USGS Develops Twitter-Based Earthquake Detection

sprinkletown writes "A team of seismologists at the US Geological Survey has found that Twitter is the fastest way to get information out of an earthquake area, especially in those less densely populated. Seeing the Twitter community as an untapped resource, the USGS has developed a new way to track earthquakes by clustering quake-centric tweets."

Comments

Thats a great idea

[MichaelSmith]

Twitter users can be repurposed as sensors for vibration, voltage and even temperature!

Ironic name

[AthanasiusKircher]

From the Oxford English Dictionary:

TWITTER
...
3. intr. To move tremulously, tremble, shake, quiver, shiver...

So, for an alternative article summary: the USGS will use twitterers on Twitter who are twittering about twittering.

[cue chorus of groans]

Re:A real purpose to Twitter

[Facegarden]

Seriously. This is the sort of thing twitter is really good at.

It's not knowing what Britney is eating for breakfast. Or how much a SKANK Malinda next door is. Or how much a bastard Billy is, oh but he's such a hunk. Or what color Aston K's turds are.

Thank goodness twitter popularity is dying.

OMG, Malinda is SUCH a skank!