Research seismologists and geophysicists at the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno host a Mogul Earthquake Information Session on Wednesday, Aug. 13 to review what they are learning through an extensive network of measurement equipment across the Truckee Meadows. The free event is held at 7 p.m. in the Joe Crowley Student Union’s third-floor theater.
ÁùºÏ±¦µä 150 people responded to a posting on the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Seismological Laboratory’s web site several months ago following the “earthquake swarms’ that occurred in Mogul and west Reno. From this group, scientists placed measurement equipment in the yards of 60 people in locations throughout the Truckee Meadows.
Those volunteers have been invited to the Information Session to learn how the instrumentation at their homes is contributing to a larger body of data. The research seismologists believe the project represents the most comprehensive and intensive instrumentation network to have been in place to evaluate earthquake activity in an urban setting.
“Normally we can only monitor a few sites at a time,” said John Louie, geophysics professor and researcher at the University-based ÁùºÏ±¦µä Seismological Laboratory. “Now we can measure the shaking at each site, five dozen of them.
“The public’s participation will contribute to an enormous package of data,” he added.
Researchers say the project is the largest public deployment for a study of this nature on record. To date, they can find no other example around the world that matches this level of comprehensive instrumentation and public involvement.
“This kind of partnership, between scientists and the community, isn’t going on anywhere in the world,” said Ken Smith, a research associate professor with the Seismological Laboratory. “Not in California, not in Tokyo, not anywhere.”
At the event experts will review what they have recorded, how it will help inform research scientists, and explain the latest on the northwest Reno and Mogul earthquake sequence. University geologists and engineers will be in attendance as well to help with questions and offer information in those arenas to the public. The event is open to the public.
