What comes the earthquake!

2001/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Geologia

Scientists from the physics department of the University of Moscow present a system that will serve to predict earthquakes before. This system measures the polarization of sunlight on the terrestrial surface. In fact, before the earthquake there is a baroelectric effect, that is, the pressure inside the earth is reorganized, especially near the surface. This causes the emergence of new loads on the terrestrial surface and the alteration of the geoelectric space. And as is known, by increasing the electric field, the polarization of the solar light reflected on the earth's surface changes.

Sensors that can detect polarization variations are small and cheap, and can be placed on meteorological satellites already existing in space.