answersLogoWhite

0

Ruegg and coworkers published a paper in "Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors" (Ruegg JC, 175:78-85, 2009). The team made observations in a range from 1996 to 2002, focusing in the area from Constitución to Concepción, since no major earthquakes occurred in that space since 1835 (described by Darwin). They measured the displacement of the plate (more exactly, the velocity of the movement). The results (at a big glance, since I am not a geologist) showed that coastal regions had a higher velocity compared with regions in the Andes area. Assuming that no major earthquakes released the accumulated force since 1835, a deficit of horizontal displacement of 10 m will have accumulated. To Ruegg and coworkers, this could mean, in a worst case scenario, "that the southern part of the Concepción-Constitución gap has accumulated a slip deficit that is large enough to produce a very large earthquake of about Mw = 8.0-8.5". This February 27, at 3:34 am (Chile's time), an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 in Ritcher scale occurred in a site very close to Cobquecura, located between Concepción and Constitución (see map below). The plates moved 8 m, and since Ruegg and coworkers calculated a 10 m of slip deficit, either the calculations are overestimated or the earthquake should have been even worse.Nonetheless, the prediction of Ruegg and his team is shocking. They were right about the epicenter and magnitude. The final phrase of the abstract is: "… in a worst case scenario, the area already has a potential for an earthquake of magnitude as large as 8-8.5, should it happen in the near future".

Conclusions:

An obvious conclusion for our country, Chile, is the following: scientific observations can assist to make predictions about the most probable sites of a future earthquake, including information about the magnitude. Ideally, a global network across the identified seismic gaps in Chile (one at the north, one near to Valparaiso, one located between Concepción-Constitución and one near to Valdivia, epicenter of the greatest earthquake in the last 200 years) and some other regions , could help to be better prepared for a new earthquake. I don't know of such an approach is being used in other seismic regions on Earth.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What do scientist use to predict a tsunami?

They use a seismograph to predict tsunamis.


Which tool do you use to predict an earthquake?

They use a seismograph


What do scientist use to predict the locations of electrons of atoms?

they use probability


What equipnet do scientist use for earthquakes?

A Seismograph to record the magnitude of the earthquake.


How do scientist predict which genes an organism will inherit?

The scientist will produce a pedigree from information about the members of past and present generations, and will use that information to predict the probability that an offspring will inherit a specific (usually undesirable) trait.


What tools do scientist use to predict?

They use include satellites, rain gauges, Airborne Lasers and Weather Radars


What are seismoscopes used for?

A seismoscope is an instrument used to measure vibrations of the earth's crust. Generally, scientists use these readings to predict when an earthquake will strike. They can also use this to measure the length and magnitude of an earthquake.


What can help predict when a volcano or earthquake will occur?

Monitoring systems such as seismometers, GPS measurements, and gas sensors can help predict the occurrence of a volcano or earthquake by detecting patterns and changes in the Earth's activity. Scientists analyze these data along with historical trends to make informed predictions about potential volcanic eruptions or seismic events. However, predicting the exact timing and magnitude of such events remains challenging due to the complexity of Earth's processes.


Can scientist predict large earthquakes?

Scientists are able to predict large earthquakes to a certain extent. With the use of certain statistical methods, many earthquakes are able to be predicted.


Why are patterns are important in science?

The are important because if the occur a number of times scientist can use the patterns to predict things


Why can scientists accurately predict where an earthquake will occur?

Scientists can predict where an earthquake may occur by studying geological features, historical seismic activity, and strain buildup along fault lines. They use advanced technologies like seismometers and GPS to monitor seismic activity and analyze patterns. While they can't predict the exact time and date of an earthquake, they can identify high-risk areas based on these observations.


Do scientists use volcanoes to predict earthquakes?

Yes, scientists use volcanoes to predict earthquake activity, because volcanic and earthquake activity go together. Volcanic eruptions spew out lava whose source is in the magma of the mantle. Earthquakes are caused by heat from the mantle making crustal [or lithospheric or tectonic] plates move.