Just a week ago or so, based on the most recent readings of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s seismic activity monitoring equipment, there have been tremors or small aftershocks near the Panama Canal. It comes to no surprise that there are tremors and shakes here because, based on datum over the past 500 years, there have been over a hundred tsunamis (alone) that pass near here. Although there is nothing serious yet about these quakes and shakes, the United States has spared no expense in earthquake monitoring because of the latest earthquakes that affected Japan.
According to the news, the U.S. government shelled out a little less than 40 million dollars for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Facility on Barro Colorado islands. This is a direct effect of the lack of awareness and preparedness of the United States in 2004’s epic and devastating tsunami. The government, at that time, had this facility created in 2006 and is one of 150 other geological and seismic research centers in the country. This has also come in handy given the latest earthquakes that rocked Japan a couple of months ago. The scientists mentioned that the devices detected some intriguing patterns, patterns that have never been seen before and unlike any others. The scientists did not look into these latest earthquakes too much because the readings said that these shakes aren’t all strong. The scientists must’ve suspected that these new patterns were caused by boats and vehicles nearby.
One can never be too sure which the motto of the United States government. They were already attacked unexpectedly by earthquakes and tsunamis back in 2004 so they sure won’t let it happen again. The latest earthquakes and tsunamis and Asia scared their government some more and made them even more thankful they have the equipment. It’s just better to be safe than sorry.