Earthquakes

Future Shocks

Future Shocks showed how scientists can better predict where earthquakes will occur by studying the past. Researchers are now able to pinpoint the date, hour and size of an earthquake from the past, by studying ghost forests. The researchers compare the rings of the trees of known age that have survived earthquakes, with the rings of the ghost forest trees.

The study of the past is very important because scientists still cannot predict earthquakes. By gathering evidence from the past, scientists are learning to map danger zones, and spread the warning of quakes, even if they can’t predict when it will happen.

Studies show that the Pacific Northwest is in danger of a large quake, due to the fact that it rests on a continental plate that meets at a seafloor plate. The boundary between the two plates is known as the Cascadia subduction zone.

Using satellite technology scientists confirm that the region’s