Earthquake sensors can now help identify planes flying overhead

Earthquake sensors can now help identify planes flying overhead

Thunder from an earthquake and the roar of a jet feel worlds apart. Yet deep under your feet, both can leave nearly the same kind of trace. New research from the University of Alaska Fairbanks shows that earthquake instruments can not only hear planes flying overhead, they can help identify what kind of aircraft is in the sky. Graduate student researcher Bella Seppi has shown that sensitive seismometers pick up tiny vibrations caused by aircraft…