The Earthquake: Can it be predicted? One of the most intriguing, yet destructive works of nature is the earthquake. Earthquakes throughout recorded history have claimed the lives of thousands of people while also causing billions of dollars in damages. Recently, geologists and seismologists have begun to understand very important details concerning earthquakes. We have discovered different types of earthquakes, the magnitudes of the quakes, the epicenters of earthquakes, and the reasons why many regions are earthquake prone. Still, even with this vast array of knowledge, no scientist has been able to consistently predict when and where an earthquake will strike. Today, research continues to try and solve this crucial problern, and in my opinion, a method of predicting earthquakes would be very beneficial. The lives it could save and the damages it could prevent would be priceless. As a Southern California Native, I have often been perplexed over the fact that we cannot predict a quake. Through my experiences, I have noticed many happenings which occur before earthquakes and I believe these actions could be linked to a strong prediction. So with the problem of no Predictions of earthquakes at task, I will use my experiences and my minor knowledge of earthquakes themselves to try and offer a possible solution. To start, I would like to discuss a few occurrences which take place prior to earthquakes. These are frequently observed happenings, which to my knowledge, are not yet considered in the scientific realm as legitimate predictors. Next to my bed I have a very large fishtank with a very lively fish in it. Before an earthquake, the fish hides behind a rock, and does not come out of hiding until several days after the quake. Well I realize a fish is a small creature, and it would be hard for one to capture the "feelings" a fish has; but most other animals perform similar behavorial differences durincg quakes. Our family Bassett Hound becomes very uneasy during earthquake periods, and a friend's dog normally tries to jump into bed with its master whenever it senses an earthquake. Animals must have an extra sense, or else they must receive some specific signal, which people cannot pick up, when an earthquake is about to take place. I propose that seismologists and neurologists need to team together and devise a way to capture the earthquake "signal" that animals respond to. I have never been a proponent for animal creulty, but if we could learn how to predict earthquakes by hooking up wires to the brain of a dog, I think I could deal with it. Earthquakes might give off a type of high-frequency sound wave, like a dog whistle, which only animals can hear. I think it would be worth the time, money, and yes, the animals, to find out what warns animals of earthquakes. | Another way to solve this problem is to use actual scientific facts, which will allow one to predict earthquakes. It seems to me that if one were to chart the rock types in a region and their elasticity, then one would be able to see if an earthquake is about to occur. Scientists are able to see how much stress is presently on a given area of rock. They are also able to calculate the amount of stress a rock can handle before it breaks and rebounds back to its original position. With these two pieces of information, it seems logical that seismologists and geologists could predict when a given fault is about to give way. My next proposal for predicting quakes may seem very risky, or maybe even absurd, but I believe it might help improve our current situation. Earthquakes occur because of a releasing of stress or pressure on the rocks. Scientists have proven that much of the stress in subduction zones is due to the presence of water in the rock. Water is impossible to compress, and this creates lots of pressure in these areas. A few years back, oil companies and the government proved that by forcing water into the ground, small earthquakes will occur. With this knowledge in hand, I think one could best predict an earthquake by creating or forcing an earthquake. Why couldn't we find the highest stressed areas in a region and apply more pressure to them? One would need to invent a much more advanced drilling strategy in order to reach farther down into the earth, but once this were accomplished I am confident that my idea of "forced earthquakes" would become a reality. If our water pressure attempts fail, there are still explosives which can be used. It would cause an earthquake, but we would have ample warning. By creating quakes, one would be relieving stress, therefore lessening the chances of further quakes. It wouldn't be prudent to do this in the middle of Los Angeles, but if we did it in the desert, maybe some of the stress could be released from the L.A. region. If we could make a controlled environment for earthquakes by pumping water into the earth, I believe we could relieve the rock stress, and in turn eliminate the need to predict a quake. Why try and guess, when you can control and know the exact time and location of the earthquake? Not all quakes will be completely eliminated, and there is a chance we could set off a "big one;" but I think by cutting the stress in one place it can have an alternate and beneficial effect on the entire region. The idea of earthquake prediction has been a long-time goal for many geologists and seismologists, but few have come even remotely close to a consistent system for predicting quakes. China, a place prone to destructive earthquakes, has reportedly been using the help of animals to predict quakes, but nothing solid has been discovered. We need to strive for a discovery of a reliable predictor, and realize the importance of such knowledge. To be able to evacuate an entire area before a quake claims innocent victims would be incredible. Along with finding a valuable source for predictions, we would also learn new pieces of information pertaining to earthquakes and the rest of the planet we live on. The problem of not being able to see an eartllquake coming has often been puzzling to myself; and I believe we need to test every possible situation (no matter how strange), including the ones I have mentioned, in order to find an undisputable predictor.
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