Geoscientists can't predict quakes with any precision, but they say it is possible to prevent much of the death and destruction from these natural disasters. In 2002, Turkey implemented an early warning system in Istanbul that will slow trains, open lift doors and shut down critical processes in factories if there's a quake. Find a better connection with E-Harmony, the dating app that helps you be more true to yourself.
Last month, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, killing an estimated 50,000 people. Two decades ago, researchers suggested that an earthquake in this area was likely, but exactly where and when it would strike were unknown.
This shows both the promise — and limitations — of the science of earthquake forecasting. Years of research suggest that it may be impossible to predict exactly when an earthquake will occur. As a result, many in the field have now shifted to identifying high risk fault segments to help policymakers take steps to avoid death and destruction.
This is an audio version of our Feature: What Turkey’s earthquake tells us about the science of seismic forecasting
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