Earthquake data is less shaky

Pinpointing the epicenter of an earthquake is not easy. Conventional one-dimensional seismic-velocity models often fall short of the mark, particularly in terms of depth, mislocating seismic events by an average of about seven kilometers. In a three-year study funded in part by the American military's Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Harvard researcher Michael Antolik has developed a new simulation model that consistently positions seismic events with greater precision, reducing the mislocation to only six kilometers on average. One kilometer's difference might not seem like much, but it could help prevent an international incident. Antolik's research is primarily devoted to successful monitoring of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty endorsed by the United Nations in 1996.