The experiment is set to begin on Monday.
Keystone-SDA
Researchers are preparing to create artificial quakes in an underground lab in Bedretto, in the southern Swiss canton of Ticino.
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Scientists have been injecting water for several days into a faultline between two layers of rock at the BedrettoLab, a research facility in the former Bedretto construction gallery of the Furka tunnel, operated by the federal technology institute ETH Zurich.
The aim is to set the boulders in motion and trigger an earthquake. For the experiment, researchers are gradually increasing pressure until an earthquake of magnitude 1 occurs, or until 2,000 cubic metres of water have been injected into the rock.
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Set off in Zurich
According to risk assessments, a magnitude 1 quake is unlikely to cause any significant damage, says the project website. However, “very minor” damage in the vicinity of the experiment is possible. Major damage to the tunnels would only be expected at magnitude of 2.5. The probability of this happening is estimated at around 1%.
According to the researchers, the probability of an earthquake causing damage outside the Bedretto tunnel is 1 in 10,000 – much lower than the probability of a natural earthquake occurring during the same period being felt or causing damage.
Nevertheless, nobody will be in the tunnel during the experiment, which is to be triggered remotely from Zurich.
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Predicting earthquakes
By taking measurements directly at the origin of an earthquake, the researchers hope to answer some fundamental questions. In particular, they want to know what happens immediately before an earthquake and what puts an end to such an event.
The researchers hope the data will make it possible to improve earthquake predictions, for which no reliable method has been found, despite decades of research.
“Since we don’t have time to wait for an earthquake to occur again in exactly the right place, we are triggering it ourselves,” said Stefan Wiemer from ETH Zurich and the Swiss Seismological Service, at a presentation last September.
The project, “Fault Activation and Earthquake Rupture” (FEAR), is the beneficiary of €14 million (CHF12.9 million) in funding from the European Research Council (ERC).
Adapted from French by AI/dos
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