Earthquake in Venezuela measurable as far away as Bochum

Although the earthquake's epicenter was approximately 8,120 kilometers from Bochum, the seismic waves were detected at Ruhr University Bochum's BUG seismic station just 12 minutes later.

"Earthquakes with a magnitude of about 6 or greater can generally be recorded by modern seismometers anywhere in the world," explains Dr. Kasper D. Fischer. "The seismic waves travel through the Earth's mantle and reach monitoring stations across the globe within minutes."

Measuring earthquakes in the Eulenstollen tunnel

The BUG seismic station is located inside the Eulenstollen tunnel on the grounds of the former Klosterbusch coal mine in the Bochum Lotten valley. Approximately 50 meters from the tunnel entrance, highly sensitive seismometers detect even the slightest ground motions.

The recorded seismogram shows a maximum ground velocity of about 300 micrometers per second (0.3 millimeters per second). While these movements are far too small to be felt by people, they can be measured with great precision by the station's sensitive instruments.

The BUG station belongs to Ruhr University Bochum and has been part of the German Regional Seismic Network (GRSN) since 1991. The network is coordinated by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR).

An important contribution to earthquake research

The Bochum seismic station records several strong earthquakes from around the world every day. In addition to contributing to global earthquake monitoring, BUG is used together with other seismic stations in the Ruhr region to monitor active and former mining activities.

The collected data provide valuable insights into earthquake hazards, the processes occurring within the Earth, and the structure of our planet. Using a technique known as seismic tomography, researchers can even create three-dimensional images of the Earth's interior, for example beneath the Alps or the Balkan Peninsula.

Why are earthquakes common in Venezuela?

Venezuela is located along the boundary between the South American Plate and the Caribbean Plate. The movement of these tectonic plates regularly builds up stress within the Earth's crust, which is released in the form of earthquakes.

According to media reports, the earthquake caused extensive damage. Numerous buildings collapsed, and several strong aftershocks followed, including one with a magnitude of 7.2.