Why can we not predict exactly when an earthquake or tsunami will strike?

Answer 1

Actually, scientists have machine that can determind if there is an earthquake or not. However, there are hundreds of mini-size earthquakes each day (the lands we live on are still moving and hit against each other somehow). The conculsion is: scientist can tell you where will an earthquake and how dangerous can it be, but they can't tell you exactly when an earthquake or tsunami will strike.

Answer 2

Earth's crust is fractured into many different tectonic plates. These plates sit on the mantel, which is viscous molten rock. These plates slide around, slide past eachother, under eachother, and into and over eachother. When one plate is trying to move against another, it's not a smooth processes. Imagin trying to move two jagged, somewhat sticky, clumps of material together. The plates get stuck on eachother. When something finally gives, such as a large section of one plate crumbles under the force of the other, all of the pent up energy is released and part of the plate moves suddenly, creating an Earthquake.

You can start to see how daunting a task it is to look at a plate and predict where it's going to give and when. As of yet, they can only say where a lot of pressure is building.

When an earthquake does occure, the shock waves travel out from the epicenter in..well waves. This means areas farther away will feel the earthquake a few seconds later than areas closer by. If you happen to be in Monterey, California, for example, and there's a large earthquake in San Francisco, and you happen to be on the phone with someone in San Francisco, they'd probably be able to give you a few seconds heads up before the waves hit you in Monterey (and the phone lines go down).

Answer 3

There are several ways by which some of our scientist claims that they can predict. But we have not yet developed any fool proof method to predict the earthquakes. In the absence of reliable warning system I have developed simple yet useful quake alarm that can be manufactured just for US $ 25. I took several special care to avoid false alarm. This will give the warning as soon as it senses the fastest traveling non destructive primary wave. The possibility of saving life will be more by using this equipment. The most damaging earthquake waves will arrive behind this wave according the geographical condition and the distance from epicenter. With the help of this equipment I have issued the Tsunami warning 2 hours before it struck our Indian coast. Nobody came forward to find out the fact of my claims. Please visit the following URL to know more about earthquake and Tsunami
http://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/quake If you have specific question you can contact me at my E Mail :- [e-mail]

Answer 4

Because its a mystery of the earth. If everything was predictable, this planet would be a pretty boring place to live. Elephants know when a tsunami is about to strike because their range of hearing is quite a bit lower on the frequency scale than human's. That is how they communicate with each other also, over long distance, by low frequency tones. I'd say get a pet elephant and you won't have to worry about it.

Answer 5

Actually someone DID find a way to accurately predict earthquakes...unfortunately even though his methods WORK, the gov't back up was very minimal. Discovery channel had an hour long video on how this guy could predict when another earthquake would strike....wait I am sorry, he could tell you WHERE! My bad, he could tell you exactly where it would occur, and to be prepared. And it happened, and no one was prepared. Australia and Europe is where he did his studies. Go to discoverychannel.com, maybe they will have it listed!

Answer 6

why can't we predict when your internet access might be interrupted?

i worrry about you every day,

tsunami sam

Answer 7

because it is not profitable so nobody has figured it out yet. when it becaome profitable we will find a way to do it.

Answer 8

Simply because, ITS UNPREDICATBLE!