Ding Ruitong, director of monitoring and predicting department of Hebei Earthquake Agency said in an interview, “Hebei earthquake monitor can detect the earthquakes of ML=2.0. It can automatically give real-time information within 2 minutes, and give detailed information within 8 minutes. In some places, information about the earthquake intensity will be reported within 30 minutes, and within several minutes the scope and degree of the earthquake can be reported. Thus it is convenient for people to know how serious the earthquake is and where are the damages. The monitor provides basis for post-earthquake rescue, and effectively reduce secondary economic losses. "
Since the reform and opening up, with continuous improvement of economic strength, scientific and technological level in Hebei, we have achieved great progress in the aspects of digit, information, and intelligence. Now we can offer more detailed and scientific information about earthquakes for the government, society and the public.
The observation mode is becoming digital and informational.
Take as an example the instruments for observing earthquakes in Hebei Province. The original analog instruments have been developing towards being digital. Now they have already become internet-connected, digital, intelligent and automatic.
In 1966 during the Xingtai earthquake, Premier Zhou Enlai inspected the smoked paper recording seismograph.
Analog seismograph in Kuancheng, Chengde City.
In 2000, before digital observation, the near real-time observation scene of earthquake networks.
Owing to the development of information, internet and digit, seismic observation technology has achieved a qualitative leap. At present, the digital observation uses wide-band and very wide-band seismograph, which help expand the scope and improve the accuracy of observation. The transmission mode from station to network center is changed into DDN, SDH and MST, which can realize the real-time transmission and collection. By interacting with computer, the reporter can quickly get the seismic parameters, thus greatly reduce the reporting time from hours to minutes.
Optimal arrangements of seismic stations and gradually improvement of the monitoring capacity
After more than 50 years of development, the number of seismic stations has been increased from less than ten to 73 seismological stations, 107 strong seismic stations and 250 intensity stations, distributed in 11 cities. With the optimal arrangements of seismic stations and gradually improvement of the monitoring capacity, the earthquake monitor of the whole province can detect the earthquakes of ML=2.0.The quick report of the seismic information can be done within 5-10 seconds, automatic quick report within 2 minutes, detailed quick report within 8 minutes, and earthquake intensity quick report within 30 minutes in some areas.
Seismic Monitoring Network of Hebei Earthquake Agency
Hebei Earthquake Agency has standardized automatic observation.
The public service products of earthquake information are increasingly rich.
In recent years, Hebei Earthquake Agency has fulfilled the tasks required in the national file ---- National Plan for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (2016-2020) .In accordance with the requirements in the National Strategic Outline for Information Development, the province vigorously promotes the application of new technology，such as the Internet of things, cloud computing, and big data in earthquake prevention and disaster reduction. It constantly promotes the "data resource, cloud application, and intelligent services" and has realized the transformation of services from conventional to intelligent.
In the picture is the typical application of earthquake warning service.
The observation system and the data-processing system of high-density stations in most areas of Tangshan and Zhangjiakou can handle the earthquake warning information within seconds after the occurrence of a destructive earthquake. They can also process the earthquake warning information within 10 minutes and produce the quick map of earthquake intensity. On September 14, 2015，an earthquake of Richter Scale 4.2 occurred in Changli. The ultra-fast system produced a quick report 5 seconds after the earthquake. If the S-wave velocity is 3.5km/s, it can save about 10 seconds for earlier warnings to Tangshan citizens, 57km away from the epicenter. At present, Hebei Province has started carrying out the projects of regional system of intensity quick report and national system of intensity quick report and early warning. Based on the principle of being in use while constructing, it is estimated that the earthquake warning and intensity quick report in the whole province can be done in 2023.
In 2015 after the earthquake warnings in Changli, the ultrafast system is producing the earthquake quick report.
Now we have various new ways to offer our services, and we can do it quickly and reach more people. Platform 12322 and mobile multimedia platform are our earthquake information service system sending messages to the public about the earthquakes and damage reduction. Millions of people can receive seismic information by means of website, microblog, Wechat, SMS. The contents of earthquake quick report are more abundant: at the early stage, only three basic elements of earthquake was given; now more than 20 kinds of information can be provided, such as the basic parameters of main shock, focal mechanism solution, aftershock distribution, tectonic stress field distribution, focal rupture process, vibration intensity prediction, peak acceleration distribution, instrument intensity and others. In recent years, the official microblog of Hebei seismological Department has been awarded many honorary titles, such as the award for best innovative application of microblog to government institution of Hebei , the award for best innovative application of government affairs microblog and other honorary titles. It also has ever been listed in the top headlines of national government affairs.
