Live data from ONC’s ‘land+seafloor’ seismic sensor network is available for integration into the Canadian Earthquake Early Warning system. ONC does not issue public alerts.
ONC real-time seismic sensor data, captured by onshore and offshore sensors, is available to be integrated with government organizations that issue public alerts in Canada and the United States.
This ‘land+seafloor’ network provides additional warning time compared to land-only systems for most earthquakes occurring off the BC coast– including megathrust subduction zone events in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
ONC is also working with BC operators of major infrastructure to formally launch an earthquake information and messaging system.
Subscribers will be able to sign up for ONC’s automated messages that detail earthquake shake arrival times, location, intensity and magnitude (M). This information can be used to support actions to protect lives and infrastructure before ground shaking arrives.
Why BC needs offshore sensors to mitigate earthquake risk
Did you know that the majority of earthquakes occur in the ocean?
ONC’s seafloor sensors are located near the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a seismically active area capable of producing megathrust earthquakes – aka the “Big One.”
This proximity of sensors to the Cascadia fault can provide extra time to notify subscribers before ground-shaking arrives.
Offshore earthquake scenario in BC
(Left video) A land-based sensor network provides Victoria with 39 seconds of warning. (Right video) A ‘land+seafloor’ network provides 58 seconds - that is 48% more warning time (19 secs) of groundshaking arrival, due to the ocean sensors. ONC notices are customizable to the subscriber’s location.
When every second counts…
Even a few seconds of notification are enough to take protective and preventive measures that can save lives, prevent injury and protect infrastructure.
British Columbia, Taiwan and Japan are the only locations in the world that offer ‘land+seafloor’ seismic sensor networks.
ONC acknowledges the support and collaboration from the BC and federal governments, academia, industry and communities in developing one of the world’s most advanced earthquake notification systems.
ONC’s seismic network by the numbers
Map showing ONC's seismic system locations
ONC conducts maintenance and updates to its offshore seismic stations during its regular ONCabyss expedition season. This broadband seismometer, filmed during a 2023 dive, is one of many devices that contribute to ONC’s subsea earthquake notification system. Footage: OET/OET
Header image: ONC’s live window into deep ocean earthquakes: ONC’s seismic sensors recorded more than 200 small earthquakes at its Endeavour site in NEPTUNE observatory off the coast of Vancouver Island on March 6, 2024. The pink triangles show the locations of ONC seismometers, and the red lines show the seafloor cables that provide power and Internet connectivity. The orange lines show the trace of the main fault lines.
