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 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 between earthquakes. 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, 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 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—most are operated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), but nine are maintained by the University of Colorado. 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, recording continuous or episodic displacements along a parallel trench of the Atacama fault system.<ref name=":1" />
Creepmeter was installed across surface breaks of the Chihshang fault on the retaining wall of a water channel near the Chinyuan Village, eastern 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 in Northern Anatolia, 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 |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