USGS representative
Bob Hutt and student Joe Martinez (Photo courtesy of John Buckley)
(Kingsville)—Texas A&M University-Kingsville became part of the EarthScope national science initiative in June when a seismograph and a deep-mounted GPS unit were installed on university property.
Researchers with the project seek to explore the structure and evolution of the North American continent and understand the physical processes controlling earthquakes and volcanoes.
This is handled, in part, through a permanent network of 100 seismic stations spread throughout the continental United States and Alaska that that provide real-time data flow. The network is officially known as the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS), and is a partnership between EarthScope and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Seismic data are transmitted in real time by satellite to the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, CO, where they are used for immediate location and magnitude measurements. Data are also available in real time for tsunami warnings.
Texas A&M-Kingsville’s participation in the initiative started in September 2005, when physics and geosciences lecturer John S. Buckley was contacted by the USGS, which was looking for assistance in securing a site and installing the seismic equipment.
Buckley became a project officer, working with Bob Hutt and John Derr of the USGS in examining three different South Texas locations in Kingsville and beyond. For each possible location, seismic instruments were installed in the ground by Buckley, Hutt and Texas A&M-Kingsville students.
While
the station’s
location is secret, Texas A&M-Kingsville will get a museum-quality
display about the project. (Photo courtesy of
John Buckley)
“It would have been tough carrying out this project without the help of the students,” said Buckley. “The USGS has encouraged the student participation in this project as well.”
Buckley noted help in particular from Texas A&M-Kingsville geology students Alex Fuentes, Rick Garcia and Joe Martinez, Del Mar geology major Annette Gamez and Texas A&M-Kingsville social work major Tommie Hernandez.
“John is obviously a strong believer in involving interested students, whether or not they are in his own department,” said Hutt of the USGS.“The students who participated in the noise surveys were all quite helpful and interested. None of the student volunteers had any qualms about getting their hands dirty, and hopefully they will continue having an interest in the project.”
After a few days, the instruments were recovered and the data they gathered were examined to find the location that provided seismic data with as little outside interference as possible. One location that didn’t make the cut was south of Riviera, near the bay—so near, in fact, that waves hampered getting clean readings. The location that was chosen met all the scientific and contractual obligations, and ended up being the one nearest the Texas A&M-Kingsville campus.
The
station has a seismograph and deep-mounted GPS. (Photo courtesy of John
Buckley)
The seismograph and GPS unit at Texas A&M-Kingsville will track a number of things, including any and all plate tectonics, along with any elevation changes regionally, up to the millimeter.
“The South Texas site is the southernmost ANSS site in the continental U.S.,” said Hutt. “One of the main purposes of the EarthScope project is to use data from the ANSS stations to produce a detailed map of the North American continent from the surface down to the mantle, and it's important that we have uniform geographic coverage of the U.S. to make sure that the subsurface map is as comprehensive, accurate, and detailed as it can possibly be. This map will be used to help us determine how the continent was formed, which will help us to better understand earthquake generating processes, among other things.”
To record accurate data, the location will not be released to the public, but not to worry—those interested in EarthScope will be able to see its equipment and learn all about it another way. The USGS will provide Texas A&M-Kingsville with a museum-quality display, along with a seismograph for hands-on use by visitors. The display will be permanently housed with the geosciences department in the very near future.
Looking back over the last few months, Buckley noted how much he has taken away from the experience so far. “I consider myself primarily a paleontologist, so it’s been an education for me to be involved in the project,” he said.
Hutt had high praise for the Texas A&M-Kingsville project officer. “My experience in working with John Buckley has been nothing short of outstanding. John has expressed keen interest in the project from the beginning, and his interest and extremely valuable help along the way have never waned.I have never known a non-seismologist to be this committed to a seismological project.”
For Buckley, the EarthScope project provided more than enough reason
for his dedication. “It’s a project of national importance,
providing a service to ourselves, the USGS and the country.” 