A group of New Zealand researchers recently published a study that suggests there are certain algorithms for earthquakes that occur before a major earthquake, which could help predict it long before it occurs.
New studies show there are algorithms that could predict major earthquakes. Archive photo
The authors of the study, which was published in the journal Seismological Research Letters, state that, in most cases, before high-intensity earthquakes, there are certain sequences of earthquakes that occur.
Thus, scientists have discovered algorithms that contribute to a better understanding of the fact that small earthquakes that suddenly increase in frequency and intensity can signal an imminent large-scale earthquake, informs Newsweek, citing the international press.
Based on the new findings, researchers from New Zealand’s GNS Science and Germany’s Geosciences Research Center (GFZ) say the earthquake forecasting model EEPAS (Every Earthquake a Precursor According to Scale) could help predict future earthquakes major events several months or even decades before they occur, depending on their magnitude.
According to the study, the EEPAS model performed well in global tests and is an important indicator taken into account when forecasting earthquakes in New Zealand and the New Zealand National Seismic Risk Model.
“Our work is essential to advancing our understanding of how seismic activity builds up before a large earthquake occurs,” said lead study coordinator Annemarie Christophersen, a researcher at GNS Science Hazard and Risk.
Anticipation of major earthquakes is extremely important, as it helps not only to adopt better siting measures and to prioritize the strengthening of existing infrastructure to make New Zealand more resilient to major earthquakes, but to avoid loss of life, added Annemarie Christophersen.
In Romania, an earthquake with a large magnitude of 5.6 on the Richter scale took place today, in the Black Sea area, at a depth of 14.5 kilometers. It was felt in several towns on the coast, but also other people from Ploiesti or Bucharest claimed to have felt the earthquake.
