Scanning the land

Quake data analyses yield an improved model of Southern California’s crust

When the ground quakes, scientists as well as everyday folk take notice. By analyzing motions recorded by hundreds of seismometers during dozens of quakes, researchers have compiled a new and improved geological model of Southern California’s crust. The resulting high-resolution model is much like a CT scan of the earth and will enable more accurate estimates of seismic hazards in the region, scientists report.