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| LEO Seismic Station
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Earthquakes and volcanoes are constant reminders
that we live on a dynamic planet. Earthquakes cause
millions of dollars in damage and tragic loss of life, yet they also provide
key insights into earth structure and active tectonic processes. Seismology
is a quantitative discipline that records and studies the generation and
propagation of elastic energy in the earth. Studying earthquakes is important
for understanding seismic hazards in urban areas and developing appropriate
responses. Seismic networks and arrays are the primary tools used to monitor
compliance with the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Earthquakes
are also essential to understanding motion and deformation of the earth's
crust and mantle.
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We have established a broadband
seismic station on South Mountain, Lehigh University, to monitor local,
regional, and global seismic activity. Data collected from the seismic
station provides information on active seismicity
in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Lancaster Seismic Zone
and the Reading Earthquake Sequence. Our station is a part of the Northeastern
Regional Seismic Network, which monitors earthquake activity in the
eastern U.S. The information collected links to the GSN (Global Seismic
Network) maintained and operated jointly by IRIS (Incorporated Research
Institutes in Seismology) and the US Geological Survey.Lehigh University
is an IRIS member
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Students participated in all aspects of this project,
from the initial planning stage including site evaluation and selection
to the installation and development phase. Since the station is up and
running, students maintain and operate the seismic station on a day-to-day
basis, analyze earthquake data, and serve as a resource in the Lehigh
Valley and Eastern Pennsylvania for information about earthquakes locally
as well as globally. A student list has
been compiled and contains the names of all interns who worked on LEO's
seismic station.
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