Could radio waves predict earthquakes?

Scientists are examining the possibility of using radio waves to predict the location, time and magnitude of earthquakes.

Earthquakes such as the one that struck the Kashmir region of Pakistan last month kill thousands of people each year but at present there is no method of forecasting when they might strike.

Now some geophysicists believe that it might be possible to predict earthquakes by measuring either electromagnetic pulses in the earth's crust or disturbances in the ionosphere. Such pulses and disturbances have been detected prior to a number of major earthquakes.

No-one is certain what causes them but Colin Price, a geophysicist at Tel Aviv University in Israel , has speculated that the ground pulses are caused by the fracturing of rocks containing magnetic particles. As these rocks crack in the seismic events prior to an earthquake, they generate ultra low frequency radio waves.

Interestingly, these radio pulses are generated as much as two weeks before some earthquakes take place.
By detecting these signals, therefore, it might be possible to develop an earthquake early warning system that would give people plenty of time to evacuate buildings before an earthquake strikes, saving thousands of lives every year

Source: GB2RS News - Courtesy of the RSGB