Measuring the seismic pulse of the Earth using fibre optics

分布式声学传感(DAS)是一种新兴的被动地震技术，它将通信光缆(暗光纤)转换为数千个独立的地面运动传感器。该项目旨在利用DAS和由此产生的大数据来开发前所未有的地球结构的高分辨率图像，探测微震活动，从而将地质观测与地球过程联系起来。这一强大技术的成果包括对地球地下进行精细的地震成像，作为地质过程和地球化学的最佳替代。好处包括转变对矿产资源、水、地下结构变化的勘探，以及对澳大利亚和世界各地的地质灾害评估。

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly emerging passive seismic technique that converts telecommunication fibre-optic cables (dark fibres) into thousands of individual ground motion sensors. This project aims to harness DAS and the big data arising from it to develop unprecedented high-resolution images of the Earth’s structure, detect micro-seismicity, and thereby relate geological observations to Earth processes. Outcomes of this powerful technique include fine-scale seismic imaging of the Earth’s subsurface as the best proxy for geological processes and geochemistry. Benefits include transforming exploration of mineral resources, water, changes in subsurface structure, as well as geohazard assessments for Australia and worldwide.