Carboneras fault under scrutiny

A MOBILE unit from Spain’s National Seismic Network will remain in Roquetas throughout the month of May.

The unit will take readings to pinpoint the origin of recent seismic movements in the area.

Investigators so far have located earth tremors near the Carboneras Fault – Almeria coast’s biggest and most dangerous.

The fault is the scientists’ principal target although initial results are not well-defined.

This is a repetition of 2010 when the Carboneras Fault was eventually eliminated as the origin of earlier tremors.

So far they have established that seismic movements exist near the fault.

“We can’t be sure,” admitted Emilio Carreño, head of the National Seismic Network.

“We have located epicentres above the fault but there is no direct association,” he said.

“Another fault could meet the Carboneras Fault at some point because the present movements appear to be aligned at right angles to it and the coast,” Carreño explained.

The unit was also hampered by the difficulty in taking underwater measurements.

Although there is a permanent station on Alboran, it is affected by noise from the sea and is not ideal for measuring small tremors, he said.

“Ideally there would be sensors on the seabed, but we do not have this type of technology,” Carreño added.

“That is why we are in Roquetas, as near to the sea as possible.”