Explosions at US army ammunition store allow 'forensic' seisomology

Scientists able to distinguish 'signatures' and sequence of mortar fire and other blasts remotely, revealing seismology as a potential aid during terror attacks

A seismometer tucked away in a Baghdad office has just delivered an action audio-replay of explosive violence at a US military base miles away.

The instrument, picking up data 100 times a second, recorded every tremor from a series of explosions that followed a mortar shell or rocket impact in an ammunition store on 10 October, 2006.