The University of Memphis and UT's Institute for Geophysics teamed up June 1 to study the New Madrid fault line located along the Mississippi River.
University of Memphis' Brian Waldron, civil engineering professor and co-investigator on the research project, said the information collected from the study will provide policy makers with information about potential earthquake activity in the area in case of a disaster.
"We're taking advantage of the Mississippi River to do geophysicist work [where] it's easier to record seismic data," said Kirk McIntosh, a UT research scientist.
He said scientists found evidence of an ancient earthquake on the New Madrid fault line that occurred before 1812, calling it a Paleoearthquake.
By mapping the structures of the rocks and sub-surfaces, the researchers can find fault lines and identify faults related to earthquake activity, McIntosh said. Researchers want to find whether there has been any recent seismic activity to determine the chance of an earthquake. By studying the Mississippi River's shallow riverbed, researchers will determine if the river's layers would liquify or ooze, thus causing sediment shifts. These shifts in sediment could impede navigation on the river or cause "road blocks," Waldron said.
"This won't prevent earthquakes, won't necessarily help in timing [when they will occur], but help in preparation where hazard is greater," Waldron said.
Using seismic reflection profiling, researchers can penetrate the earth's surface up to 1 kilometer, or 0.62 miles, to identify fault lines and see whether the fault lines have moved or shifted over time.
Research on the New Madrid fault line is focused on collecting data from Helena, Ark., to Caruthersville, Mo., but Waldron hopes the project will expand.
"We would like to use this concept as an avenue into other areas or continents," said Waldron.
