The Ministry of Earth Sciences and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday installed two more seismometers in Palghar district to get a better understanding of the unexplained tremors occurring frequently in the region for over two months.
Since November last year, locals of Palghar district have been experiencing repeated seismic activity. At 6.39 p.m. on January 20, an earthquake of 3.6 magnitude hit Dahanu taluka.
While scientists have not reached any conclusions following inquiries into the cause of these quakes, they have now decided to gather data through these additional instruments. In December, the IMD had installed a seismometer in Vedanta Hospital in Palghar. On Sunday, one portable seismometer was installed at Jamshet Dongripada Anganwadi study room, and another at Talasari in Dahanu.
“These instruments will measure the magnitude, record it and send us the data. They are for field observation and survey,” Krishnanand Hosalikar, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, told The Hindu . A team of two scientists from Ministry of Earth Sciences and one from IMD, Mumbai, has been deputed for the task.
Reduced frequency
According to the IMD, while major tremors were felt in November and December last year, January has seen fewer quakes. “Tremors in Palghar are not a new thing. The tremors that are generally over magnitude 3 are reported. In January, there have almost been no tremors,” Mr. Hosalikar said.
However, he added, that since the tremors were felt frequently, the ministry and IMD decided to set up an additional network to monitor them and analyse the data. “These machines will gather the data and transmit it to our centre in New Delhi, where it will be analysed for further clarity. Whether or not additional instruments are required will be determined by the survey conducted by these instruments. A report will then be submitted to the State government” he said.
According to Mr. Hosalikar, the seismometers will be kept at the locations till the data gathering is completed. “It can extend from nine to 12 months depending on the data and inputs that come over the period of time. There are certain standard operation procedures for installing of the instruments, techniques, civil engineering and survey criteria and exposure conditions that are to be met,” he said.
