If solved
Earthquake warnings in advance
Reliable warnings days to weeks before a damaging quake would allow evacuation and preparation, not just seconds of alert.
Open in the interactive tree →It would require measuring stress in fault zones and recognising reproducible precursors. Even a probabilistic days-ahead alert with known false-alarm rates would change how cities react.
What it brings
- Evacuation of the most exposed buildings
- Shutdown of gas, rail and chemical plants before shaking
- Pre-positioned rescue teams
- Far fewer deaths in earthquake regions