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science1d ago
Scientists Are Setting Off Earthquakes. On Purpose.
- FEAR aims to induce tiny earthquakes along a natural fault in the BedrettoLab to study initiation and propagation.
- Researchers use hydraulic injection to simulate earthquakes in a controlled environment at BedrettoLab.
- FEAR-1 in late 2024 involved 14 injections and about 9,000 seismic events near the fault.
- Sensors near the fault provide near-field data to understand how quakes start and stop.
- Safety measures and containment are central to conducting experiments without real damage.
- FEAR researchers aim to translate lab findings into understanding and preventing larger seismic events.
- BedrettoLab is a former railway-side tunnel repurposed for geothermal research.
- The team plans to raise earthquake magnitudes in future tests to gain broader insights.
- Researchers quote scientists from ETH Zurich and partners about advancing earthquake science.
- The project connects to broader energy concerns, like hydraulic injection in fracking and geothermal energy.
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