Predicting Earthquakes
Scientists can predict hurricanes several days in advance, yet earthquakes still without warning. The difficulty is that the forces involved build up slowly, kilometres below the surface, where they cannot be directly. What researchers can do is estimate the that a large earthquake will happen in a particular region within the next few decades. These forecasts help governments decide where buildings must be designed to strong shaking. Some countries have also developed early warning systems. When an earthquake begins, sensors near its centre detect the first, weaker waves and send an alert before the more destructive waves . The warning may only be a few seconds long, but that is enough time to stop trains, open the doors of fire stations and allow people to cover under a table.
