科技报道14 科学家正在预测未来地震强度.docx

科技报道14科学家正在预测未来地震强度ScientistsPredictingStrengthofFutureEarthquakesp1.aystopmutemaxvo1.ume00:00-03:32repeatByAshIeyThompson2014/12/1Scientistsknowwhereearthquakesare1.ike1.ytotakep1.ace.Butitisdifficu1.tforthemtopredicthowstronganearthquakewi1.1.be.Now,Americanresearchershavefoundthatitmaybepossib1.etopredictthestrengthoffuturequakes.TheEarth,scrust-theoutermostsurface-ismadeupof1.argetectonicp1.ates.Asmanyas20tectonicp1.atescovertheEarth.Theymoves1.ow1.y,sometimess1.idingunderoneanother.Wherethathappens,earthquakescantakep1.ace.TimothyH.DixoniswiththeUniversityofSouthF1.orida.Heisageo1.ogist-ascientistwhostudiesrocksandsoi1.tounderstandtheEarth.Heandotherscientistsareusingg1.oba1.positioningsystem,orGPS,equipmenttomeasurewhatheca1.1.sms1.ow-s1.ip"events.Bythat,hemeanss1.ow-movingearthquakesthatcannotbemeasuredbyotherinstruments.Pedestriansstoptoexamineacrumb1.ingbui1.dinginNapa,Ca1.ifornia,fo1.1.owinganearthquake,Aug.24,2014.(APPhoto/NoahBerger)TimothyDixonsaysthatwhi1.esuchmovementsmaynotbefe1.t,theycan1.eadto1.arge,sometimesdead1.yearthquakes.,They*rethekindofearthquakethatmadethebigJapanearthquakein2011andtheSumatraearthquakeandtsunamiin2004.Sotheycanbe,theycanbetherea1.ki1.1.ers.Sowhatwethinktheses1.ow-s1.ipeventsarete1.1.ingusis,they,re1.ettingoffsteam,sotospeak,inareasofthefau1.t.Andifthey1.etoffenoughsteam,thatpartofthefau1.twon,trupture/*Themoreofthefau1.tthatruptures,orbreaks,hesays,themorepowerfu1.theearthquakeis.ThescientistssetupanumberofGPSreceivers15yearsagoinCostaRicatomeasurethems1.ow-s1.ip"events,whichtakep1.aceon1.yeveryyearortwo.The1.astonewasthreemonthsbeforeanearthquakein2012.Peop1.ea1.wayswanttoknowwhenanearthquakeisgoingtohappen.Thistechno1.ogycannotpredictthat.ButTimothyDixonsaysknowinghowstrongthequakemightbegivesofficia1.stimetoimprovebui1.dingcodesandmakeotherpreparations.“Youknowtheearthquakeismore-or-1.essinevitab1.e.Evenifyoudon'tknowexact1.ywhenit'sgoingtohappen,sinceyouknowit'sgoingtohappen,andyouknowhowbigit'sgoingtobe,youcanprepareaccording1.y.''Ascientificpaperpresentinghisfindingswaspub1.ishedintheProceedingsoftheNationa1.AcademyofSciences.mAsh1.eyThompson.VOA'sArtChimesreportedthisstoryfromWashington,D.C.Ash1.eyThompsonwroteitforVOA1.earningEng1.ish.GeorgeGrowwastheeditor.WordsinThisStorytectonicp1.ates-n.massive,irregu1.ar1.yshapeds1.absofso1.idrockintheEarth,scrust.fau1.t-n.abreakintheEarth'scrustreceiver-n.radioorte1.evisionequipmentthatchangessigna1.sintosoundandpicturescode-n.aseriesof1.awsorregu1.ationsinevitab1.e-adj.suretohappenNowit,syourturntousetheseWordsinThisStor.Inthecommentssection,writeasentenceusingoneofthesewordsandWewi1.1.providefeedbackonyouruseofvocabu1.aryandgrammar.