A new seismic study outlines Singapore’s ground motion risks and geothermal energy potential. The research could significantly influence urban development and renewable energy strategies in the coastal city-state.
In a new study that could significantly shape the future of Singapore’s urban development and renewable energy strategies, researchers have unveiled key seismic insights into the city’s subsurface. The study, published in Seismological Research Letters, provides a detailed analysis of areas with heightened seismic risk and identifies a potential reservoir for geothermal energy.
Jiayuan Yao from the China University of Geosciences, along with his team, analyzed teleseismic data collected from both permanent seismic stations and a nodal seismic array deployed in 2019 around Singapore. This detailed study is the first of its kind to offer an in-depth look at the top-kilometer depth of sediment in the area.
“These data are invaluable for assessing potential seismic hazards,” Yao said in a new release. “Our findings suggest that areas with soft sediments, especially the reclaimed land in eastern Singapore, are likely to experience higher seismic ground motion amplification.”
Approximately 20% of Singapore consists of reclaimed land, areas expanded by adding sand and pumping dry. Seismic waves passing through these soft, man-made sediments tend to amplify, increasing the potential for severe shaking and infrastructure damage.
Singapore’s proximity to the high-risk Sunda megathrust zone, responsible for the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, underscores the importance of this research. The findings could be crucial in preparing the nation for future seismic events.
“These findings of ground motion amplification underscore the importance of considering local geological conditions in seismic risk evaluation and smart city construction,” Yao added, noting the potential submission of their findings to the Singapore government for further action.
In addition to seismic risks, the study identified an area beneath Sembawang Hot Spring with relatively low seismic velocity, indicating a possible heat source in the deep crust — potentially suitable for geothermal energy production. While high mantle heat flow is a presumed source, further studies are needed to explore the possibility of heat generated by radioactive elements within the granite substrate.
To harness this geothermal energy, Yao and his team suggest a denser nodal seismic array around the hot spring for a more detailed subsurface examination. This could pave the way for innovative renewable energy solutions in the energy-reliant city-state.
The study also offered insights into Singapore’s tectonic history. Central and eastern Singapore’s crustal bedrock may owe its origins to magmatic activity related to the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys oceanic slab approximately 250 to 230 million years ago. Western Singapore’s sediments, on the other hand, are believed to have been deposited about 230 to 220 million years ago as part of the Sukhothai volcanic island arc system.
Further investigations are on the horizon, with plans to collect ambient noise data to explore shallow subsurface structures and track changes in underground water storage.
Source: Seismological Society of America