Italian scientists develop quake detection theory

If research at the University of Naples and the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology in Rome proves to be accurate, folks who live in earthquake country may eventually have a few more seconds to respond to oncoming earthquakes. New research published later this month in Geophysical Research Letters shows that primary waves (P waves) from earthquakes contain enough information about its magnitude and destructive potential to alert potential victims about their impending situation about 15 seconds beforehand. While that may not seem like very much time to dive under a table, it may be enough for automated systems to shut off gas pipelines or to halt high-speed trains. This sounds very much like that Japanese system we spotted in October -- whichever one is deployed first, we'll be glad to see it.

[Via Slashdot]

[Josh Brown @ Dec 7th 2006 9:20AM]

Makes sense... Rome is almost constantly experiencing low-level tremors. Very geologically active.

[filthy @ Dec 7th 2006 10:54AM]

I'm not really sure why this is news... scientists have known about p-waves and s-waves for years, and America has been using earhquake detection centers since the start of the cold war.

[Andreas W @ Dec 7th 2006 5:44PM]

15 Seconds to stop a high speed train? haha I drive a train with max speeds of 80 km/h and it takes more than 100 meters and 23 seconds to stop completely, one of the TGV trains takes more than 50 seconds to stop.