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It's a question that lots of geophysicists have asked. Unfortunately, the answer is that we don't know much accumulated stress there is in the earth, especiall

It's a question that lots of geophysicists have asked. Unfortunately, the answer is that we don't know much accumulated stress there is in the earth, especially in regions that are already at high seismic risk. So the risk is that in doing this, you could potentially trigger the much larger earthquake you were trying to prevent.

mikeash 11y ago
Even just knowing when it would happen would be valuable. This is getting into crazy-pants territory, but what if you knew it would trigger a big earthquake but did it anyway, at an appointed day and time, when people could all take shelter?
- rcthompson 11y ago
  This reminds me of Welcome To Night Vale (a podcast about a community radio broadcast in a fictional town where every conspiracy theory and mythology is true and everything is weird and bizarre): > And now, a public service announcement from the Night Vale Seismological Society, who have released their schedule of upcoming municipally-planned earthquakes. > On Sunday, from 8:00am to 8:30am, there will be a small series of minor tremors. “It’s likely you will feel nothing,” the seismologists say, as these quakes are just to test some new equipment. > At 3:00pm on Tuesday, there will be an enormous earthquake, rating upwards of 7 to 8 on the Richter scale, so, wear long sleeves, or goggles, or gloves... whatever it is you do to be safe during an earthquake. “We’re not entirely sure,” the Night Vale Seismological Society said. > The following Saturday, be ready for anything. They’re not sure what’s going to happen. Maybe nothing! Probably nothing. But... hopefully, something really, really cool. They don’t want to get your hopes up, so just be on the lookout, but... no promises. > “Oh, man! Fingers crossed! This could be super amazing!” the Night Vale Seismological Society said. http://cecilspeaks.tumblr.com/post/100062639486/episode-56-homecoming http://cecilspeaks.tumblr.com/post/100062639486/episode-56-h...

mikeash 11y ago

Even just knowing when it would happen would be valuable. This is getting into crazy-pants territory, but what if you knew it would trigger a big earthquake but did it anyway, at an appointed day and time, when people could all take shelter?

rcthompson 11y ago
This reminds me of Welcome To Night Vale (a podcast about a community radio broadcast in a fictional town where every conspiracy theory and mythology is true and everything is weird and bizarre): > And now, a public service announcement from the Night Vale Seismological Society, who have released their schedule of upcoming municipally-planned earthquakes. > On Sunday, from 8:00am to 8:30am, there will be a small series of minor tremors. “It’s likely you will feel nothing,” the seismologists say, as these quakes are just to test some new equipment. > At 3:00pm on Tuesday, there will be an enormous earthquake, rating upwards of 7 to 8 on the Richter scale, so, wear long sleeves, or goggles, or gloves... whatever it is you do to be safe during an earthquake. “We’re not entirely sure,” the Night Vale Seismological Society said. > The following Saturday, be ready for anything. They’re not sure what’s going to happen. Maybe nothing! Probably nothing. But... hopefully, something really, really cool. They don’t want to get your hopes up, so just be on the lookout, but... no promises. > “Oh, man! Fingers crossed! This could be super amazing!” the Night Vale Seismological Society said. http://cecilspeaks.tumblr.com/post/100062639486/episode-56-homecoming http://cecilspeaks.tumblr.com/post/100062639486/episode-56-h...