California Quakes Mysteriously Preceded by Shifts in Earth's Magnetic Field

The next big earthquake will destroy infrastructure and put lives at risk when it strikes.

For days leading up to the event, titanic geological forces will be at work, warping the crust in subtle ways that could be used to predict the catastrophe.

flickers in the magnetic field may be a sign. Researchers have debated the merits of hunting for magnetic signatures for decades.

There might be a good reason to continue the search according to a new case-controlled study.

There are signs of a pattern that requires further study after the researchers applied machine learning to ground-based measurements of local magnetic changes.

This isn't to say that the effect they observed could be used to predict earthquakes, but it is a fascinating lead.

"We're not saying that this signal exists before every earthquake," Schneider said.

It's possible that the findings will keep the topic of major tremors alive for a while.

It's reasonable to theorize about the magnetic field before earthquakes. The theory is that the build-up of pressure in the crust could affect the rock layers.

There are pockets of trapped gas that build up prior to the release of the gas.

It would give authorities time to prepare for a big storm if they were able to spot the ultra-low frequencies in the magnetic field.

There are a number of obstacles in the way of a promising idea.

There are lots of things that can cause low-frequency wobbles in a magnetic field. Increased traffic or shifts in solar activity can cause a buzz that may be mistaken for a geological problem.

Accurate measuring equipment is needed at fixed locations near large tremors. Enough earthquakes of the right size are needed for a sample.

The research sites located near the faults in California are in a good position to overcome the hurdles.

The researchers were given a large amount of data on earthquakes greater than 4.5 magnitude.

After selecting earthquakes for which there were two close sites and no recordings, the researchers were left with 19 earthquakes.

The sample was divided into two groups, one being the basis of a machine-learning study that attempted to sift out potential patterns from known influences, and the other being a test for any possible discoveries.

The test run confirmed the signal-to-noise ratio wasn't strong. The researchers admit in their report that there were obvious anomalies prior to the earthquakes.

It's possible that something is hidden in the shimmer that could be seen up to three days before an earthquake strikes. A larger sample may be able to identify what's happening.

It might not be a universal tune if future studies land upon a reliable hum of impending doom in the magnetic field of one area.

The idea of using small changes in the planet's magnetic field to forecast earthquakes is controversial. The secret whispers of a fault at breaking point might be uncovered by further investigations.

The research was published in a journal.