Braun Seismograph Station Serves as Resource for Local Media
Mark Castner being interviewed by Channel 2 about the recent earthquake in Japan.
Mark Castner, who serves dual roles as director of academic computing & user services for ITS and associate director of the Braun (pronounced "Brown") Seismograph Station was interviewed by Channel 2 news about the recent earthquake in Japan, which registered 8.3 on the Richter scale. Rev. James Ruddick, S.J., director of the Braun Seismograph Station, also spoke with Channel 4 about the same earthquake. Being on television is nothing new for the pair, who monitor and measure earthquake activity at the station located in the basement of Old Main. Walk down the hall too fast and you’ll miss it. But inside, an earthquake occurring in Siberia (measuring more than 6.0 on the Richter scale) can be detected here at Canisius in approximately 12 minutes. That’s from more than 12,000 kilometers away!
Fr. Ruddick checks the pen and ink recording to determine whether a small earthquake in Pennsylvania was picked up here at the Braun Seismograph Station. As it turns out, it measured only 2.4 on the Richter scale and was not detected.
The six seismograph machines pick up earth’s movement from a concrete block buried just 10 feet underground, where bedrock occurs. Here’s how it works: The seismometers use a coil suspended in a magnetic field. When waves from an earthquake move the seismometer, the coil and magnetic field move relative to each other. This produces a small electric current, which can be amplified and recorded. On average, about seven earthquakes a month from around the world are recorded here.
Father Ruddick taught physics for many years at Canisius, and has spent decades “manning” the Braun Seismograph Station. He says the center focuses mainly on earthquakes that occur relatively close to Buffalo. In 1995, the center (and Father Ruddick) became the focus of much media attention when one measuring 3.0 happened in nearby Tonawanda.
“Not only was there movement, but there was sound, like a big ‘boom!,’” recalls Father Ruddick. “Some people thought at first that it was a gas explosion, that a building had blown up. Sure enough, it was an earthquake.”
Castner’s curiousity with earthquakes started back in college (in Spokane, Washington) when he worked at the campus’ seismograph station. His involvement in the Braun Seismograph Station started in 1995, when, according to Castner, “Frequent conversations with Father Ruddick led to him asking me to change the earthquake records while he was away.” The rest is history. Castner also teaches an undergraduate course in seismology, which is offered in the spring semester. Students have the benefit of monitoring and analyzing data from the college’s seismographs, giving them first-hand accounts of earthquake activity across the globe.
Laura McEwen, director of graduate business programs, appeared on the public affairs show “Pulse” on WUTV Fox 29 and WB 49 on September 28. She discussed the college’s educational partnerships and the new MBA curriculum with host Maureen Millane-Rusk, assistant dean of external business programs at Canisius.
Martha Malkiewicz, adjunct professor of music, discussed the 25th anniversary season of “Canisius and the BPO Connection” on WNED-FM radio on September 30.
Curt Gaume, director of financial aid, discussed rising student loan debt in The Buffalo News on September 30.
Dr. Patricia Erickson, associate professor of anthropology and Director of the Criminal Justice Program, discussed profanity on WBEN – AM radio’s morning news on October 2.