Dynamic strain determination using fibre-optic cables allows imaging of seismological and structural features

Philippe Jousset (), Thomas Reinsch (), Trond Ryberg, Hanna Blanck, Andy Clarke, Rufat Aghayev, Gylfi P. Hersir, Jan Henninges, Michael Weber and Charlotte M. Krawczyk
Additional contact information
Philippe Jousset: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Thomas Reinsch: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Trond Ryberg: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Hanna Blanck: ÍSOR Iceland GeoSurvey
Andy Clarke: Silixa Ltd.
Rufat Aghayev: Silixa Ltd.
Gylfi P. Hersir: ÍSOR Iceland GeoSurvey
Jan Henninges: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Michael Weber: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Charlotte M. Krawczyk: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Natural hazard prediction and efficient crust exploration require dense seismic observations both in time and space. Seismological techniques provide ground-motion data, whose accuracy depends on sensor characteristics and spatial distribution. Here we demonstrate that dynamic strain determination is possible with conventional fibre-optic cables deployed for telecommunication. Extending recently distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) studies, we present high resolution spatially un-aliased broadband strain data. We recorded seismic signals from natural and man-made sources with 4-m spacing along a 15-km-long fibre-optic cable layout on Reykjanes Peninsula, SW-Iceland. We identify with unprecedented resolution structural features such as normal faults and volcanic dykes in the Reykjanes Oblique Rift, allowing us to infer new dynamic fault processes. Conventional seismometer recordings, acquired simultaneously, validate the spectral amplitude DAS response between 0.1 and 100 Hz bandwidth. We suggest that the networks of fibre-optic telecommunication lines worldwide could be used as seismometers opening a new window for Earth hazard assessment and exploration.

Date: 2018
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04860-y Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04860-y

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04860-y

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().