[dfwgator]

How long have we had the ability to detect earthquakes at the level we can now?

[Olog-hai]

Modern seismography appears to date back to the mid-30s with the vertical seismograph devised by Lucien LaCoste, IINM.

[cripplecreek]

How long have we had the ability to detect earthquakes at the level we can now?

I had the same thought. Much of our environmental regulation in this country is driven by ever more sensitive monitoring equipment combined with morons who think that lots of zeroes immediately following a decimal point must be bad.