Palo Alto Company Collaborates with French (CNES) in its Efforts to Forecast Earthquakes
QuakeFinder, a Palo Alto, California based company has been operating a satellite in order to detect Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) magnetic field disturbances over geographic areas that are poised to have an earthquake. QuakeFinder has also recently received approval from Frances Centre National DEtudes Spatiales (CNES) to receive data from their countries newest satellite DEMETER (Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions).
Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) December 13, 2004 -- QuakeFinder, a Palo Alto, California based company has been operating a "nanosatellite" called QuakeSat for 17 months in order to detect Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) magnetic field disturbances over geographic areas that are poised to have an earthquake. QuakeFinder has also recently received approval from Frances Centre National DEtudes Spatiales (CNES) to receive data from their countries newest satellite Demeter (Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions). The satellite is the first in line of Myriade microsatellites developed by CNES.
CNES, the French space agency, is a state-owned industrial and commercial organization, currently under the joint responsibility of the Ministry of Research and the Ministry of Defense. Created in 1961, the agency is responsible for shaping Frances space policy.
Launched in June 2004, Demeter is designed specifically to study ionospheric disturbances due to natural geophysical phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or tsunamis. The missions goal is to increase researchers knowledge of electromagnetic phenomena caused by the planets convulsions.
The objectives of the Demeter mission are: to study the ionospheric disturbances in relation to the seismic activity and to examine the pre- and post-seismic effect to study the ionospheric disturbances in relation to the volcanic activity
On June 30, 2003, QuakeFinder launched a similar satellite named QuakeSat 1; a 10-pound, 4-by-4-by-12-inch satellite that enables researchers to collect Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) precursor signals from space. QuakeFinder researchers believe that there is a direct correlation between these ionospheric disturbances and seismic activity.
The first opportunity to test the technology came on December 22, 2003, when QuakeSat began picking up ELF signals months prior the 6.5 earthquake in San Simeon, California, allowing researchers to collect data prior to and after the earthquake. Researchers hope the collaborative effort with the French which will allow them to compare the data from QuakeSat 1, Demeter and the 55 ground-based sensors (which also collect ELF data) placed on fault lines throughout California. The partnership with CNES will provide a significant increase in data, which can be analyzed to obtain reliable data prior to, during and after earthquakes in order to investigate the level of seismic signals.
The ultimate goal of this partnership is to conduct detailed comparisons of electro-magnetic signals and electron density measurements received by QuakeFinders satellite and ground system to the data received via Demeter.
QuakeFinder is a Palo Alto, California, based start-up company developing revolutionary technologies and conducting groundbreaking research whose goal is to enable researchers to more accurately forecast earthquakes hours/days/weeks in advance of a major earthquake.
For more information on QuakeFinder please contact Tom Bleier, Chief Technology Officer via phone at (650) 473 – 9870.
Contact:
Tom Bleier
QuakeFinder
650-473-9870 (office)
650-270-6389 (mobile)
Dan Orloff
Orloff/Williams
(408) 293-1791
(408) 202-3188 (mobile)
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