Tuesday, October 2, 2012

To predict the unpredictable



How many lives would be saved if some people could predict the time, the place and the intensity of an earthquake before it happens? The answer is millions. Since a long time, there has been an endless discussion about if scientists can predict earthquakes before it occurs or not. Up to now, earthquake prediction is still very much an imperfect science; however, there have been some progress in the last decades.  

Even though there have existed a few precise earthquake predictions, scientist can’t asseverate they have an exact formula to know when or where is going to happen the next movement of the earth’s surface. Most of the information scientists can validate as accurate is from the prolonged observation from the changes in rocks compression, sound waves propagation, and electrical resistance of the tectonic plates. 

Besides all that, it is even worse when earthquakes are predicted by psychic or people who don’t know anything about this matter. These types of predictions only bring hysteria among people and, in some cases, a lot of monetary expenditure. This is because false alarms, cancelled alarms, and preventive evacuations not can only affect the confidence of people, but can also influence negatively the effectiveness of any kind of warning. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t a way of predicting big earthquakes, but can you imagine that, in a near future, scientists could be able to anticipate a tremor? Impossible is nothing.


2 comments:

  1. I agree with that predict earthquakes as a true science process is something unreal (unless you are one that cause them) but I believe that there are some measurable facts that could give the chance to scientists to predict tremors. For example, scientists have found a relation between radiation coming from the sun and its effects over the earth, and the well-known weapon called HAARP using as a machine to control weather and through magnetic waves cause earthquakes, even if US government denies that I strongly believe in.

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  2. I think that this is impossible, nature is unpredictable, the only thing that humanity could do is to try to find better ways in order to save people’s lives when they have to face this kind of situations, this means that the government has to spend more money in order to research about secure buildings or cities so as to prevent a greater disaster.

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