Bigger earthquakes may occur sooner

Possible earthquake precursors identified
BERKELEY, Calif., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- A geophysicist from California's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has identified possible seismic precursors to two recent earthquakes.



Valeri Korneev found a spike in the number of micro-earthquakes followed by a period of relative calm in the crust surrounding the quakes' epicenters. That occurred months before the earthquakes struck.

Although more work needs to be conducted to determine whether other large quakes are foreshadowed by a similar rise and subsequent decline in small-magnitude tremors, Korneev's analysis suggests such peaks may be indicative of the total set of geological stresses affecting the timing and location of large earthquakes.

[link to www.lbl.gov]

Last Edited by Phennommennonn on 10/24/2011 08:59 AM