# Creepmeter

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thumb|A rod-type creepmeter for measurement of displacement in the active fault zone (Chihshang Fault)
A '''creepmeter''' is an instrument that monitors the slow surface displacement of an active [geologic fault](/source/geologic_fault) in the Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Creepmeter |url=https://glosbe.com/en/en/creepmeter |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=glosbe.com |language=en}}</ref> Its function is to record the slow, [aseismic creep](/source/aseismic_creep) between [earthquake](/source/earthquake)s. Creepmeters are used in various countries in areas of active tectonic plate movement.<ref name=":0">Bilham, R, N. Suszek and S. Pinkney, [https://cires1.colorado.edu/~bilham/creepmeter.file/CaliforniaCreepmeterSRL.pdf California Creepmeters], Seism. Res. Lett. 75(4), 481-492. Aug 2004. Retrieved 2025-07-14</ref><ref>[https://www.unavco.org/data/strain-seismic/creep-data/creep-data.html Creepmeter Data] ''EarthScope Consortium'' Retrieved 2025-07-14</ref>

== Instrumentation ==
The creepmeter is installed across the fault and securely fixed. The device continuously monitors the displacement between two reference points, determines the rate and degree of creep. The device has [invar](/source/invar), quartz or carbon rods with a thickness of 6 mm to 12 mm, which are placed in a telescopic plastic sheath with low friction, and are firmly fixed to the concrete foundation on one side of the fault and pass through a PVC pipe to the opposite side of the fault. The length of the device depends on the geometry at each site and ranges from 2 to 9 m. The creepmeters are buried at a depth of 30-70 cm. The measurement range of a creepmeter is usually limited to 5–30&nbsp;mm. The devices are equipped with satellite communication for data transmission.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Creepmeter at IPOC |url=https://www.ipoc-network.org/observatory/creepmeter/creepmeter-at-ipoc/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=www.ipoc-network.org |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CREEPMETERS |url=https://cires1.colorado.edu/~bilham/creepmeter.file/CreepmeterExplanation.htm |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=cires1.colorado.edu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Monitoring Instruments |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/deformation/data/instruments.php |accessdate=2016-02-11 |publisher=United States Geological Survey}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== Geography of use ==
Approximately 40 creepmeters are in operation in [California](/source/California)—most are operated by the [United States Geological Survey](/source/United_States_Geological_Survey) (USGS), but nine are maintained by the [University of Colorado](/source/University_of_Colorado_at_Boulder). For a majority of the creepmeters, these data are automatically sent to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offices where they are stored and processed.<ref>Langbein, J., Bilham, R.G., Snyder, H.A., and Ericksen, T., 2024, [https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20241011 Summary of Creepmeter Data from 1980 to 2020—Measurements Spanning the Hayward], Calaveras, and San Andreas Faults in Northern and Central California: U.S. Geological Survey Report 2024, 110 p. Retrieved 2025-07-14</ref>

Eleven instruments have been installed in Northern [Chile](/source/Chile), recording continuous or episodic displacements along a parallel trench of the [Atacama fault system](/source/Atacama_Fault).<ref name=":1" />

Creepmeter was installed across surface breaks of the [Chihshang fault](/source/Chihshang_fault) on the retaining wall of a water channel near the Chinyuan Village, eastern [Taiwan](/source/Taiwan).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rod-Type Creepmeter |url=https://idv.sinica.edu.tw/jclee/creepmeter.html |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=idv.sinica.edu.tw}}</ref>

Creepmeter was installed of the [North Anatolian Fault](/source/North_Anatolian_Fault) in Northern [Anatolia](/source/Anatolia), [Turkey](/source/Turkey).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kutoglu |first1=H. S. |last2=Akcin |first2=H. |last3=Kemaldere |first3=H. |last4=Gormus |first4=K. S. |date=2008-12-09 |title=Triggered creep rate on the Ismetpasa segment of the North Anatolian Fault |journal=[Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences](/source/Natural_Hazards_and_Earth_System_Sciences) |volume=8 |issue=6 |pages=1369–1373 |doi=10.5194/nhess-8-1369-2008 |bibcode=2008NHESS...8.1369K |doi-access=free |issn=1684-9981 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.fig.net/resources/proceedings/fig_proceedings/fig2015/ppt/TS08G/TS08G_ozener_dogru_et_al_7753_ppt.pdf Slip Rates Estimate of Western North Anatolian Fault System in Turkey.] (01-06-2015 ) ''Bogazici University, Kandilli Observatory & Earthquake Research Institute, Geodesy Department,Turkey''  Retrieved 2025-07-14</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Structural geology
Category:Measuring instruments
Category:Seismology

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Creepmeter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creepmeter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creepmeter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.