Radon Observation and Earthquake Prediction.

The feasibility of using microstrip gas detector as radon detector for earthquake prediction

In the last decade, several studies have concluded that elevated concentrations of radon gas in soil or groundwater could be the sign of an imminent earthquake. It is believed that in case of sudden movement of rocks before earthquake, radon is released from the depth of ground and reached the surface. In this way, by measuring Radon concentration change, earthquake prediction is possible. In t...

7 Radon as Earthquake Precursor

Earthquake predictions are based mainly on the observation of precursory phenomena. However, the physical mechanism of earthquakes and precursors is at present poorly understood, because the factors and conditions governing them are so complicated. Methods of prediction based merely on precursory phenomena are therefore purely empirical and involve many practical difficulties. A seismic precurs...

Earthquake Observation by Social Sensors

Rethinking Earthquake Prediction

We re-examine and summarize what is now possible in predicting earthquakes, what might be accomplished (and hence might be possible in the next few decades) and what types of predictions appear to be inherently impossible based on our understanding of earthquakes as complex phenomena. We take predictions to involve a variety of time scales from seconds to a few decades. Earthquake warnings and ...

A radon-thoron isotope pair as a reliable earthquake precursor

Abnormal increases in radon ((222)Rn, half-life = 3.82 days) activity have occasionally been observed in underground environments before major earthquakes. However, (222)Rn alone could not be used to forecast earthquakes since it can also be increased due to diffusive inputs over its lifetime. Here, we show that a very short-lived isotope, thoron ((220)Rn, half-life = 55.6 s; mean life = 80 s),...