Defense Department, USGS to study Mexican earthquakes

The U.S. Geological Survey and Department of Defense on Wednesday announced a half-million-dollar investment to install earthquake-monitoring machines in the Mexicali and Tijuana areas after last year’s Mexicali earthquake revealed huge gaps in detecting tremors south of the border.

U.S. and Mexican officials, speaking at a news conference at the U.S. Geological Survey office in Pasadena, said the monitoring equipment is critical so that quake scientists can identify the worst hit areas quickly and tell authorities where to send emergency crews.

Outdated quake detection equipment in Mexico last year meant that hours went by before officials knew exactly where the worst-hit areas were located.

Officials are aiming to make U.S. and Mexican quake-monitoring systems compatible with each other. The upgraded Mexican system also could be used as a backup in the event the U.S. earthquake-monitoring system fails during a major quake.