French-Turkish Partnership Gives Conclusions On Seismologic Studies

French Ambassador to Turkey Laurent Bili was joined on stage by French Professor Louis Geli and Turkish Professor Nurcan Özel on Monday evening to discuss the results of research conducted by the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) and the Boğazici University Institute of Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research (KOERI) at the Palace of France in İstanbul.

The geophysicists who worked on the project discussed the research they had conducted for the MARsite project, which uses state-of-the-art technology to study seismic risk evaluation and management for the earthquake that is projected to occur at some point between now and 2030 in the Marmara Sea, which will affect İstanbul. Although the scientists know that the potential destruction the earthquake causes will be extensive, they face difficulty pinpointing exactly when the natural disaster will occur.

The seismology experts exhibited their research, which was conducted over a period of 36 months and which used GPS markings of where past earthquakes took place and in which years throughout the Marmara Sea. The research also used advanced technology to implant instruments under the seabed for long-term monitoring of hazards and evaluation, and to improve existing earthquake early-warning and rapid-response systems.

Though these efforts helps researchers better understand earthquakes, Prof. Özel says that this technology can potentially give alerts only 12 seconds before an earthquake occurs, and that is only the case if the earthquake occurs in certain regions.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)