Earthquake Forecasts Move a Step Closer to Reality

A damaged house following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in 2011. Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have begun a federal funded, international project that wants to minimize future disasters by making earthquake forecasts a reality. Credit: US Dept. of Defense/CPO Matthew Bradle

Earthquakes — like lightning — strike unpredictably. The Earth’s tectonic plates, however, hide subtle warnings that a major fault may soon break. Like forecasting a thunderstorm, knowing how to read the warnings could help communities protect lives, infrastructure and local economies.

For decades, scientists have struggled to reliably give forecasts for major earthquake hotspots, but now an international team of scientists led by The University of Texas at Austin has embarked on a new initiative to do just that.

“Physics-based forecasting is what we’re trying to achieve,” said project lead Thorsten Becker, a professor at UT’s Jackson School of Geosciences.

The five-year project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), will develop new computing tools, software and instructional material focused on forecast modeling. The team will also train students, hold workshops and recruit new computational geoscientists by drawing on overlooked talent pools and reaching out to underserv

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TRAVEL PRODUCTS
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10 Airport Mistakes I See Travelers Make — and What You Should Do Instead to Save Time and Money
A little advanced planning saves

PHOTO: TRAVEL + LEISURE / MADISON WOITEN
I live for luxury travel, and I don’t mind spending money on thoughtful indulgences at my destination. But what I don’t like to do is spend my hard-earned cash on overpriced essentials at the airport when I can avoid the expense by coming prepared instead.

You’ll never catch me spending bookoo bucks on an environmentally problematic, single-use plastic bottle full of literal water! Instead, I come prepared with my own refillable water bottle, first-aid essentials, over-the-counter medicines, and other key tools for comfort and safety. This way, I can save my money for the travel expenses that are more rewarding (like a perfectly-made, poolside cocktail or, say, a Tahitian black pearl).

As a frequent flier and travel writer, my advice is to do the same. These are the 10 things I pack every time to save time and money at the airport, starting at just $6 at Amazon.

A damaged house following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in 2011. Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have begun a federal funded, international project that wants to minimize future disasters by making earthquake forecasts a reality. Credit: US Dept. of Defense/CPO Matthew Bradle

Earthquakes — like lightning — strike unpredictably. The Earth’s tectonic plates, however, hide subtle warnings that a major fault may soon break. Like forecasting a thunderstorm, knowing how to read the warnings could help communities protect lives, infrastructure and local economies.

For decades, scientists have struggled to reliably give forecasts for major earthquake hotspots, but now an international team of scientists led by The University of Texas at Austin has embarked on a new initiative to do just that.

“Physics-based forecasting is what we’re trying to achieve,” said project lead Thorsten Becker, a professor at UT’s Jackson School of Geosciences.

The five-year project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), will develop new computing tools, software and instructional material focused on forecast modeling. The team will also train students, hold workshops and recruit new computational geoscientists by drawing on overlooked talent pools and reaching out to underserv

Ad
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

TRAVEL PRODUCTS
TRAVEL ACCESSORIES
10 Airport Mistakes I See Travelers Make — and What You Should Do Instead to Save Time and Money
A little advanced planning saves

PHOTO: TRAVEL + LEISURE / MADISON WOITEN
I live for luxury travel, and I don’t mind spending money on thoughtful indulgences at my destination. But what I don’t like to do is spend my hard-earned cash on overpriced essentials at the airport when I can avoid the expense by coming prepared instead.

You’ll never catch me spending bookoo bucks on an environmentally problematic, single-use plastic bottle full of literal water! Instead, I come prepared with my own refillable water bottle, first-aid essentials, over-the-counter medicines, and other key tools for comfort and safety. This way, I can save my money for the travel expenses that are more rewarding (like a perfectly-made, poolside cocktail or, say, a Tahitian black pearl).

As a frequent flier and travel writer, my advice is to do the same. These are the 10 things I pack every time to save time and money at the airport, starting at just $6 at Amazon.

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