the entire staff at QuakeFinder.