Underground Seismic Monitoring Network Edited by

Earthquake forecasting is still extremely difficult despite a high demand for it globally. Its difficulty lies in the impenetrability of the earth and the complexity of earthquake gestation. To solve this problem, China will build its first underground “nephogram” network for earthquake monitoring in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

Construction will be led by the Sichuan Earthquake Early Warning Key Laboratory and the Chengdu-based Institute of Care-life. It will take two years to establish 2,000 monitoring stations in the two earthquake-prone provinces. The system will be the first of its kind in the world.

Nephogram is a term from meteorology, which is commonly used in weather forecasting. By analyzing the visual characteristics of clouds, meteorologists can infer the meteorological conditions that formed the clouds and predict future weather changes.

An underground “nephogram” network is formed by connecting seismic monitoring stations that provide data through real-time monitoring of the underground stress and energy directly related to earthquakes. The data is then transmitted to a forecasting center where it is automatically processed to generate an underground earthquakes map similar to a satellite nephogram used for weather forecasting.

The depths of earthquakes that are most destructive to humans are almost all less than 20 kilometers, including the catastrophic earthquakes in Tangshan, Hebei Province and Wenchuan, Sichuan Province.

The main goal of the underground seismic monitoring network is to solve the problem hindering imminent prediction of devastating shallow-focus earthquakes (less than 20 kilometers deep).

According to the scientific research plan, the Sichuan Earthquake Early Warning Key Laboratory and the Institute of Care-life will complete the underground seismic monitoring network in one to two years. Then, they will spend three years testing the new network using data collected from about 10 destructive earthquakes.

Already, the first monitoring station and sensor equipment of the network have been deployed at the Yingxiu Seismological Station in Wenchuan County.

Lessons from the Train

Not only are the huge varieties s of landscapes, cultures and buildings fascinating, so are all the different means eans of transportation to get around the he country. From little tuk-tuks and electric motorbikes to airliners, from om high-speed trains to buses with bunk unk beds, the country has options to suit uit all tastes and pockets.

Some prefer flying directly to the final destination to save time. However, traveling by a sleeper train rain in China is a unique experience. The environment along the way is s very authentic. Sitting next to locals als and chatting with them can enrich h the trip. Along the route, no matter ter whether sleeping on a hard or soft ft bed, sitting or standing, people of f all ages flood carriages and aisles with instant noodles and nuts. Some me snore loudly, and others offer to share an uncommon snack and food they brought in their extensive ive luggage. Such a trip leaves nobody dy unmoved. It is part of the surprise se of exploring China.

The first time I decided to take ke

Spanish Parents in China

I had lived in China for about two years before I finally convinced my parents to visit me. They had never traveled to a different continent and had a lot of misconceptions about China. But after showing them tons of pictures and promising they wouldn’t have to share their combs with anybody, they agreed.

After five days between Beijing’s alleys and rooftops, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, we took a journey to Anhui Province. We stayed at a small hotel in one of the Anhui villages. My parents really liked the environment. They were curious about every single aspect of Chinese culture and took photos of everything. Moreover, my father, who is a cook, loved trying every local specialty and asking about the ingredients. He doesn’t speak English or Chinese, however. He would still try to communicate in Spanish as if anyone could understand him, which always caused laughs alongside confusion.

One day after a long walk around town, he said he felt like cooking. Despite my attempts to explain to him that it wasn’t a good idea, he made me translate his intentions to the hotel owner, an extremely polite woman who couldn’t say no. As a result, we all ended up in the kitchen with the hotel’s chef helping my father cook some Spanish recipes with local products. Later, all of us, the hotel staff and my family, had dinner together. Actually, it was the best part of the trip.