Measurements taken inside a deep research well in eastern China indicate changes in underground gasses may occur prior to large quakes.
Scientists in China say a new 3-mile-deep well drilled for research in Jiangsu province may allow the country to someday predict earthquakes.
The Xinhua news agency reports that Xu Zhiqin, chief scientist of the China Continental Scientific Drilling Engineering Center, said significant changes in deep underground gas movement were detected just prior to the devastating Sumatra earthquake of Dec. 26, 2004.
“It is possible that one day we could predict an earthquake by observations on underground gas,” Xu told the agency.
She added that the 6-inch-diameter well will allow researchers to study continental plate boundaries and substances in the layer of the earth between the crust and the core.
Photo: Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project Digg This 