Science and Technology Daily Beijing Telegraph Text on July 4th, that, fiber optical cables have been used to detect seismic signals with creating geological tomography, according to a geoscience study published Wednesday in the Journal Nature Communications of Britain, which shows that, the broadband communication networks may be used to locate and evaluate geological faults in future, or fiber optical cables may be used as an alternative tool for seismometers.

Seismic surveillance monitoring refers to the monitoring and measurement of earthquake precursor anomalies and seismic activities before and after the occurrence of an earthquake. The professional seismic stations and group measuring points, mainly are the water level instrument, seismograph, electromagnetic wave measuring instrument and other monitoring instruments. Generally speaking, a traditional seismic network can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in operating and maintaining, but it is vital important to the earthquake-prone areas. However, somebody put forwarded that the communication-used fiber optical cable could be used as a low-cost seismic surveillance mode.

Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam scientist Philip•Josiet and his colleague started an experiment in Ice Land to transform the fiber optic cables into a series of sensors to record both natural and man-made seismic waves. These sensors quantify the strain on a fiber optical cable by detecting small changes in the length of the cable as seismic waves pass through it. The research team found that fiber optical cables recorded not only seismic signals but also detailed analyses of surrounding faults and other deep geological structures.

Currently, thousands of kilometers of communications cables have been laid around the world, so the material is almost ready to serve and thus this method is considered cheap and sensitive. Although fiber optical communication networks may be useful for monitoring earthquake disasters, the team cautioned that the technology needed to be developed further.

Detailed information refers to:

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2018-07-05/doc-ihevauxk6626072.shtml