Model Answer
- In geology, seismic noise refers to the relatively persistent vibration of the ground due to a multitude of causes. Seismic noise inside the Earth is nothing else but the hum of vibrations in the planet’s crust—produced by its movement.
- It is the unwanted component of signals recorded by a seismometer.
- Seismometer is the scientific instrument that records ground motions, such as those caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and explosions.
- This noise includes vibrations caused due to human activity, such as transport and manufacturing, and makes it difficult for scientists to study seismic data that is more valuable.
- Apart from geology, seismic noise is also studied in other fields such as oil exploration, hydrology, and earthquake engineering.
Why seismic noise levels are reducing now?
- In a latest development, scientists at the British Geological Survey (BGS) have reported a change in the Earth’s seismic noise and vibrations amid the coronavirus lockdown.
- As per the study, due to the enforcement of lockdown measures around the world to tackle the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Earth's crust has shown reduced levels of vibration.
- The scientists measured ground vibrations from earthquakes using seismometers.
- These are incredibly sensitive so they also pick up other sources of vibration too, including human activity, such as road traffic, machinery and even people walking past.
- All these things generate vibrations that propagate as seismic waves through the Earth.
- The scientists then compared the average daytime noise levels at seismic stations in the UK in the two week period since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown with the average noise levels for the beginning of the year.
- The results show reductions in noise levels at most of stations of between 10-50%."
Are these restrictions helpful?
- The seismic noise vibrations caused by human activity are of high frequency (between 1-100 Hz), and travel through the Earth's surface layers.
- Usually, to measure seismic activity accurately and reduce the effect of seismic noise, geologists place their detectors 100 metres below the Earth's surface.
- However, since the lockdown, researchers have said that they were able to study natural vibrations even from surface readings, owing to lesser seismic noise.
- Due to lower noise levels, scientists are now hoping that they would be able to detect smaller earthquakes and also see low amplitude parts of the ground motions caused by larger earthquakes that had slipped past their instruments so far.
- Moreover, the fall in noise will also profit seismologists who utilize generally happening history vibrations, such as those from crashing sea waves, to probe Planet’s crust.
Conclusion:
A fall in human-induced sound could enhance the degree of level of sensitivity of detectors to natural waves at comparable frequencies. There’s a substantial possibility definitely it could bring about much better measurements.
Procedure of Answer Writing:
To participate in the answer writing
program, Register yourself for the test. Copies will be evaluated
only for the registered students. Registration will be closed after
the scheduled date.
Answer Writing, Copy Evaluation, and Marks Improvement
Cycle:
Step 1 (Theme, Details & Its
Topics):
- Every round of Answer writing initiative will be around a theme
related to the Subject/Topic.
- Please read the theme and its description, and try to cover the
topics given within the theme before writing the answer along with
the sources.
Step 2 (Answer
Writing):
- Questions will be uploaded on the portal on the scheduled date at
7:00 AM.
- You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins
on both sides based on the UPSC pattern.
- Mention your name, email id, location, and phone number on the 1st
page in the top right corner and the page number on each page.
- After writing the answers, Click pictures of each page of your
answer sheet, merge them all in a single PDF and upload them in the
upload section of the same question.
- Kindly submit your written answers before 7:00 PM. Only the
first 100 copies will be considered for evaluation. No request
for late submission or evaluation will be entertained once the
100 mark is reached.
Note: Answer sheets without the
proper guidelines given above will not be accepted for
evaluation.
Step 3 (Copy
Evaluation): Copies will be evaluated in the
next 72 hours of the test date. After evaluation, copies will be uploaded
into your account. During the copy evaluation period, doubt clearing and
discussion about the theme or topic of the test with respective mentors
of the test will be done in the telegram group.
Step 4 (Mentorship):
Evaluated copies will be sent to you via mail and also uploaded into
your account on the website. After that a mentorship session for the
marks improvement with respective faculty will be conducted on the
Google Meet, so that students can get a wider perspective of the
topics. Here you can discuss your evaluated copies also with the
faculty. Top 5 copies of every test will be shared in the telegram group for
reference.
Note: Aspirants who have not written the test can also participate in
the mentorship session.
For Updates and Mentorship of the session, you will be notified
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