Use Of The Satellite's Technology To Predict Earthquake

Introduction

On 3 April 2007 a magnitude 8.1 earthquake hit the Solomon Islands at 07:40 local time. This caused shaking that lasted for more than 1 minute. It hit just off the main island of Gizo Province. A short time after, another eight earthquakes of a smaller magnitude triggered a tsunami. This earthquake occurred due to the collision of Australia and Pacific plates and the subducting zone made there (See Images: 4,6,7 and 10

Cause

The Solomon Islands earthquake was formed at a convergent (also known as destructive) plate boundary. This is where plates collide and rubbing against each other. These plate boundaries can course mountain ranges on land and sea floor trenches or subduction zones in water. The Solomon Island earthquake was formed when the Australia and Pacific plates collided and formed a subduction zone. At a subduction zone, plates meat and one slides beneath the other into the mantle, Subduction zone quakes move the seafloor in one sudden movement. The Australia plate gets pushed under the Pacific plate toward the east-northeast at a speed of 3.7 inches per year on average, but due to the tension built up when the plates rubbed against each other the Australian plate was suddenly pushed violently under the Pacific plate. There were dozens of earthquakes around the Solomon Islands in the month before the massive earthquake. More than 40 magnitude-4.5 quakes shook the islands in the past week alone, and seven of those were larger than a magnitude-6.0. Soon after, another eight earthquakes of a smaller magnitude came through due to the remaining tension caused by the convergent. This caused a tsunami that measured at 0.9 meters in height. (See Image: 1,2,3, and 8)

Damage

The earthquake hit a depth of 28.7 kilometres and was the second-largest earthquake in the Solomon Islands area in 40 years. Several smaller earthquakes followed, the largest measuring at a magnitude off 6.6. The tsunami caused by the earthquake was around 0.9 meters high. The tsunami hit villages on Santa Cruz Island, destroying structures and homes and residences. In Gizo Town, the capital, the local Solomon Islands Red Cross said that at least 13 people had been reported dead on Gizo alone. Around 2,000 people (about 10% of the population) were made homeless, and there has been widespread damage to infrastructure. Reports showed similar and or worse levels of damage in other places on the island. The event was responsible for 50 deaths in total This was mainly due to the tsunami. However, the death toll may be greater since communications with remote islands were also damaged. According to the initial government damage assessment, around 916 houses were damaged or destroyed and about 50,000 people were affected. There was extensive damage to Gizo’s main airport, hospital, and to coastal roads as well as power failures and damage to telephone lines throughout the islands. Economically it cost $500,000 for both the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. On top of that the Red Cross issued an appeal for $800,000. Due to the isolated nature of the villages meant that aid did not reach them until days after the tsunami. Large quantities of rock dislodged by the earthquake and moved by the tsunami have been moved from the lagoons between the reef and coastline and into deeper water, although significant quantities remain on land. Sediment from the lagoons where found covering piles of shattered coral that the tsunami moved from the lagoons. (See Images 5 and 12)

Technology

At the moment satellites use a global positioning system that can detect electromagnetic radiation. Those satellites could be bettered and made to predicted and record electromagnetic waves and magnetic fields prediction future locations of earthquakes. This would provide weeks, rather than hours, of warning before an earthquake. This would in turn decrease the death tolls. The body of the technology will be satellites with enhanced imagery and detection. To achieve this a series of instruments will be developed for this specific use. Radiation is emitted weeks before an earthquake. IR and ELF imaging technology could be used to monitor tectonic movement, and over time recognized and correctly predict an earthquake. Some of the technology that will be used will include: Superconducting antennae and solenoid coils. This will measure tiny electromagnetic radiation changes and detect the present of radiation. Advanced Radar and Infrared Cameras, which will take a series of photos both over a long period of time and over short time. It will then collect data to be stored over and consulted in order to recognize signs of earthquakes. Advanced Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar which, provides likely fault movement over time, but if continued, could give predictions over a period of months or even weeks. Modems and Data Processing Centres, to receive the data collected by the satellites at given time frames and to analyse the trends in the electromagnetic radar pictures, these advanced satellites will use the most advanced technology available today and provide incredibly useful data regarding fault line movement and tectonic plates. But as with any technology still in development, there will of course be some potential drawbacks. Error Margin and Possible False Predictions False warning signs or unclear predictions of earthquakes could lead to major evacuations and emergency actions several weeks before an earthquake that never happens. These errors may impact to the economy in the area the aforementioned excavation occurred. As well as cause increased panic for the population of the affected area. The satellite also requires a complex communications system and numerous earth stations, on top of a temperamental positioning system. These may be false if not maintained with care. If not probably taken care of this may compromise data readings and result in false predictions. It is also unclear at this time how much this would cost. (see Images: 9 and 11)

Conclusion

The satellite’s technology can help predict earthquakes and get people out of the way before the event courses its full amount of damage. The earthquake in question would have been rather easy to predict using this technology as there were multiple smaller earthquakes leading up to the large one. Unfortunately, however at the time of the event and the economy of the area at the time of the disaster there was not much technology that could have helped with such an event especially not one of that magnitude of the quake being 8.1. The civilians did however take the smaller earthquakes as a sign and many people were evacuated. The event was caused by the collision of the Australian and pacific plate and the formation zone right on the island.