Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Pacific Coast get a New Earthquake Monitering System

Heredia’s Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica (OVISCORI) has just opened it’s newest earthquake monitoring station, on the Pacific coast, near Los Suenos in the Jaco area.

The observatory runs 36 stations around the country and provides real time readouts. The observatory is in the process of updating their current stations as well, may which have been in operation since the 70’s. New digital systems are replacing the old school technology. Currently 14 stations have been updated.

Scientists compare the reports from the various locations in order to calculate magnitude, location and depth of earthquakes. The central pacific coast is extremely active for 2 reasons. The Coco’s tectonic plate is colliding wit h the Panama microplate to the south as well as being sub ducted under the Caribbean Plate, even though the later is much lighter.

For more information you can visit their website at:

http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/sismologia/sismogramas_linea.htm

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