Tiltmeters Detecting Seismic Activity

There are many instruments to detect seismic activity. One important instrument is the tiltmeter. A tiltmeter, also known as an inclinometer, is an instrument used to measure slight changes in the inclination of the earth’s surface, usually in connection with volcanology and earthquake seismology.

The tiltmeter comes in various ways such as; high-precision, bubble, portable, fixed, electronic, and many others that may all be used slightly different. The use of high-precision tiltmeter has added valuable data source to large-structure monitoring such as dams, mines, powerplants, and bridges. The electronic tiltmeter is one of the most important because it detects such small ground motion. Tiltmeters measure the amount of tilt in microradians, which is the angle turned by raising one end of a beam one kilometer long the width of a dime.

The information it measures is the very small changes from horizontal level, either on ground or in structures. In simplest terms, tiltmeters work like a carpenter’s level, by measuring the change in slope. Originally, tiltmeters were designed as a part of guidance and control system for military missiles, a variety of electronic tiltmeters are now available for volcanic and earthquake monitoring though.

This information is very helpful to scientists studying volcanoes and earthquakes. In past events a tiltmeter has detected changes in slope of a volcano, because of swelling and bulging that it does before it erupts. Also on a graph, the tiltmeter was showing a rapid change in activity about two hours before the earthquake happened. This information can help scientists be prepared for these events in nature that are not easy to predict. It can also save many people’s lives and have others prepared.

Tiltmeters have shown to be very important instruments in detecting seismic activity. They can help with predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which is very useful and helpful to scientists and the general community.

(MH2)