New early detection method may use the triatomic molecule

Nov 23, 2011 13:09 GMT  ·  By

A new study by researchers in the United States indicates that the sudden release of ozone in the atmosphere – detectable as spikes in the usual concentrations – could be used as an indicator that a large earthquake is imminent.

The group explains that rocks fracturing underground tend to release this triatomic oxygen molecule shortly before the tremor is felt from the surface as well. However, it's doubtful that a warning method based on these findings will give people days to prepare.

But the warnings may be sufficiently early to allow people to exit buildings, therefore safeguarding themselves against being buried in the rubble. This ability would significantly reduce the number of individuals who die as a direct result of such an event.

Ozone is found naturally in the upper atmosphere, where it protects the surface of the planet from the effects of solar radiations. Without it, ultraviolet light would damage our skin excessively, leading to an extremely-high skin cancer and melanoma rate.

Orbital assets are constantly keeping an eye on the planetary ozone layer from a number of positions simultaneously. Therefore, one of them is bound to notice a change in ozone concentrations, such as it would happen if amounts of the chemical were suddenly released from the ground.

This phenomenon occurs because fault lines are constantly active, even if this doesn't show on the surface. As such, rocks may begin fracturing and releasing ozone in a certain area some time before the actual event takes place, Wired reports.

Details of the new theory are published in the November 14 issue of the esteemed scientific journal Applied Physics Letters. The work was led by University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) engineering physics professor Raúl A. Baragiola.

Studies the expert and his team conducted revealed that different types of rocks in different fault lines tended to produce varied amounts of ozone. As such, it may soon be possible to use even this trait as a factor for figuring out the depth from which the emissions originate.

This would be extremely useful because the depth at which epicenters are located is absolutely essential to figuring out how much damage a particular tremor would do. Shallower ones are more devastating to their surroundings, geologists say.

“If future research shows a positive correlation between ground-level ozone near geological faults and earthquakes, an array of interconnected ozone detectors could monitor anomalous patterns when rock fracture induces the release of ozone from underground and surface cracks,” Baragiola says.

“Such an array, located away from areas with high levels of ground ozone, could be useful for giving early warning to earthquakes,” the investigator concludes.