New way to detect Earthquakes and save lives

About the Project:

The RF-Seismograph was developed in 2016 by Alex Schwarz, an amateur radio operator, for the solar eclipse experiment in August 2017. The set-up, which includes a shortwave antenna, shortwave receiver, and specialized software, has the capabilities to see changes in the ionosphere around the world. The "RF-Seismograph" was tested by a team of volunteers. We did not measure a big difference during the eclipse, but the solar science that we were able to record was invaluable. After the eclipse, we decided to let the instrument run and worked to improve its stability and reliability. In the fall of 2019 we made an exciting discovery. We found that the RF-Seismograph was actually able to record earthquakes by detecting radio propagation changes during 3 local quakes.

Since we had the RF-Seismograph running since 2016, we started to investigate all of our collected data. As our understanding developed, we were able to confirm that out of more than 200 M6.0+ quakes that occurred during the time data was collected, at least 80% were detected. Over time, we worked to modify all aspects of the set-up to be more efficient. With our improved setup and software, we can now match over 95% of all significant earthquakes that are detected by the USGS Mechanical Seismograph System! One shortwave receiver located in Vancouver, Canada is able to detect earthquakes around the world! But, to this day, it is the only station that is capable of receiving the changes earthquakes make; we would like to change that.

At the beginning of 2020, we started to develop the RF-Viewer which had the goal of matching shortwave propagation detected by the RF-Seismograph with the quake database of the USGS detected quakes. The title images were created by this software, showing the changes earthquakes make while they occur. With the improved knowledge of how earthquakes can be detected by the changing shortwave reception, there is hope that one day it may lead to a pre-earthquake warning system.

The RF-Seismograph team provides a real-time propagation report on our website as well as a daily summary of the earthquakes that have been detected. We also offer a synopsis report explaining the recorded events. Our daily Quake versus Propagation reports and report history are available through our user group:
https://www.qsl.net/rf-seismograph/
https://groups.io/g/MDSRadio

Any funds that we collect will be going to one or more Universities that can replicate the findings of the RF-Seismograph and show that the concept of detecting earthquakes via the changes of the ionosphere is feasible.

We cannot do this alone… that why we are creating the X-Prize that we are currently fundraising for.