Tiny Seismograph in Wyoming Tracks Global Earthquakes
A small but powerful seismograph installed in Laramie, Wyoming, is poised to transform how geologists monitor earthquakes locally and globally, Cowboy State Daily reports.
This cutting-edge device, known as Raspberry Shake, is expected to provide new insights into unexplained seismic activity in southern Wyoming.
The Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) selected Raspberry Shake for its affordability, compact size, and ease of installation. This innovative device, created using the Raspberry Pi microcomputer, is part of a global network of over 2,000 stations in 70 countries, detecting approximately 700 earthquakes daily.
“I am not a seismologist, and I’ve never installed a seismograph before, but I was able to install this Raspberry Shake,” said James Mauch, a WSGS geologist. “These tools are remarkable for detecting local and global earthquakes and are accessible even to citizen scientists.”
The device detects ground motion through a geophone, which converts the data into real-time seismograms available online.
While southern Wyoming is not considered highly active seismically, minor earthquakes have been recorded in the Saratoga Valley and nearby areas. Mauch noted that this region averages one magnitude 3.0 earthquake per year, significant enough to be felt but not cause structural damage.
“This area is not fully understood geologically,” Mauch explained. “By densifying the seismic network with tools like Raspberry Shake, we can detect and analyze smaller quakes, shedding light on the tectonic environment.”
One hypothesis for southern Wyoming’s seismic activity links it to the Rio Grande rift, a tectonic system spanning Colorado to New Mexico. If proven, this would extend the rift’s influence farther north than previously documented.
The data gathered by the Laramie seismograph could play a key role in validating this theory and furthering geological research.
The Raspberry Shake in Laramie joins other units in Wyoming cities like Casper and Cheyenne. It contributes to the global seismic network while providing a real-time educational resource for researchers and the public.
“Even a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean can be detected here,” Mauch said. “This seismograph is an excellent outreach tool and will help advance our understanding of tectonic processes both near and far.”
