Alaska Communications supplies undersea fiber for earthquake monitoring
Alaska Communications says that it is working with the University of Michigan’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences to gather earthquake monitoring data using some of the service provider’s undersea fiber-optic cable.
The research is being led by University of Michigan Assistant Professor Ƶack Spica, who last week traveled with an unidentified graduate student to Alaska Communications’ landing station in Florence, OR. There, the two researchers attached a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) interrogator to the submarine fiber cable. The DAS interrogator uses a light beam within the fiber to analyze seismic activity and report that data to the research team.
Professor Spica has performed similar tests using submarine cables in Japan and Spain as well as terrestrial fibers within urban areas for such research. “With the Cascadia subduction zone stretching along the pacific northwest coastline along Canada, this is in an ideal location for our team to gather seismic data,” Spica commented. “This research project will support continued learning about utilizing fiber for earthquake research, as well as learn how we can use this technology to provide early warning for tsunamis, which are often prompted by earthquakes.”
“With two subsea cables connecting Alaska to the Lower 48, we have substantial infrastructure to aid in research that can help our communities,” said Rick Benken, vice president, network strategy, engineering, and operations at Alaska Communications. “We’re excited to support University of Michigan in gaining important insights about earthquakes and tsunamis.”
More information about Spica’s work using fiber-optic cables can be found in “Michigan News.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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