No one was killed by the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that shook northern California on Sunday, but more than 200 people were injured. And one question being asked, is whether an advanced earthquake warning system could keep people safer. One proposed system would cause California $80 million. But if we can`t predict earthquakes, how would it work?

没有人在周日发生在加州北部6.0级地震中死亡，但是有超过200人在地震中受伤。其中一个被问及的问题就是拥有一个先进的地震预警系统能否保证人们的安全。一个拟议的先进系统会花费加州8000万美元的支出，但是如果我们不能预测地震，那么它是怎样做到的呢?

If you in the epicenter of an earthquake, you are going to get no warning. There`s no time for that. The warning depends on the distance you are to the earthquake epicenter.

如果你在地震中心的话，你不会收到地震预警。因为没有时间准备逃跑。地震预警只对于远离震中位置的人来讲才有效。

Early warning system for earthquakes is expensive and also complex. Part of the problem is, we don`t have a system that can predict the earth is going to move. Our warning system is based on the fact that the earth is already moving and then if you are farther away from that epicenter, we can give you some time to prepare. Some minor time, but some time.

早期地震预警系统是非常昂贵并且复杂的。其中的问题就是，我们没有一个可以预测出地球运动的系统。我们的预警系统基于地球已经开始进行活动之后发出的，如果你距离震中有一定距离的话，我们可以提供给你一些时间准备逃生。只有很短的时间提供给你准备。

Unlike a tornado warning where Doppler radar can see the rotation and issue a warning before the tornado, an earthquake warning happens when the earth is already shaking.

不像龙卷风预警系统多普勒雷达可以看出气旋运动在龙卷风形成之前提前发出警告，而地震预警系统则是从地球开始摇晃之后才发出警告。

Another limitation is how close the sensor is to the epicenter. If the sensor is ten miles away from the epicenter, it takes five seconds to get to that sensor. So, the more sensors we get, the better the lee time will get as well. If we get ten seconds notice of an earthquake that`s happening, especially a big one, you can open up the elevators on the nearest floor. You can stop trains. You can stop all those things that are moving before the shaking gets there. This entire system works because the speed of light or the speed of the warning going down the line, is 186,000 miles per second. The earth as it`s wiggling and shaking along, is going at 2 miles per second, so if you are 30 miles away, your warning could be 15 seconds.

另一个限制是距离震中的传感器距离。如果传感器距离震中十英里远的话，将会需要五秒的时间将感应传送到传感器，所以传感器越多我们就会得到更多的时间准备逃生。如果我们需要十秒钟来注意到地震的发生，尤其是震级较高的地震，你可以打开距离最近地板上的电梯，你可以停止火车，你可以在地震到达之前停止所有摇晃的东西。整个工作系统因为光速或者警告发出的速度为每秒186000英里。地球的摆动和震动将以每秒2英里速度移动，如果你距离30英里以外的话，警告信息发送到你身上则需要15秒。

It`s 15 seconds I could save her life.

15秒钟我可以挽救她的生命。

No one was killed by the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that shook northern California on Sunday, but more than 200 people were injured. And one question being asked, is whether an advanced earthquake warning system could keep people safer. One proposed system would cause California $80 million. But if we can`t predict earthquakes, how would it work?

If you in the epicenter of an earthquake, you are going to get no warning. There`s no time for that. The warning depends on the distance you are to the earthquake epicenter.

Early warning system for earthquakes is expensive and also complex. Part of the problem is, we don`t have a system that can predict the earth is going to move. Our warning system is based on the fact that the earth is already moving and then if you are farther away from that epicenter, we can give you some time to prepare. Some minor time, but some time.

Unlike a tornado warning where Doppler radar can see the rotation and issue a warning before the tornado, an earthquake warning happens when the earth is already shaking.

Another limitation is how close the sensor is to the epicenter. If the sensor is ten miles away from the epicenter, it takes five seconds to get to that sensor. So, the more sensors we get, the better the lee time will get as well. If we get ten seconds notice of an earthquake that`s happening, especially a big one, you can open up the elevators on the nearest floor. You can stop trains. You can stop all those things that are moving before the shaking gets there. This entire system works because the speed of light or the speed of the warning going down the line, is 186,000 miles per second. The earth as it`s wiggling and shaking along, is going at 2 miles per second, so if you are 30 miles away, your warning could be 15 seconds.

It`s 15 seconds I could save her life.