Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32665: Tracking Earthquakes from Space: The Science Behind High-Energy Particle Bursts

What if space could help us predict earthquakes on Earth? That’s the question behind the Russian experiment ‘Vsplesk’, short for ‘Monitoring Seismic Effects—Bursts of High-Energy Particles in Near-Earth Space.’ Led by Arkadi Galper from the National Research Nuclear University MEPHI, this ambitious experiment explores whether there’s a link between seismic activity on Earth and bursts of high-energy particles in near-Earth space.

Deployed across multiple ISS expeditions (14 through 38), Vsplesk installed detectors aboard the ISS to monitor for sudden increases in charged particle activity. These sensors aimed to capture anomalies in Earth’s magnetic field and cosmic radiation levels that might correlate with seismic events like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

The hypothesis is that stress in the Earth’s crust can produce electromagnetic emissions that travel through the atmosphere and impact the magnetosphere, leading to detectable changes in particle flows in space. If a reliable pattern can be established, this could revolutionize how we predict natural disasters, giving people on the ground more warning time to prepare and evacuate if necessary.

While the data is still being analyzed, early results are promising. Scientists have found instances where unusual particle bursts appeared just before significant seismic events. These findings could be a step toward a space-based early warning system for earthquakes.

Besides natural disaster prediction, this research deepens our understanding of the complex interactions between Earth's geology and space weather. It also supports future missions by helping spacecraft better prepare for particle radiation threats.

Join the Agnirva Space Internship Program

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.