Earthquakes occur along fault lines in the Earth's crust. While they are difficult to predict precisely, scientists can determine areas that are most at risk based on historical earthquake data and monitoring of tectonic plate movements. New technologies like satellites and seismographs are helping scientists better detect subtle crust movements that may precede major quakes and improve prediction over time.

2. What have you learned about earthquakes and earthquake prediction? We have learned that earthquakes are very deadly and destructive natural disasters that are extremely hard to predict. They occur all over the world. Earthquake’s strengths are determined on a scale from 0-10 called the Richter scale. They generally have to be around a 7.0 to be felt. Earth’s crust is continuously forming and deforming and pushed and pulled. Enough strain builds up on the crust and it is released causing wild shakes, an earthquake occurs. Earthquake prediction is improving today. While it seems like earthquakes seem to strike suddenly, scientists are trying to develop new technologies that can help detect them sooner. At the moment, scientists are unable to develop the exact location, time, or strength of earthquakes, but based on plate boundaries and past earthquakes, they can make rough predictions on what places are in danger. Scientists are developing methods using different types of satellites such as the Interferometric-Synthetic Aperture Radar, which takes pictures of tectonic plates from space to detect ground movement, and infrared radiation, which detect spikes in ground temperature. They are also using seismographs which are instruments that measure ground movements along with seismic waves.

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