The Possibility of Earthquake Prediction

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07/11/2008

Jul. 11, 2008

The Possibility of Earthquake Prediction

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Is it possible to predict earthquakes before they happen? An early warning system for seismic events has been a long-sought goal of geoscientists. Writing this week in the journal Nature, a team of researchers reports that they may have some encouraging results. The team used a suite of sensors to track the movement of seismic waves through the earth before, after, and during two minor quakes along the San Andreas fault. They found that there were changes in the ways the waves moved up to ten hours before a quake. The findings could potentially be used to create a 'stress monitor' that could help provide early warning of impending quakes. We'll talk with one of the scientists on the project about the work.

Produced by Annette Heist, Senior Producer

Guests

Paul Silver
Senior Staff Scientist, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism

Carnegie Institution for Science

Washington, DC

Jul. 11, 2008