earthquakes(look)?

Question

how come scientists can't predict earthquakes?

Answer 1

Earthquake occurs basically due to :

(1) collapse of caves etc.

(2) Volcanic eruptions.

(3) sudden release of energy along structural weak zones or plate boundaries.



In case of (1) and (2) it is possible to say where an EQ can occur with certainty but when? may not be certain.



In case of (3), it is just not possible with the present knowledge. EQ prediction is very different from prediction of storms, cyclones floods etc. Blocks within earth can be conceived with finite capacity to hold strain energy before yielding. As an analogy these blocks can be assumed as an array of beakers of different capacity holding some fluid to varying levels of fullness, any additional single drop beyond carrying capacity of a particular beaker triggers the spilling of the fluid contained in it. Here the beakers are identifiable, there capacity is measurable and a beaker which is at the threshold of brim full is also identifiable. Any addition of a single drop actually spills the fluid. The prediction of such spilling is dependent on the precision at which potential beakers and threshold limits can be identified. In case of EQ prediction, identification of such beaker like defined blocks are from reality so far. Hence the difficulty if EQ prediction at present, may be one day we would know all such beakers within the earth and also know there capacity with threshold limit.

Answer 2

I don't know but I saw on National Geographic that cats can predict an earthquake. Their behavior changes dramiticaly days before an earthquake hits. Look it up