Earthquake Early Warning System
Since earthquakes are pretty rampant around Japan, they’ve now made a new warning system that can detect an earthquake immediately after it occurs to warn people before the ground starts to shake.
This system detects P-waves in the immediate aftermath of a temblor and informs people that the destructive S-waves are coming. This groundbreaking Japanese system has been widely publicized on TV and in other media since October, and many Japanese have high hopes for the system.
Difference in Wave Speed the Key
Japan is extremely prone to earthquakes, and these seismic events have caused a great deal of damage on numerous occasions in the past. The development of this revolutionary system is the result of many years of research by seismologists and others. The system uses data collected by the National Meteorological Agency and others via seismic instruments at around 1,000 locations across the country. When an earthquake strikes, the seismic instruments nearby measure and instantly analyze the P-waves. (P-waves are primary waves and travel at a speed of 7 kilometers per second.) The system then notifies the areas that are about to be hit by the slower but stronger S-waves. (S-waves are the destructive secondary waves and travel at a speed of 4 km per second.)
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