Recording the Sound Made by the 9.0 Magnitude Earthquake In Japan

Mikl-em
April 16, 2011

It’s a strange thing to say, but they could hear Japan’s 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Alaska. At least Oregon State University scientists could, using the U.S. Navy’s SOund SUrveillance System (SOSUS) Monitoring System, previously intended for tracking submarines in the Cold War. The recording is now online and it is an awe-inspiring sound.

Scientists at the NOAA Vents Program at Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and Oregon State University heard the March 11, 2011 Honshu, Japan earthquake using a hydrophone located near the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

via Talking Points Memo

Mikl-em

Actor, nerd, poet, producer, writer mikl-em made his name short so you wouldn't have to. In addition to his blog you can find his writing in "Hi Fructose" magazine and witness him almost life-sized in various plays at The Dark Room Theater in SF's Mission district.

He tends to write about theater, humor, San Francisco culture and history, and stuff that's just plain weird. He thanks Scott for sharing the keys to the Laughing Squid virtual HQ and promises to uphold whatever it is that the mirthful cephalopod would prefer to be uplifted.