ANSS Seminar Series - 1/23/2025
Ettore Biondi, Caltech
The inclusion of distributed acoustic sensing for real-time earthquake monitoring within the Southern California Seismic Network
The Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN) has traditionally relied on conventional seismic stations for earthquake monitoring, but incorporating distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology from existing telecommunication cables promises a transformative leap in monitoring capabilities. By repurposing these cables as dense, kilometer-spanning seismic arrays, DAS provides vast data, though its high channel count poses challenges for data processing and integration within conventional workflows. In 2024, we began integrating DAS data from a 100-km, 10,000-channel array in Ridgecrest, California, into SCSN operations. Using PhaseNet-DAS, a machine-learning algorithm, we achieve real-time P- and S-wave arrival time picks, injecting 18 selected DAS channels’ data directly into existing monitoring workflows. This approach illustrates a scalable pathway for incorporating DAS technology into regional seismic networks, enhancing earthquake monitoring in Southern California. Moreover, we present how existing submarine cables offshore of LA could improve the earthquake early warning (EEW) capabilities for large-magnitude events potentially threading Southern California. We conclude by presenting the steps that can lead to the inclusion of DAS into existing EEW workflows.
For more information on the ANSS Seminar Series: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/anss-seminar-series