Category Archives: Seismology and Society

Sustainability via Earthquake Energy?

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Society’s energy use is a growing concern. Increased attention is being paid to clean energy, sustainability, renewables, and reusables, and many efforts have been made to harness free energy such as solar, wind, and water. Harnessing earthquake energy has also been proposed. However, some problems with this idea are probably immediately obvious. The following articles address some of the major obstacles in harnessing earthquake energy:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/could-we-harness-energy-from-earthquakes/

http://news.discovery.com/earth/how-to-harness-energy-from-earthquakes-111129.htm

Can you think of any other issues not mentioned in the articles? Can you think of (or, do you think there are) any practical, potential solutions to these problems?

Appeals court overturns manslaughter convictions of six Italian seismologists

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On April 6th 2009, a M6.3 earthquake devastated the small Italian town of L’Aquila. “More than 45 towns were affected, 308 people killed, 1,600 injured and more then 65,000 inhabitants were forced to leave their homes.” Consequently, six Italian geologists were convicted of manslaughter for failing to predict the earthquake and sentenced to six years in prison.

“The prosecution argued that the geologists had caused nearly 30 people to stay inside their homes and die instead of going outside, as they usually did during earthquakes. In addition to the prison sentence, the geologists were banned from public service and were ordered to pay financial compensation to the city of L’Aquila, as well as to the families of the 29 people named in the indictment.”

The scientists were finally cleared by an appeals court in November of 2014. “The court said no crime had been committed. The decision was met by cries of “shame” in the courtroom, packed with quake survivors. Lawyers for the plaintiffs indicated they would challenge the decision to Italy’s highest court.”

In my opinion, it is ludicrous to have held the scientists accountable for the deaths as it is scientifically impossible to ascertain an earthquake’s time, location, and magnitude. We do not know enough about the underlying physical mechanisms governing earthquakes to be able to predict events with reasonable certainty. Instead of unjustly punishing the scientists for failing to be psychic, the Italian government should have let the scientists keep their jobs and focused their attention on getting the buildings up to code. Fortunately, the charges were overturned, better late than never, and fortunately for us, we do not live in a society that will condemn seismologists for failing to predict the course of mother nature. For more information on the story, check out the links below.

http://www.wired.com/2014/11/verdict-overturned-italian-geoscientists-convicted-manslaughter/

http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/11/7193391/italy-judges-clear-geologists-manslaughter-laquila-earthquake-fear

Ashley G