Lynam, C.J.; Karunaratne, A. Citizen Science and The University of Queensland Seismograph Stations (UQSS)—A Study of Seismic T Waves in S-W Pacific Ocean. Sustainability2023, 15, 10885.
Lynam, C.J.; Karunaratne, A. Citizen Science and The University of Queensland Seismograph Stations (UQSS)—A Study of Seismic T Waves in S-W Pacific Ocean. Sustainability 2023, 15, 10885.
Lynam, C.J.; Karunaratne, A. Citizen Science and The University of Queensland Seismograph Stations (UQSS)—A Study of Seismic T Waves in S-W Pacific Ocean. Sustainability2023, 15, 10885.
Lynam, C.J.; Karunaratne, A. Citizen Science and The University of Queensland Seismograph Stations (UQSS)—A Study of Seismic T Waves in S-W Pacific Ocean. Sustainability 2023, 15, 10885.
Abstract
Abstract: This paper summarises an early and successful piece of citizen science, performed within The University of Queensland Seismograph Stations (UQSS) observatory, in cooperation with colleagues at CSIRO. It was designed to en-courage young STEM students from Brisbane high schools to engage in “real” re-search, back in 1995. Having completed the project report, their (analog) results sat in a cupboard until the report was dusted off and the project was re-analysed in 2022 by an honors student, considering timely climate change applications for the study. This is a time when science is changing considerably from analog to digital medium and operational methods.
The original project was called Earthquake generated T phases on BRS Seismograph (Brisbane, Q’ld)- a predictor for Tasman Sea Tsunamis? [1] Fortunately, seismology is a very collaborative field. The research question has since changed. There is a lot of data analysis involved in the science of recording earthquake signals, with auxiliary definitive catalogues, observers logbooks, housing of the recordings themselves (analog and digital) and the software mediums that change over time. In other words, a lot of headaches can be encountered in longitudinal data collection study such as this. The citizen science students used a pre-prepared decadal collection (1980-90) derived from the BRS observatory data catalogue. BRS is part of the global World-Wide Seismograph Station Network (WWSSN).
Currently in Australia, university earth science observatories have diminished, and in their place, public seismic networks (PSN) have evolved, either in back-yard sheds or school science labs. The level of expertise required fits the role of advancing citizen science for a real science advantage. This is a topical citizen disaster preparedness action area for today’s climate emergency, which is threatening the globe and all lifeforms. Citizen engagement or mobilisation is an essential preparedness strategy.
Keywords: citizen science 1; seismology 2; earth observation 3; climate change 4; education for sustainable development 5; disaster preparedness 6; disaster alerts 7
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Geology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
