BUILDING RISK KNOWLEDGE
WHY THE FOUNDATION WAS BORN? >
Seismic signals have unique signatures for different types of ground movement
Seismometers can detect ground movements
Seismometers can detect ground movements caused by different types of phenomena, such as wind, man-made, volcanic explosions, snow and rock avalanches, lahars and earthquakes. Just as we have unique handwritten signatures, each type of earthquake can generate a unique seismic “signature” that we can learn to recognise and identify. Once identified, we can use this signature to determine the process that caused it in the future.
The different types of signals can often be distinguished by comparing the amplitude (height of waveform), frequency (width from peak to peak within waveform), and duration (length of waveform) of each signature. Comparing seismograms from multiple stations aids in accurately distinguishing these source types.
The overall shape of each seismic signature is easy to see by comparing the amplitude (height of waveform), frequency (width from peak to peak within waveform), and duration (length of waveform) of each signature. The “tic” marks on each signature represent 1 minute in time. Earthquake activity at Mount Rainier volcano is monitored by scientists of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, University of Washington, with support from the USGS.
Since 2021 VOLCANO ACTIVE FOUNDATION has been committed to the UN Global Compact corporate responsibility initiative and its principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.
