With a column I wrote recently, I seem to have helped reignite a debate that enrages many geophysicists: Do quakes occur in clusters-and if so, what does Japan's portend for the U.S.? The answer remains far from clear.
Just as with any academic community, the world of geophysics is much divided. While a good number of scientists see as their central mission the need to be able to predict earthquakes, many utterly abhor the notion. Charles Richter (he of the Scale) was vehement: "I have a horror of predictions and predictors," he wrote in 1977. "Journalists and the general public rush to any suggestion of earthquake prediction like hogs toward a full trough."
Related story on The Daily Beast: The Human Fallout for Japan
This week I have found myself in the midst of a schism, one that has become apparent in the aftermath of Japan's Great Tohoku Earthquake of...
Just as with any academic community, the world of geophysics is much divided. While a good number of scientists see as their central mission the need to be able to predict earthquakes, many utterly abhor the notion. Charles Richter (he of the Scale) was vehement: "I have a horror of predictions and predictors," he wrote in 1977. "Journalists and the general public rush to any suggestion of earthquake prediction like hogs toward a full trough."
Related story on The Daily Beast: The Human Fallout for Japan
This week I have found myself in the midst of a schism, one that has become apparent in the aftermath of Japan's Great Tohoku Earthquake of...
- 3/25/2011
- by Simon Winchester
- The Daily Beast
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.