Fast and localized temperature measurements throughout earthquakes or volcanic processes

The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid’s (UC3M) Displays and Photonic Applications Research Group has developed a measuring instrument that can be utilized to check the rise in temperature throughout volcanic eruptions. This analysis permits the primary measurements of temperature to be taken in situ utilizing a machine within the laboratory that simulates these volcanic processes. The measurements that may be taken have sufficient spatial and temporal decision to offer details about the sliding mechanics of a seismic fault. Until now, there has not been an efficient experimental approach for measuring the temperature on the eruption web site.

The understanding of earthquake or volcanic course of physics is hindered by the poor data of fault energy and temperature evolution throughout a seismic slip. When one among most of these phenomena happens, power is radiated as elastic waves as a result of imbalance between the power launched across the fault and the power dissipated inside it. This happens as a result of rocks lose energy sooner than the stress drop to which the rock is topic to across the fault.

Laboratory experiments used for this sort of research, partially developed on the Institute of Volcanology in Rome, reproduce each the evolution of the shear energy on some extent of a fault and the propagation of the seismic rupture on temporal and spatial scale.

This gives details about the deformation processes that management seismic mechanics. “We are able to measure the exact point at which the phenomenon is happening. In addition to this, we can determine the increase in temperature in very small areas, which would not be possible using other techniques. The techniques we have used in this research can withstand extreme situations and temperatures greater than 1,200 degrees,” notes Carmen Vázquez, lecturer on the UC3M’s Department of Electronic Technology and one of many researchers participating on this research.

Optical fiber was used to measure the temperature between two tectonic faults throughout an earthquake, as this system can be utilized to take measurements in environments which might be troublesome to entry.

It can also be a cost-effective expertise and permits measurements to be taken remotely. “We have two stones; in one stone we made a hole that we fed the optical fiber through, we then measure the temperature on the contact surface between the two surfaces. This simulates a seismic test, in other words, what might happen during an earthquake or volcanic process,” says Arántzazu Núñez-Cascasm, a Juan de la Cierva Visiting Professor on the UC3M’s Department of Electronic Technology and researcher on the mission.

The approach used for this research will also be utilized in different industrial sectors. “It could be applied to industrial machine processes where friction occurs between two materials which causes a sharp increase in temperature. It would allow us to know whether the machine processes are adequate and, therefore, whether the work tool is being damaged or if there will be any subsequent breakages,” concludes Carmen Vázquez.