Warn Signs

WARNING SIGNS

You may not receive any advance notice of an attack in your neighborhood. So, watch for nature's signals. Birds will die first, then cats, etc. If you see even one dead bird, stay indoors and contact the authorities. You might even want to build a small aviary outdoors and add some birds. If you already have pet birds inside, you might want to put them out on the porch in the daytime (if it is warm enough and out of direct sun - it doesn't count as a signal of an attack if you kill the bird yourself!) Or, you may want to keep the birdcage as close to a window as possible to get some advance notice from the little bit of air that can come in there. (Some birds could die from the draft alone - also doesn't count - so research care of your bird first.)

All animals give us warnings of some impending disasters. Before an earthquake, dogs stop barking, some dogs hide, cats hide, horses make more noise and get restless. Sharks are reported to evacuate the reefs they cruise daily before a hurricane. And, it is said that you can tell that an earthquake in winter is imminent when you see earthworms come out of the ground. Some people say that the animal shelters and lost ads dramatically increase before an earthquake -- possibly for up to two weeks before.

Before large earthquakes, it seems even the wind stops. A lightning storm without any rain or hail can be (not always) a signal that a large earthquake is on its way. A hailstorm can be (not always) a sign that the storm is becoming a tornado.

Hopefully, we will also receive warnings from government officials and/or weathermen when we need them.

http://lacetoleather.com/dis.html

http://lacetoleather.com/warningsigns.html

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Detecting warning signs of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

Uncovering the mystery of earthquakes and volcanoes

Recent research indicates an increase in the intensity of electromagnetic waves just before certain seismic and volcanic activity. But uncertainties concerning these phenomena remain.

Post-seismic emissions may be easily explained due to acoustic waves generated during ground movements caused by the earthquake. However, pre-seismic signals observed in the upper atmosphere remain poorly understood.

© Art Presse

Not all earthquakes produce such disturbances, and the physical processes underlying these phenomena remain unclear. Several hypotheses have been suggested, from direct production of waves due to the compression of rocks near the epicentre, to electrical discharges resulting from a redistribution of loads in the ground.

Demeter to aid seismology and volcanology

The purpose of the Demeter mission is to detect and study electromagnetic disturbances in the upper atmosphere during earthquakes and volcanic activity. Data collected in this way complement measurements made at ground level. These combined observations are used to establish models and map the mean electric field intensity.

The main advantage of the Demeter microsatellite is that it can cover nearly all the globe's active seismic regions very quickly. Thanks to its large onboard storage capacity, the satellite instruments are able to make precise, systematic measurements all round the Earth.

© Art Presse

In order to optimize this mission, numerous ground studies take place simultaneously, coordinated by an international scientific team. Related experiments are conducted in the principal seismic zones (French Antilles, California, Japan, Greece, etc.) to define the characteristics of the observed phenomena in the event of seismic activity, both at ground level and in space.

Villagers witness pre-earthquake warning signs

Villagers witness pre-earthquake warning signs
( 2003-08-21 16:30) (Agencies)

Villagers say they saw apparent warning signs before the earthquake hit Chifeng city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region last Saturday.

Hours before the quake, villagers said they witnessed water spurt for over two meters from a river that had been dry for years.

But none of the locals who marveled at the wonder expected an quake would jolt the area, according to villagers from Ar Horqin Banner, one of the worst areas affected by the quake.

About 10 hours before the quake occurred, cellphone signals were suspended for quite some time in Linxi county seat, which is approximately 140 kilometers from the epicenter. Many people believed the problem to be a telecommunications breakdown, but experts attributed it to be disturbance of "abnormal terrestrial magnetism waves".

The earthquake-monitoring station in Linxi county had detected signs of four minor earthquakes two days before the quake and reported them to superior departments, said Jiang Ru, head of the county's earthquake-monitoring station on Wednesday.

"Days before the earthquake, two pigs appeared fretful in the pen and tried to escape. We thought they were ill," said Li Xiaohua, a villager in Gubeikou Village in Aobao Township in Bairin Left Banner.

A woman village folk recalled that she happened to see crowds of sparrows and swallows bumping into walls seemed unable to discern direction during flight.

Usually a range of abnormal phenomena would occur before quakes and relevant departments should spread more knowledge among local people so as to help prepare for such disasters, Jiang said.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-08/21/content_257045.htm

Basics of Earthquakes

Basic facts of Earth Quakes