Weather Whys; Earthquake Prediction

This is weather wise. As difficult as the weather is to predict, the problems of meteorologists often pale in comparison with those of seismologists. Earthquake prediction has been attempted many times in the past, with some people reporting successes that others have not been able to confirm. Overall, no one has yet come up with what could be termed a reliable earthquake prediction scheme, although research into that is continuing. There are a number of interesting atmospheric phenomena, which sometimes accompany or immediately precede earthquakes. They include, among other things, red suns, characteristic cloud streaks or cloud layers, intense auroral displays and lightning. The Bible says that during the crucifixion of Christ, there was an earthquake, and at the same time, the sun took on the color of blood. More recently, the Tang Shan region of China suffered a major earthquake in the summer of 1976, and residents there also claimed to have seen something unusual. Many said that before the quake struck, they were awakened from a sound sleep by bright

blue and white incandescent lights in the sky. Around the beginning of the 19th century, Geographer Alexander von Humboldt noted some observations he made prior to and following a major quake near his home in Venezuela. He mentioned a persistent red fog on the horizon, although the relative humidity was well below what would normally be expected with fog. He said the fog disappeared three days after the earthquake. No one understands what causes these phenomena, or for that matter, even if they're connected to the processes that produce earthquakes, but researchers are continuing to investigate. Whether wise is produced with the assistance of the National Weather Service Forecast Office and the National Severe Storms Laboratory, both in Norman, Oklahoma, and is made possible through a grant from the National Science Foundation. But whether wise, I'm Drew Barlow.