Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:p>This paper presents an application of the fiber coupled homodyne interferometers for the
tide caused earth crust deformation measurements. Deformation of the earth crust mainly
results from the tidal forces of sun and moon acting on the Earth, but also comes from
seismic wave propagation or regional and local sources. The devices used for monitoring of
such processes called strainmeters. The Geodynamic Observatory Moxa in Thuringia/Germany
records and compares over the years the values gained by different stainmeters. The first
laser interferometer was installed in the observatory in 2002. The new laser interferometer
based setup, presented in this paper, allows direct monitoring of north-south and east-west
components of the earth deformation in the range of 1–2 μm at measuring distances of 26 m.</jats:p>