Q: How do you study really fragile arches you can't walk on?Ī: Certain inaccessible arches simply can't be measured by physically placing a sensor on the arch, and there are also cases where we wouldn't dare set foot on an arch for fear of causing additional damage. We return to the same arches year after year to obtain follow-up measurements and look for changes in vibration patterns, which might indicate that an arch is cracking and potentially more likely to collapse. When we're finished we simply pick the seismometer up-we don't disturb the rock in any way. We place one of these instruments on an arch and record data for anywhere from 1 to 24 hours. Q: How are you measuring these vibrations?Ī: We use seismometers about the size of a coffee cup that record an arch's movement in three dimensions. Human activity like footsteps, car and truck traffic, and sounds from aircraft also cause arches to move. Why do they move?Ī: Wind, earthquakes, and even faraway ocean waves crashing on shorelines all cause rock arches to vibrate.
Q: You've shown that rock arches vibrate. Here in Utah we're fortunate to be located so close to some of the most iconic arches on the planet, like Rainbow Bridge in the southern part of the state, one of the world's largest at over 80 meters long.
And they're simply amazing from a mechanical standpoint. I find arches spectacular-they are such rare and elegant landforms. When I lived abroad, I was always dreaming about the red rock landscapes back home.
Q: Why study rock arches? Are you a hiker?Ī: Yes, I've hiked and climbed all over Arches National Park in Utah, home to over 2000 rock arches. South Window, a large natural arch in Arches National Park.
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