Hyderabad: If samples of oceanic sediments are checked regularly, it can help predict medium- to long-term occurrence of earthquakes in oceans.
A recent study has revealed that before an earthquake in the ocean the sediments undergo a material and chemical change. If this could be spotted, an underwater earthquake can be predicted. Some large earthquakes under the sea result in mammoth tsunamis.
Scientists said a separate layer is formed in the earth’s crust which plays a dual role, it lubricates an earthquake but also helps reduce the damage. Scientists are still exploring the layer.
The Sumatra region in the Indian Ocean, a belt that is over 1,200 km long, is one of the most earthquake-prone areas.
If an earthquake occurs in the subduction zone with a magnitude of over 7 in the Sumatra region, there is a possibility of a tsunami being triggered which will reach the Indian coast in 2-3 hours.
Mr B. Ramalingeswara Rao, scientist who was formerly with the National Geophysical Research Institute said, “There is a layer within the earth’s crust which undergoes changes. This if checked can help in predicting the location of the earthquake. But it cannot predict the time and date. This will only show the location where there can be an earthquake.”
Prof, R. Pradeep Kumar from the Earthquake Engineering Research centre, IIIT-Hyderabad, said: “The location can be predicted but not time, though researchers have said even that is possible but in reality is not applicable.”
