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By Mitra Malek Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 7:10 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 2011
Posted: 1:50 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 2011
The intense earthquake that rocked Japan nine days ago appears to have sent ripples all the way to Florida's deep earth.
Gauges as deep as 2,000 feet that let the South Florida Water Management District keep an eye on the region's water system started spiking up and down half an hour after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit.
The readings - which look eerily similar to electrocardiogram readings - were a surprise to water management district technicians given how far away Japan is, said Susan Sylvester, who directs the district's Operations Control and Hydro Data Management Department.
"They were seeing this recording of levels that can only be explained in terms of the earthquake," Sylvester said. "On a day-to-day basis water levels are not going to change that rapidly."
Groundwater levels usually change slowly and slightly.
Full article at: www.pbpost.com
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