ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Underwater communication cables could double as seismic monitors — which in turn could protect cables

It's an unexpected marriage of technologies.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
June 13, 2023 - Updated on June 14, 2023
in News, Science
A A
Edited and reviewed by Zoe Gordon
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

We talk a lot about satellites and cloud communication, but the bulk of communication still relies on underwater cables. In fact, over 95% of international data and transfers are currently routed through seafloor cables. These cables are not invulnerable — they can be damaged by earthquakes and tsunamis. Now, researchers may have a new way to monitor this damage.

seismic cable
A deep sea plow deploys the 6 km strain cable (black line) across the seafloor and North Alfeo Fault (red line). Image credits: Gutscher et al, 2023 / Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

In recent years, earth scientists have found a new and remarkable way to monitor seismic activity: through cables themselves. This was done with telecom cables on land and a study from a few years ago even suggested that it could be done with underwater cables.

Detecting and monitoring seismic activity is essential for assessing risks to the population and understanding the Earth’s internal structure. In fact, much of what we know about the planet’s deep subsurface comes from seismic waves. But since the Earth’s surface is more than 70% water, and most of the seismometers are on land, it’s trickier to monitor seismic activity at sea because you have big gaps with no sensors.

Previously, researchers showed that if an underwater cable is long enough, its ends can double as a seismometer to localize earthquakes. In the new study, took it even further.

They used a remotely operated vehicle to deploy a 6-km-long cable at a depth of 2,100 meters below the sea surface of Sicily, in an area known for its geologic activity — particularly its geological faults. The cable was then attached to a longer 29-km-long fiber optic cable. This fiber optic cable works the magic.

Fiber optic cables work by using light to transmit information over long distances. They consist of thin strands of glass or plastic known as optical fibers. Each fiber is about the diameter of a human hair and multiple fibers are bundled together and used to transmit information. By using specialized equipment that analyzes interference, researchers can identify scattered, imperfect transmissions, highlighting areas where the cable was deformed in some way.

This approach enables researchers to monitor cable health in almost real-time. To test this, they deployed 79 sandbags, each weighing 25 kg, at 120-meter intervals along the cable. This extended the overall length of the cable by up to 4 cm. The technology was able to detect this distortion, which is good news not just for earthquakes, but also for other threats to cables.

RelatedPosts

Trump getting arrested and Putin kneeling: AI image disinformation is already happening
Rising oceans and sinking bread: how climate change might ruin loaves
New technique bypasses Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
Novel cancer ‘assassin’ discovered: Huntington’s Disease
underwater scan
Sandbags being deployed on undersea fiber optic cables. Image credits: Gutscher et al., 2023.

Underwater cables are often covered by material pushed by strong currents or turbidity flows, and this deformation is hard to pick up. Typically, this monitoring and detection of damage is extensive and costly, but applying this technology means cables susceptible to damage can be identified promptly for repair. By identifying and addressing cable damage promptly, we can minimize disruptions and maintain the integrity of our worldwide connectivity.

The potential applications of this technology could extend beyond simply monitoring the health of underwater cables. Although the research team didn’t focus on this, the same fiber optic cables could also serve as a massive, global seismic network, aiding in the detection and localization of undersea earthquakes. This could be a game-changer for our understanding of Earth’s deep-sea seismic activity, and could dramatically improve our ability to predict and prepare for natural disasters.

Journal Reference: Marc-André Gutscher et al, Detecting strain with a fiber optic cable on the seafloor offshore Mount Etna, Southern Italy, Earth and Planetary Science Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118230

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Future

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet ‘Sea Monster’ That’s Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

byTibi Puiu
13 hours ago
great white shark
Animals

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

byJordan Strickler
15 hours ago
Agriculture

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

byTudor Tarita
15 hours ago
News

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

byMihai Andrei
16 hours ago

Recent news

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet ‘Sea Monster’ That’s Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

June 30, 2025
great white shark

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

June 30, 2025

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.