Ancient Earthquakes - Researchers Devise Fossil Seismographs
Monday, March 14, 2011 - 11:50
in Earth & Climate
Earthquakes are big news due to the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday. As a result, some are curious about the worst earthquakes and resulting tsunamis we know about. Prior to the 20th century, methods for measuring were unreliable. Researchers say a new tool may more about earthquakes of the ancient past and even help predict earthquakes of the future. Prof. Shmuel Marco of Tel Aviv University's Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences in the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences and his colleagues have created a new tool which they have described as a "fossil seismograph," to help geophysicists and other researchers understand patterns of seismic activity in the past. read more