By Brad Kloza
 
November 12, 2008
 
RIVERSIDE, Ca. -- When an earthquake hits, it's class dismissed, but, a growing network of computers turned quake detectors may give scientists a better than ever look at earthquakes.
 
"to really see how a large earthquake works, we need lots of stations right next to the fault where we can record lots of data," says Jesse Lawrence with the Quake Catcher Network.
 
Stanford University's Jesse Lawrence and other researchers established the Quake Catcher Network. They started by taking advantage of a protective device in many newer laptop computers that senses when a computer is falling , and puts it into a safe mode. As he explained at an annual meeting of The American Geophysical Union, people can sign up to monitor earthquakes in their area. If enough computers in the same area sense movement at the same moment that tells the network that it's an earthquake.
 
"So, if it's a strong new motion it will be a nice clear spike and you'll see that it runs a line at that point which is a trigger and then informs our server," says Lawrence.
 
Lawrence says it's all about having more information more quickly.
 
"The thing is that the sensor can respond much faster and alert our server much faster than you. For example getting online, typing in how strong you felt the acceleration," says Lawrence.
 
They've expanded the program to desktop computers, but those volunteers need an external sensor. The network, which was originally designed to primarily monitor California quakes, has gone international, with volunteers as far away as Asia.
 
Since releasing the code in April, more than 3,600 people have signed up with around 700 of those currently participating.
 
If you'd like more information including how to download the software visit www.sciencentral.com