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How a Shaking Stadium Is Helping Scientists Track Earthquakes

Posted by samzenpus on from the whole-lot-of-shaking-going-on dept.

vinces99 writes Researchers are installing three seismometers in Seattle's CenturyLink stadium to monitor shaking from Seahawks fans during Saturday's NFL playoff game. The new, faster data transmission will show crowd motion on the website before a touchdown shows up on the 10-second delayed TV broadcast. Researchers dub these "Early Earthquake Rowdiness Warnings." A guaranteed shaking and intense public interest gives the seismologists a unique opportunity to test new technology that gives seconds to minutes warning of a real earthquake.

1 of 25 comments (clear)

  1. Publicity Stunt by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I work a block from Centurylink Field. A contractor is currently running a piledriver in the Centurylink parking lot for the construction of a new hotel and will be driving over 100 piles through mid-March. The piledriver shakes my office building; Monday night football does not. The pilediver vibrations would provide a more realistic representation of seisimic activity in the area, not to mention an abundance of samples. This is simply a chance for the University of Washington (with its huge Husky Football progam) to team up with pro football on a publicity stunt under the ruse of science.