Signals that the Earth sends out – an opportunity for NASA and Ames

Friedemann Freund
ARC-SGE/SETI/SJSU

We have recently made progress in understanding processes in the Solid Earth
that have relevance for more than one ROSES program. Specifically we find that
rocks, when subjected to tectonic stresses, turn into a battery. They produce
electric currents in the Earth, potentially millions of amperes strong.  The
reason is that rocks contain dormant electronic charge carriers.  When they
“wake up”, there are valence fluctuations in the oxygen anion sublattice. 

This discovery can lead to proposals for the following ROSES calls:
C.4 	Planetary Geology and Geophysics
C.12 	Mars Fundamental Research 
A.15	Earth System Science Research using Data and Products from the Terra,
Aqua, and ACRIMSAT Satellites
A.11	Earth Surface and Interior

Though Solid Earth is primarily the domain of the USGS, NASA has unique
mission capabilities that can be used to establish a new, vibrant research
area at Ames with many application opportunities.  Specifically I’ll
mention research leading to a better understanding of pre-earthquake signals.