Earthquakes can be predicted from space

Recently examination space cluster "Skolkovo" has successfully passed the project to create a system that allows to predict earthquakes from space. To do this, scientists need to launch a dozen satellites that would detect changes in the ionosphere, the upper layer of Earth's atmosphere (85-650 km). The project will work the members of the Institute of Physics of the Earth, Myullardovskoy Space Science Laboratory at University College London and the Institute of Space and Solar Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The first phase is planned to create two such satellites, the launch of which is scheduled for late 2014 - early 2015. They also involve the creation of British experts. Together, scientists will create microsatellite TwinSat-1M and nano-satellite TwinSat-1N. Devices that are in the low Earth orbit (altitude 400 km) displays rocket "Dnepr", will monitor the ionosphere for several years. In orbit satellites will spend 2 years, collecting data that will be analyzed later.

She is constantly exposed to cosmic radiation, ionizing radiation from the sun, there are formed "The Shining" and settle particles listed magnetic storms. Scientists have established a link between the electric fields in the ionosphere wave radiation and seismic processes of the Earth's crust. They believe that the mathematical processing of satellite data will help predict in advance the time and place of aftershocks.

In orbit satellites will spend about two years, during which they obtained data will be analyzed. The second phase of the program, based on the results of the previous one, involves the creation of more than 15 satellites, an onboard laboratory and a network of ground geophysical stations.

Source: www.izvestia.ru

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via factroom.ru