Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

New Clues May Help Predict Earthquakes

Team detects seismic waves up to 10 hours before Calif. tremor

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 10, 2008 11:02 AM CDT

(Newser) – Researchers could be closer to predicting earthquakes hours before they happen, with an article in the journal Nature detailing how scientists detected seismic changes in rocks as much as 10 hours before two small California temblors. “Hurricane [warnings] give you an idea of what could be done,” one researcher told the BBC of such a breakthrough—still perhaps years away in daily application.

The researchers drilled holes along the San Andreas Fault, lowering sensors that could measure the speed of seismic waves. The system was able to correctly predict two small quakes, detecting velocity changes beforehand—once two hours before the tremor, and once 10 hours prior.

Researchers expect California to be rocked by earthquakes in the coming years; if they can be predicted, it might save lives. (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)

The researchers found ways to detect stress-inducing rock changes hours before tremors begin. (Shutterstock)

We could soon have earthquake warnings much as we now have hurricane warnings. (Shutterstock)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Earthquake Prediction: California Is Next

And hit to San Andreas or Cascadia faults could be even 'scarier'

(NEWSER) - Is what happened in Japan set to repeat itself in California? Author Simon Winchester thinks so. In an article for Newsweek that’s turning some heads , Winchester notes that though scientists aren’t sure why, major earthquakes have a tendency to happen in clusters, with a quake on one side of a plate followed by one on the other some weeks or months later. “It is as though the earth becomes like a great brass bell,” he writes. Strike it in one place, and the vibrations carry. More»

Swarm of Quakes Jolts Yellowstone

Scientists closely monitoring unusual rash of shakers

(NEWSER) - Wary scientists are keeping a close eye on developments in Yellowstone National Park after some 250 small quakes jolted the park within three days, AP reports. Yellowstone is no stranger to seismic activity but experts say the number of the quakes is hghly unusual and could signal something bigger brewing in the vast lake of magma that lies beneath the park. More»

Did Drilling Cause Oklahoma's Quakes?

Some blame fracking, amid sketchy evidence

(NEWSER) - Scientists aren’t entirely sure what caused the earthquakes that rocked Oklahoma last week , but many in the state are wondering whether it might have something to do with the oil wells and fracking operations that dot the state, the LA Times reports. Oil companies scoff at the notion—“To try to blame it on an industry that’s been around for hundreds of years is pretty far-fetched,” the head of one group said—and scientists say it’s unlikely, but they’re looking into it. More»

DC Zoo Animals Sensed Quake

Apes starting climbing seconds before ground started shaking

(NEWSER) - In a mysterious phenomenon that has been observed since ancient times, animals at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, appear to have sensed Tuesday's earthquake before humans did. Seconds before the ground began to shake, gorillas and orangutans dropped their food, grabbed their young, and climbed as high as they could. The zoo's 64 flamingos huddled together, and an elephant made an unusual low-pitched noise just before the earthquake was felt, zookeepers tell the Washington Post . More»

Quakes Rattle Christchurch

5.2, 6.0 shakers rock city already destroyed by massive quake

(NEWSER) - Two new serious earthquakes rattled tremblor-weary Christchurch today, sending boulders plunging down hillsides and injuring residents. The 5.2 and a 6.0 quakes struck just 20 minutes apart around lunch time, sending panicked New Zealanders into the streets. Two men were rescued from rubble that collapsed on top of them as they were salvaging windows from a church damaged by February's massive 6.3 quake, reports AP . City officials were concerned the tremors may have further damaged Christchurch cathedral, devastated in the last quake, but it was still too dangerous to approach the building for inspection. "Thank God we had evacuated the red zone," said the mayor, referring to the city center which remains closed. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

New Clues May Help Predict Earthquakes

Team detects seismic waves up to 10 hours before Calif. tremor

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

tremor • scientific discoveries • earthquake • seismology • San Andreas Fault

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Earthquake Prediction: California Is Next

And hit to San Andreas or Cascadia faults could be even 'scarier'

Swarm of Quakes Jolts Yellowstone

Scientists closely monitoring unusual rash of shakers

Did Drilling Cause Oklahoma's Quakes?

Some blame fracking, amid sketchy evidence

DC Zoo Animals Sensed Quake

Apes starting climbing seconds before ground started shaking

Quakes Rattle Christchurch

5.2, 6.0 shakers rock city already destroyed by massive quake

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

New Clues May Help Predict Earthquakes

Team detects seismic waves up to 10 hours before Calif. tremor

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

tremor • scientific discoveries • earthquake • seismology • San Andreas Fault

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Earthquake Prediction: California Is Next

And hit to San Andreas or Cascadia faults could be even 'scarier'

Swarm of Quakes Jolts Yellowstone

Scientists closely monitoring unusual rash of shakers

Did Drilling Cause Oklahoma's Quakes?

Some blame fracking, amid sketchy evidence

DC Zoo Animals Sensed Quake

Apes starting climbing seconds before ground started shaking

Quakes Rattle Christchurch

5.2, 6.0 shakers rock city already destroyed by massive quake

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?