科学家们紧锣密鼓研究地震预测装置

EarthSky

Right now, in the U.S., there's no public early warning system for earthquakes. EarthSky spoke with seismologist Richard Allen of University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Allen is working with other scientists to develop an early warning system for California earthquakes.

现如今，在美国还没有地震提前预警系统。EarthSky记者正在对话伯克利市加利福尼大学地震学家理查德·艾伦。艾伦博士一直与其他的科学家一同致力于加利福尼亚地震预警系统的研究。

Richard Allen: Well, the idea is to use sort of relatively new science and modern technology to very rapidly detect the beginnings of an earthquake, and then provide a warning to people if they are in harm's way.

理查德·艾伦：我们应用新兴科学和现代科学技术迅速侦察到地震发生的迹象，并对可能受灾地区的居民作出预警。

Dr. Allen said that a 2009 study demonstrated that an earthquake early warning system could work for California.

艾伦博士说2009年的研究显示地震预警系统能够在加利福尼亚得到应用。

Richard Allen: We had several moderate-sized earthquakes, magnitude 5.5 earthquakes, during that test, which were detected, correctly assessed as being potentially hazardous earthquakes, with accurate estimates of the ground-shaking that ensued.

理查德·艾伦：在研究过程中，我们的预警系统检测到了一些中型地震，震级为5.5级，并准确评定这一等级具有潜在危险，还准确的预测到了由地震引发的地面震动。

He said a few seconds of warning can make a difference when an earthquake strikes.

他说当地震来袭时哪怕仅仅只有几秒钟的地震预警都会带来很大的影响。

Richard Allen: Well, if you are an individual at home or at work, you want to just get into a safe zone. That probably means under a sturdy table in your office or at home. Trains can be decelerated and brought to a halt before the shaking occurs.

理查德·艾伦：当地震发生的时候如果您在家或正在工作，当地震预警响起时，你一定会设法找到一个安全的区域。办公室或者是家里的书桌下就是合适的藏身之处。有了地震预警系统，地震发生前火车就可以及时减速停车。

Allen said a prototype of an early warning system for California earthquakes should be completed in about three years.

艾伦说加利福尼亚地震预警系统的模型将用三年左右的时间来完成。

Our thanks to the US Geological Survey, celebrating the International Year of Planet Earth.

我们感谢美国地质调查局，庆祝国际地球年。

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