Forecasting the Catastrophe

Earthquake prediction? How? The author, a former LAUSD earthquake preparedness coordinator for fifteen years, pieces together an astounding history of past earthquakes, and uses that pattern to formulate 181 specific times and dates of higher probability for seismic activity on the West Coast to the year 2020. His previous work, "Predicting the Next Great Quake" caused quite a stir on the West Coast in the 90s, successfully forecasting a dozen large seismic events, including the May 2, 1996 magnitude 5.4 Seattle quake, which struck no more than 69 minutes away from the time and date predicted. Why have there been so many historic earthquakes on the West Coast that occurred at dawn and dusk? How is it that quakes separated by years, even decades, keep striking at the same time of day, during the same phases of the month, within minutes, within seconds of each other? And why has a solution to the problem of earthquake prediction eluded this nation for so long?Forecasting the Catastrophe attempts to answer those questions, by connecting the interlocking parts of a scientific detective story that ranges from the steppes of Russia, to the jungles of Central America, and back to the San Andreas Fault Zone in the United States. This is the book that might cause the first steps to be taken toward the creation of an early warning system for the West Coast. If you read one scientific book this year, this is the one that you'll thoroughly enjoy.