Scientists Are Developing A Way To Warn You An Earthquake Is Starting

A research geophysicist with the United States Geological Survey looks at a series of images that illustrate the seismic waves of an earthquake. The understanding of seismic waves is key for building an earthquake early warning system. A reliable West Coast early-warning system could cost roughly $38 million to build and $16 million per year to maintain and run, according to a press release from the University of Washington. The system is expected to be the main topic of focus during an "Earthquake Resilience Summit" hosted by the White House on Tuesday, which you can watch here: The idea behind earthquake early-warning systems isn't new. If the seismic waves indicate the onset of an earthquake, the computer system determines the earthquake's location and then sends out an alert saying how much time remains before potentially damaging shaking will occur at a given location.