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A new NASA challenge is looking for evidence to support a theory that electromagnetic pulses (EMP) may precede an earthquake, potentially offering a warning to those in the quake's path.
The "Quest for Quakes" two-week algorithm challenge seeks to develop new software codes or algorithms to search through data and identify electromagnetic pulses that may precede an earthquake. Some researchers have speculated such pulses originating from the ground near earthquake epicenters could signal the onset of some quakes.
"Developing a reliable approach that can separate potential earthquake-induced electromagnetic pulses from the myriad of natural and anthropogenic sources has been a significant challenge," said Craig Dobson, program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We look forward to seeing the innovative ideas from this competition and learning more about this controversial phenomenon."
The challenge opened for registration on Tuesday. Competitors will be able to submit entries from Monday, July 27 at 1 p.m. ET through Monday, Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. ET.
Contestants will be provided with electromagnetic signal data collected over three-month periods from multiple sensors in the proximity of past earthquakes. Control data with no earthquakes also will be included. Coders will have two weeks to develop a new approach to extract the signals and identify potential earthquake precursors. The individuals or teams developing winning approaches will share a $25,000 prize.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday July 28 2015, @04:39PM
Is this thought to be a piezoelectric effect?
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(Score: 3, Informative) by kurenai.tsubasa on Tuesday July 28 2015, @10:39PM
Possibly. I went poking around, and the best info I could find was at the USGS National Geomagnetism and Earthquake Prediction website [usgs.gov]. Going through the abstracts of the four papers available there, it appears that while there have been claims of this effect, those may be dubious.
It seems plausible, however, and I suppose it might depend on exactly what kind rock the crust is made of near the epicenter. Perhaps there is some kind of a piezoelectric effect going on, but I would submit from my position of nearly hopeless ignorance on geology and without actually reading those papers that if there is something to the proposed theory, it may not happen in all regions.
I suppose we'll have to wait for the results. If I have some free time, I might take a crack at it. I've been meaning to dabble around with R or Python for a while now.
*checks the calendar*
Uhh… either this Mike's Hard Lemonade I have here is stronger than I think it is, or August 9 is a Sunday. To be fair, that error is from TFA.