PAGE, Ariz. — Jeffrey Moore, assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah, will speak about the surprisingly dynamic structure of Rainbow Bridge at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area headquarters, 691 Scenic View Drive.
The park commissioned Moore to conduct a study of Rainbow Bridge — one of the world's largest natural bridges — in March 2015 to evaluate the potential impact of human-caused vibrations — such as aircraft flying overhead — on the bridge's stability.
With permission from Native American tribes that have cultural ties with the formation, Moore placed two seismic sensors on the bridge itself and two in a nearby canyon for comparison. The team captured eight major patterns of vibration — some back and forth, some up and down, and some twisting. Moore's study illustrates subtle movements and twisting in the bridge that are not visible to the human eye.