Using controlled explosions along fault lines to relieve pressure.

[Dover]

Makes me wonder if, perhaps, this is being used in the U.S. and is the reason these recent 'swarms' have been such an anomoly as regards quake behavior, as well as their being acutely localized. At any rate, if this technique is being used then at least that puts it in the realm of possible scenarios.

---------


Israeli startup develops method to predict and prevent earthquakes

2 Jan 2006

Terramoto, an Israeli company, has developed a three-stage method that its founder believes will provide the answers that scientists need to prevent major earthquakes from occurring along known fault lines.

..snip..

To give an accurate prediction of when this quake might occur, two lasers are placed on the different tectonic plates, and the interference pattern they create is measured to evaluate the relative velocity at which the two plates are moving, and in turn the energy accumulation inside the rock.

When a high-magnitude earthquake has been predicted, Terramoto's method calls for explosives to be drilled into the rock to create a series of controlled explosions that will weaken the rock and let the energy accumulated over the years be released gradually in a number of small quakes, rather than one devastating one.

The method can be adapted for fault lines along the ocean, with geophones sunk down to sea level with large cement blocks. Nachman admits that drilling to relieve pressure in these locations is more difficult than on land, but adds that it is not impossible.

The technological development of Terramoto's earthquake detection and prevention system is supported by scientists in the field from both Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Nachman believes that each system, which includes 6-10 geophones, will cost customers in the region of $1 million....>

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/Israeli%20startup%20develops%20method%20to%20predict%20and%20prevent%20earthquakes%202-Jan-2006

Terramoto site:
http://terramoto.co.il/index_eng.html

--------

Popular Science 2005: Engineered Earthquakes
http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-space/article/2005-06/engineered-earthquakes

An earthquake is a sudden release of stress that has built up along a fault line, where rock faces push against each other. If that stress could be released over a longer period of time—with a series of smaller quakes—the result might be less catastrophic.

Engineers have known for 40 years that injecting fluids deep into wells can accidentally trigger mini—quakes by lubricating “sticky” rock faces. Since that time, there have been numerous proposals to pump fluids into stressed fault lines. But even if such a proposal could get past the inevitable legal and environmental hurdles, geologists warn that replacing one big earthquake with a swarm of smaller ones might actually be riskier.

William Ellsworth, chief scientist of the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake hazard team, points out that because earthquake energy multiplies with each point on the Richter scale, it would take roughly 1,000 magnitude—6 quakes to dissipate the energy of a single magnitude—8 quake. Another problem is that many fault lines are not discovered until an earthquake occurs.

Proponents of earthquake engineering argue that induced quakes would be safer than unplanned ones, because local residents and emergency services would have time to prepare for them. But most geologists aren't convinced. Thomas J. Ahrens, a geophysics professor at the California Institute of Technology, cautions that mini quakes “may easily get out of control.”...cont'd


---

And some related info:

Using induced earthquakes to prevent large magnitude natural earthquakes
http://www.philica.com/display_article.php?article_id=107

Load-induced Earthquakes at Lake Kariba–II
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1970.tb01768.x


Underwater Earthquakes
Geophysicists Discover Slippery Secret of Weaker Underwater Earthquakes
October 1, 2007
http://www.aip.org/dbis/AGU/stories/17117.html

[supernova]

1. Ummm, how do they know

that a controlled demolition now won't cause worse stress somewhere else along the fault (or an adjacent one) later?

[Dover]

2. Because they're God.

They can manipulate Mother Nature anyway the want to. :sarcasm:

[Dover]

4. BTW - scientists asked that very question >

Popular Science 2005: Engineered Earthquakes
http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-space/article/2...

An earthquake is a sudden release of stress that has built up along a fault line, where rock faces push against each other. If that stress could be released over a longer period of time—with a series of smaller quakes—the result might be less catastrophic.

Engineers have known for 40 years that injecting fluids deep into wells can accidentally trigger mini—quakes by lubricating “sticky” rock faces. Since that time, there have been numerous proposals to pump fluids into stressed fault lines. But even if such a proposal could get past the inevitable legal and environmental hurdles, geologists warn that replacing one big earthquake with a swarm of smaller ones might actually be riskier.

William Ellsworth, chief scientist of the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake hazard team, points out that because earthquake energy multiplies with each point on the Richter scale, it would take roughly 1,000 magnitude—6 quakes to dissipate the energy of a single magnitude—8 quake. Another problem is that many fault lines are not discovered until an earthquake occurs.

Proponents of earthquake engineering argue that induced quakes would be safer than unplanned ones, because local residents and emergency services would have time to prepare for them. But most geologists aren't convinced. Thomas J. Ahrens, a geophysics professor at the California Institute of Technology, cautions that mini quakes “may easily get out of control.”...cont'd

[ret5hd]

3. I think this will be as effective as...

getting people to stomp their feet while standing on a fault line.

[kestrel91316]

5. One word: HUBRIS

[XemaSab]

6. How can this POSSIBLY be tested?

"Oh, yeah, we know there was a 6.0 after we did our demolitions, but if we hadn't a done it, the quake would have been a 7.0! Give us money." :P

There's one born every minute.

[pscot]

7. This sounds like a majorly bad idea

with serious, unresolved liability issues.