The most interesting part of the interview with Brendan Meade about earthquake prediction was his approach and the devices he uses to predict earthquakes. Unlike traditional seismologists who primarily analyze the aftermath of earthquakes, Meade suggests focusing on the period leading up to a seismic event. He highlights that most of the time, the Earth is preparing for a future earthquake. With the use of adapted GPS-like devices, capable of measuring Earth's movements with remarkable precision down to a tenth of a millimeter per year, valuable data can be gathered. These measurements serve as the foundation for constructing a predictive model that offers insights into the nature of potential future earthquakes. While this method cannot precisely forecast the exact timing of an earthquake, it significantly narrows down the likely location of such events, providing crucial information for preparedness and mitigation efforts.
"To determine how a possible early warning sign (or signs) may translate into these four factors requires scientists to either look for patterns in earthquakes that have already occurred or create sophisticated mathematical models of the movement of known tectonic plates."
- Stierwalt, Sabrina. “Can We Predict Earthquakes at All?” Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024, www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-we-predict-earthquakes-at-all1/.
Image Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/could-machine-learning-be-key-earthquake-prediction-180972015/