• Undersea internet cables cover 70% of Earth’s surface, offering a global monitoring network. • These cables can detect seismic vibrations, providing real-time data on tectonic movements. • Integrating sensors into cables could enable early earthquake and tsunami warnings. • The system would complement existing land-based seismic stations, filling oceanic gaps. • Real-time alerts could save lives by giving coastal communities critical minutes. • Challenges include sensor deployment, data processing, and ensuring cable integrity.
Article Summaries:
- Forecasting earthquakes presents a serious challenge on land, but in the oceans that cover around 70% of Earth’s surface it is all but impossible. However, the vast network of undersea cables that crisscross the world’s seas could soon change this. As well as transmitting data around the planet, they can also monitor the tectonic movements that cause earthquakes and tsunamis.
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