Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Didactic Label


When plate tectonics shift against each other in the earth, they send out vibrations. These vibrations occur in two forms, surface waves and body waves. Surface waves travel along the outside of the earth and may travel the length of the globe several times before completely dispersing. Body waves travel through the interior of the earth in two forms; Primary waves which compress and expand core materials in the direction the wave is traveling and Secondary waves which shake the material at right angels to their direction of travel. This is what we feel when we experience the shaking of an earthquake. Geologists record these waves using seismographic instruments. This data can be rendered in the form of a seismogram or audio recording. Since the movement of the earth emits sounds that are far below the human aural register the recordings must be played at high speed. This The sounds you are hearing are seismic impressions recorded by seven globally networked seismographs, mixed and mastered by J.T Bullitt; geologist and artist. This project was created by Hallie Chilton as a collaboration between both the Art Department and the Geology Department of Portland State University.

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