Explore Research Products in the PAR
It may take a few hours for recently added research products to appear in PAR search results.


This content will become publicly available on November 7, 2026

Title: Fiber-Optic Sensing for Earthquake Hazards Research, Monitoring, and Early Warning
Abstract The use of fiber-optic sensing systems in seismology has exploded in the past decade. Despite an ever-growing library of ground-breaking studies, questions remain about the potential of fiber-optic sensing technologies as tools for advancing if not revolutionizing earthquake-hazards-related research, monitoring, and early warning systems. A working group convened to explore these topics; we comprehensively examined the application of fiber optics in various aspects of earthquake hazards, encompassing earthquake source processes, crustal imaging, data archiving, and technological challenges. There is great potential for fiber-optic systems to advance earthquake monitoring and understanding, but to fully unlock their capabilities requires continued progress in key areas of research and development, including instrument testing and validation, increased dynamic range for applications focused on larger earthquakes, and continued improvement in subsurface and source imaging methods. A key current stumbling block results from the lack of clear data archiving requirements, and we propose an initial strategy that balances data volume requirements with preserving key data for a broad range of future studies. In addition, we demonstrate the potential for fiber-optic sensing to impact monitoring efforts by documenting the data completeness in a number of long-term experiments. Finally, we outline the features of a instrument testing facility that would enable progress toward reliable and standardized distributed acoustic sensing data. Overcoming these current obstacles would facilitate progress in fiber-optic sensing and unlock its potential application to a broad range of earthquake hazard problems.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2022716
PAR ID:
10647239
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more » ; ; « less
Publisher / Repository:
SSA
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Seismological Research Letters
ISSN:
0895-0695
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. ; ; ; ; ; ; (, Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the American Association of Petroleum Engineers)
    Zheng, Yingcai; Turko, Molly; Elebiju, Bunmi (Ed.)
    Fiber optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), and Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) hold innovative technologies with significant potential for real-time environmental monitoring in both built (e.g., irrigated agricultural) and natural (e.g., forested) systems. When collocated using loose and tight buffered fiber-optic cables, DTS can help account for thermal expansion that affects low-frequency DAS signals where background noise often contains valuable information about soil. However, key challenges remain the limited availability of co-located DAS, DTS, reliable soil moisture data, and the effect of varying materials on the coupling of fiber-optic cables. Here we address these data gaps using a long-term field experiment at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Farm that examines how different cable installation methods and materials affect DAS and DTS response under changing environmental conditions. Previous studies demonstrated that cables in sand and native soil yield higher amplitude DAS data than conduit-installed cables Likewise, DTS data highlight distinct thermal behaviors in sand versus native soil, reflecting differences in thermal diffusivity and moisture retention. These findings lay the groundwork for optimizing future DAS and DTS deployments, particularly in applications where accurate, high-resolution is the objective. 
    more » « less
  2. (, Seismological Research Letters)
    Abstract Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a new, relatively inexpensive technology that is rapidly demonstrating its promise for recording earthquake waves and other seismic signals in a wide range of research and public safety arenas. It should significantly augment present seismic networks. For several important applications, it should be superior. It employs ordinary fiber‐optic cables, but not as channels for data among separate sophisticated instruments. With DAS, the hair‐thin glass fibers themselves are the sensors. Internal natural flaws serve as seismic strainmeters, kinds of seismic detector. Unused or dark fibers are common in fiber cables widespread around the globe, or in dedicated cables designed for special application, are appropriate for DAS. They can sample passing seismic waves at locations every few meters or closer along paths stretching for tens of kilometers. DAS arrays should enrich the three major areas of local and regional seismology: earthquake monitoring, imaging of faults and many other geologic formations, and hazard assessment. Recent laboratory and field results from DAS tests underscore its broad bandwidth and high‐waveform fidelity. Thus, while still in its infancy, DAS already has shown itself as the working heart—or perhaps ear drums—of a valuable new seismic listening tool. My colleagues and I expect rapid growth of applications. We further expect it to spread into such frontiers as ocean‐bottom seismology, glacial and related cryoseismology, and seismology on other solar system bodies. 
    more » « less
  3. ; ; ; ; (, Eos)
    A fiber-optic cable below Turkiye’s earthquake-prone metropolis is offering new details about how seismic waves will rattle the city—and demonstrating the potential of a bigger monitoring effort. 
    more » « less
  4. ; ; ; ; ; ; (, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth)
    Abstract Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is an emerging technology that converts optical fibers into dense arrays of strainmeters, significantly enhancing our understanding of earthquake physics and Earth's structure. While most past DAS studies have focused primarily on seismic wave phase information, accurate measurements of true ground motion amplitudes are crucial for comprehensive future analyses. However, amplitudes in DAS recordings, especially for pre‐existing telecommunication cables with uncertain fiber‐ground coupling, have not been fully quantified. By calibrating three DAS arrays with co‐located seismometers, we systematically evaluate DAS amplitudes. Our results indicate that the average DAS amplitude of earthquake signals closely matches that of co‐located seismometer data across frequencies from 0.01 to 10 Hz. The noise floor of DAS is comparable to that of strong‐motion stations but higher than that of broadband stations. The saturation amplitude of DAS is adjustable by modifying the pulse repetition rate and gauge length. We also demonstrate how our findings enhance the understanding of fiber‐optic seismology and its implications for natural hazard mitigation and Earth structure imaging and monitoring. Specifically, our results suggest that with proper settings, DAS can detectP‐waves from an M6+ earthquake occurring 10 km from the cable without saturation, indicating its viability for earthquake early warning. Through quantitative comparison and analysis, we also find that local ambient traffic noise levels strongly affect the quality of seismic interferometry measurement, which is a powerful tool for near‐surface imaging and monitoring. Our methodology and findings are valuable for future DAS experiments that require precise seismic amplitude measurements. 
    more » « less
  5. ; ; ; ; ; ; (, Science)
    null (Ed.)
    Seafloor geophysical instrumentation is challenging to deploy and maintain but critical for studying submarine earthquakes and Earth’s interior. Emerging fiber-optic sensing technologies that can leverage submarine telecommunication cables present an opportunity to fill the data gap. We successfully sensed seismic and water waves over a 10,000-kilometer-long submarine cable connecting Los Angeles, California, and Valparaiso, Chile, by monitoring the polarization of regular optical telecommunication channels. We detected multiple moderate-to-large earthquakes along the cable in the 10-millihertz to 5-hertz band. We also recorded pressure signals from ocean swells in the primary microseism band, implying the potential for tsunami sensing. Our method, because it does not require specialized equipment, laser sources, or dedicated fibers, is highly scalable for converting global submarine cables into continuous real-time earthquake and tsunami observatories. 
    more » « less
  • Citation Formats
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
  • BibTeX
  • Text Encoded Conversion
  • XML
  • Save / Share this Record
  • Send to Email