Presenter
Zhongwen Zhan
Professor of Geophysics
Seismological Laboratory
California Institute of Technology
Description
Fiber optic sensing has significantly advanced seismological resolution in recent years, enhancing our ability to study environmental phenomena from tectonic scales down to details as fine as tens of meters. This technological leap offers broad spatial coverage and uninterrupted temporal sampling, addressing challenges in hydrology and glaciology such as deploying and maintaining observational systems with adequate coverage and sensor density. In this lecture, I will discuss two exemplary projects: the South Pole Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) array, utilizing an 8-km fiber-optic cable at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, and the Indian Wells Valley DAS array, operational since 2019. These initiatives underscore the vast research potential at the intersection of fiber-optic seismology, glaciology, and hydrology, showcasing how these technologies can illuminate new paths for environmental seismology.
