APPROACH

•        Community-based educational workshops

•        Increase earthquake and volcanic monitoring capacity

Partner with:

•        INSIVUMEH (Instituto Nacional de Sismología,Vulcanología,Meteorología e Hidrología)

•        Regional firefighters and EMT groups

•        Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala City and Universidad del Valle - Guatemala

•        US- and UK-based Universities

Project consists of two components:

•        Implementation of a regional seismic array consisting of low-cost “Raspberry Shake” 3C seismometer stations covering the Motagua-Polochic fault system.

•        Installation of a permanent broadband 3C seismometer and infrasound sensor on Pacaya Volcano.

Project managers:

•        Steve Roche (Principal Investigator – USA)

•        Bert Echeverria (Field Director – Guatemala)

Regional Seismic Monitoring Network

We collaborate with INSIVUMEH, the equivalent of the USGS, and provided twenty-one (21) RaspberryShake 3C seismometers in 2022 to augment their earthquake monitoring network.  Our focus is the Montagua-Polochic fault system, which represents the major plate tectonic boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates.  A magnitude 7.4 earthquake ruptured this fault in 1976.  Loss of life exceeded 23,000 people.

Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS)

INSIVUMEH, led by Robin Yani and Diego Castro, have developed a cellular phone-based Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS).  Our project RaspberryShake seismometers are fully integrated into the EEWS.  The app is free (search on ‘INSIVUMEH Alerta de Terremotos’), please download and participate!

Volcan Pacaya

A second aspect of our project is assisting INSIVUMEH in monitoring Volcan Pacaya, an active volcano located less than 20km south of Guatemala City.  Pacaya represents a serious geohazard for this large population center.  GWB funding purchased a broadband seismometer and we worked with Amilcar Roca (INSIVUMEH – volcanologist) to deploy the sensor on the southeast flank of Pacaya.

Student Support

Student Internship program at INSIVUMEH.  GWB funding provides a monthly student stipend, administered through Hearts In Motion.  Our students and their research topics are…

David Barral - Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala

“Implementation and quality control of a seismic network utilizing RaspberryShake sensors in the vicinity of the Polochic-Motagua fault system”

Elena Rodriguez - Universidad del Valle - Guatemala

“Analysis of the Seismicity Characteristics of the Volcan Pacaya system in Guatemala”

Dulce Calán - Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala

“A Mw Magnitude Estimation from Corner Frequencies for Earthquakes Recorded by the Guatemala National Seismic Network”

Useful Link

The project waveform data are available through the RaspberryShake seismic data server. 

See https://stationview.raspberryshake.org/

You can navigate to the map of the sensors in Guatemala and surrounding areas, click on a sensor and view/download the waveform data.

Community Outreach

La Tierra In Motion funds community outreach programs and workshops to increase awareness of geohazards and ways to mitigate loss of life.  Information regarding the availability of the Earthquake Early warning System (EEWS) is a key objective.

Interested in more?

If you have questions about this program, desire to donate, or want to get involved, feel free to contact Steve Roche (email slroche314@gmail.com) .  Alternatively call Hearts In Motion directly at 219-924-2446 (email information@heartsinmotion.org)

Geoscientists Without Borders (GWB)

Supporting the humanitarian applications of geoscience around the world. Geoscientists without Borders® (GWB) serves as a catalyst by bringing capable scientists together with communities in need to solve their challenges. The program funds these projects, which assists geoscientists and their teams in collaborating with multidisciplinary and community-based partners. The project team collects, processes, and interprets data to provide solutions and resources that result in a sustainable humanitarian benefit to the community.

See Geoscientists without Borders - SEG