Show I Predicting Earthquakes I Tension bl buildup in underground underground underground under under- ground rock may be the key to future earthquake prediction prediction prediction tion according to recent findings findings find find- findings ings in a cooperative research project at the University of oC I Utah DR KENNETH L L. L Cook professor proCessor of geophysics and director of the University's se seismograph stations and Dr Maurice W W. Major professor pro pro- fes Ces fessor r of geophysics at the I Col Colorado rado School of Mines have installed devices to measure underground strain deep within a granite red recd re vault in the Wasatch Mountains about 20 miles southeast of the Salt Lake City campus Their research is supported by the U. U S. S Environmental Science Services tion DESIGNED BY Dr Major the strain meters were placed in the vault last Oc Oc- tober Since that time the scientists scientists scion scion- tests have observed rapid tension buildup several days before earthquakes are felt feltin feltin feltin in the Salt Lake valley I A CHAIN of gradual tension I buildups has also been recorded recorded recorded re re- corded followed by a series of snaps minor earth slippages slippages slip slip- slippages pages or micro earthquakes after which the rock goes into compression before again building build build- bl building ld- ld ing up tension Dr Cook says that the cause of tension buildup is not known but it is believed to tobe tobe tobe be be a powerful force deep within the earth possibly causing the flow of or semi-plastic semi rock which slowly slowly slow slow- ly pulls apart the earths earth's crust TWO SMALL earthquakes I measuring 23 and 22 on the Richter scale were recorded January 23 and February 16 16 both were preceded by rapid tension buildup underground In the January tremor earth slippage was recorded at the peak of the lunar tide and the Utah scientist believes it may have been triggered by the moons moon's gravitational pull oil HE THEORIZES that tidal pull which is so powerful it raises the earth about a foot can combine with underground underground underground under under- ground tension bl buildup to provide the straw that breaks the camels camel's back We may have hit the I jackpot with our observations I of January 23 says Dr Cook but it also could have been coincidence We needmore need needmore I Imore more data to substantiate our tidal theory The U of U geophysicist adds that the i moon apparently was not a contributing factor in the February 16 quake which occurred on the downswing of the tide DR COOK says that the vault is ideal for Cor the earthquake earthquake earthquake earth earth- quake research because of the constant temperature control used in record preservation and its location in solid granite 2000 feet underground underground underground under under- ground and feet Ceet from the mountainside entrance He cautions however that research results gleaned to date from the vault offer the hope but not the promise of earthquake prediction in inthe inthe inthe the future It may take several years to gather the data we need he says ONE FACTOR that must be determined is at what stage tension bl buildup is occurring occurring occurring oc oc- whether it is near the me peak for a major earthquake earthquake earthquake earth earth- quake or somewhere else on the scale We would expect a much more rapid buildup for Cor a major quake explains Dr Cook but we cant can't possibly know until we have one and see what it looks like on the instruments I |