According to a study published in the journal JGR Solid Earth, scientists spot a large shift in the magnetic field two to three days before an earthquake in California. This was calculated using data from 19 earthquakes that occurred in the state.
Magnetic Field Shift Does Not Guarantee Accurate Prediction
Although these magnetic field changes are a considerable advancement, according to Burgmann, they are insufficient to be used as an earthquake prediction.
Despite all of the work, the initial impression of the results are still not conclusive about the existence of a clear electromagnetic precursor. There is still no indication that a reliable earthquake prediction method is under development.
However, the findings may well inspire renewed efforts into discovering and attempting to understand interesting phenomena that happen just before some large earthquakes. The authors emphasized that the observed effect size is not directly useful for earthquake prediction.
Signal Before Earthquake
According to SciTechDaily, the study's co-author and director of Stellar Solutions' QuakeFinder, which carries out earthquake research, Dan Schneider said that they encountered a modest signal. Although they do not assert that this signal always precedes earthquakes, it is certainly intriguing.
Earthquakes are triggered by the abrupt movement of tectonic plates against each other. As a result, seismic waves carrying a significant quantity of energy are transmitted through the Earth.
It can be incredibly destructive and result in mass loss of lif. Knowing when an earthquake is about to occur would be very helpful since it would give time for people to leave particularly on risky places. Although they are more frequent near tectonic fault lines, there hasn't been a good means to anticipate when or where an earthquake would happen.
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Early Earthquake Warning Essential For Safety
Roland Burgmann, an earth and planetary Science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, told Newsweek that the recent study is different from other earthquake prediction studies. He said that the authors now used rigorous machine learning techniques and statistics to explore many earthquakes and a vast amount of data, rather than selectively picking and choosing.
California, which lies on the San Andreas fault between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, places a high value on having some sort of earthquake warning. A 2006 Scripps study claims that another significant one is to be expected. Many lives could be saved if a high-magnitude earthquake could be anticipated and evacuated for.
David D. Oglesby, Professor of geophysics at the University of California, Riverside, said that depending on the warning's nature (size, location, and timing) the prediction might be able to save hundreds or even thousands of lives.
The devastating earthquake on the San Andreas in Southern California could result in over a thousand deaths immediately. It could also cutoff of the Los Angeles Area from the rest of the country and nationwide long-term effects. Two to three days' notice would allow for the implementation of numerous safety measures. But it is still dependent in the warning's effectiveness depends on advance planning for infrastructure and personnel.
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