The Virginia earthquake a couple days ago must have rattled a thought into my head: what citizen science projects exist for seismology. And lookit what we have from California, no less!
Presenting the Quake-Catcher Network from Stanford University, "a collaborative initiative for developing the world's largest, low-cost, strong-motion seismic network by utilizing sensors in and attached to internet-connected computers." Whew!
Let me sum it up real quick. Many laptops have Sudden Motion Sensors, designed to protect the hard drive in the event of a fall (yeah, I didn't know that either). Using this little accelerometer which mostly sits idle, the QCN software can keep an eye out for high-energy signals (significant seismic activity), transfer the data to QCN headquarters, and compare it to data packets sent in from other QCN participants. If no one else is registering activity, it's probably just a truck rumbling down your street. However, if many other participants are indicating energy bursts, then there is a good chance there's a quake.
Can you participate even if you do not have a laptop with motion sensors? Why yes. For about 50 bucks you can order a USB motion sensor to plug right into your computer. In fact, you would have to take this route to add a desktop to the network.
Speaking of desktops and USB motion sensors, QCN has a sensor program for K-12 teachers. For a modest fee ($5 per sensor) you can obtain up to three USB seismometers for use in schools. Teachers can also borrow up to 15 sensors for three weeks at no charge, besides $10.35 return postage.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Field Expedition: Mongolia
Citizen Scientists can play a little bit of Indiana Jones right from the comfort of their living room. Okay, it might not be nearly as cool as being there yourself, but at least you won't deal with snakes, bandits, maniacal adversaries. Plus, your efforts will help professional archaeologists in their quest to find the Tomb of Genghis Khan.
National Geographic is the sponsor behind Field Expedition: Mongolia, a project in which participants pour over satellite photos to identify potential sites of further archaeological investigation. The goals of this project are succinctly identified in the projects's mission statement:
"This study aims to utilize modern non-invasive tools in the search for the tomb of Genghis Khan, thus shedding light on Mongolia's rich historical heritage and enabling conservation and education of this rapidly changing landscape."
You may ask how rapidly can Mongolia's landscape be changing? As this blurb in Scientific American points out, the regions suffers a growing trend of illegal mining. My guess is these operations pay no heed to any potential archaeological finds that may be hidden beneath the earth.
There are a couple things I really like about this project. First, having been trained in geography and GIS, I know a bit about the art of aerial photo interpretation. It's an interesting subject that takes a bit of practice. Once you have some of the basics down, however, you'll never look at Google Maps imagery quite the same way.
Second, the project really does emphasize the importance of archaeological conservation. Any prospective sites found in the imagery will be carefully evaluated with a slew of techniques way before any shovels are poked into the ground. Careful surveying, ground penetrating radar, diligent cataloging...all are very important steps used by modern archaeologists to preserve as much of the area of interest as possible.
Third, as I stated early on in this post, it's a chance to...okay maybe not be, but definitely help Indiana Jones with some very important work. And I know, I know, invoking the spectacular myth of Indiana Jones seems such a cliche. But in my defense I was 8 years old when this movie came out. I saw it probably half a dozen times in the movie theater.
Even though I did not go on to do archaeology, and even though I understand that normal archaeologists do not strut around with a bull whip and six shooter, I have never lost that fascination of digging into the past. And I believe there are quite a few liked-minded people out there in the webosphere. To them I say, "Here's your chance."
National Geographic is the sponsor behind Field Expedition: Mongolia, a project in which participants pour over satellite photos to identify potential sites of further archaeological investigation. The goals of this project are succinctly identified in the projects's mission statement:
"This study aims to utilize modern non-invasive tools in the search for the tomb of Genghis Khan, thus shedding light on Mongolia's rich historical heritage and enabling conservation and education of this rapidly changing landscape."
You may ask how rapidly can Mongolia's landscape be changing? As this blurb in Scientific American points out, the regions suffers a growing trend of illegal mining. My guess is these operations pay no heed to any potential archaeological finds that may be hidden beneath the earth.
There are a couple things I really like about this project. First, having been trained in geography and GIS, I know a bit about the art of aerial photo interpretation. It's an interesting subject that takes a bit of practice. Once you have some of the basics down, however, you'll never look at Google Maps imagery quite the same way.
Second, the project really does emphasize the importance of archaeological conservation. Any prospective sites found in the imagery will be carefully evaluated with a slew of techniques way before any shovels are poked into the ground. Careful surveying, ground penetrating radar, diligent cataloging...all are very important steps used by modern archaeologists to preserve as much of the area of interest as possible.
Third, as I stated early on in this post, it's a chance to...okay maybe not be, but definitely help Indiana Jones with some very important work. And I know, I know, invoking the spectacular myth of Indiana Jones seems such a cliche. But in my defense I was 8 years old when this movie came out. I saw it probably half a dozen times in the movie theater.
Even though I did not go on to do archaeology, and even though I understand that normal archaeologists do not strut around with a bull whip and six shooter, I have never lost that fascination of digging into the past. And I believe there are quite a few liked-minded people out there in the webosphere. To them I say, "Here's your chance."
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thanks ATA Donors
Like a lot of SETI@Home participants I was dismayed earlier this year that the Allen Telescope Array had lost funding and was shut down. A story on Space.com lifted our hearts: ATA is back online!
I'm sure lots of people pitched in to raise the $200,000 needed to operate the array through the end of this year. The story gives an extra-special shout out to Jodie Foster, who you recall played SETI scientist Dr. Ellie Arroway in the 1997 film "Contact".
On that note, I'd like to encourage anyone passing through this blog to sign up to analyzed parcels of radio data for signs of ET at SETI@Home. If you so wish, you are welcome to join the team for Citizen Science Works.
I'm sure lots of people pitched in to raise the $200,000 needed to operate the array through the end of this year. The story gives an extra-special shout out to Jodie Foster, who you recall played SETI scientist Dr. Ellie Arroway in the 1997 film "Contact".
On that note, I'd like to encourage anyone passing through this blog to sign up to analyzed parcels of radio data for signs of ET at SETI@Home. If you so wish, you are welcome to join the team for Citizen Science Works.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Whale Shark Tracking
Here's something for the scuba enthusiasts out there from ECOCEAN: the Whale Shark Photo-identification Library. Through the clever of a pattern-differentiation algorithm used by astronomers, ocean scientists can identify individuals of whale shark populations. Divers lucky enough to swim with these fishies snap a picture on the left flank of the shark, just above the pectoral fin. Make sure you are level and perpendicular to the shark. Send your photo off to ECOCEAN, where a scientist will crop the image, run it through some software, and compare it to other patterns already in the library. From their website: "The information you submit will be used in mark-recapture studies to help with the global conservation of this threatened species."
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