Google Uses Android Phones to Measure, Follow Earthquakes
2020-08-17
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1Google has launched a communications system that uses the company's Android phones to detect earthquakes.
2It aims to provide timely information about earthquakes to phones that run the mobile operating system.
3The new warning system has already been tested in California, which has more damaging quakes than any other part of the United States.
4To develop the system, the company worked with the U.S. Geological Survey - USGS - a federal agency that uses seismographic equipment to measure earthquake activity.
5Technology for predicting earthquakes does not yet exist.
6But the USGS says it does have equipment to predict seismic activity near a quake.
7This means it is possible to warn people in areas where such activity is expected.
8People could then get several seconds or perhaps up to a minute of warning before a quake strikes.
9The USGS joined several university partners in developing the new warning system, called ShakeAlert.
10Scientists say the Earth's outermost surface is made up of large tectonic plates.
11As many as 20 tectonic plates cover the planet.
12They move slowly, sometimes sliding under one another.
13When that happens, earthquakes can take place.
14This sudden release of energy creates different kinds of waves that cause the ground to move.
15The USGS says the purpose of ShakeAlert is to identify the first energy to be released in an earthquake.
16This first sign of a quake is known as primary wave energy.
17When sensors identify this primary wave, Android phones immediately report the movement to a processing center, which then estimates the quake's size and intensity.
18The center uses this data to create a message to warn people using the phones to take action, such as dropping to the ground or taking cover.
19The USGS says studies in California and two other states have shown that the system could provide warning times "from a few seconds to tens of seconds."
20In addition to warning individuals, such alerts could be used to slow trains, airplanes moving on the ground or prevent cars from entering bridges or tunnels.
21These messages could also be sent to businesses so their workers can close down gas lines, elevators or other equipment before the shaking begins.
22The USGS system in California has more than 700 sensors, called seismometers, to measure earthquakes.
23But creating equipment-based systems around the world would be difficult.
24As a possible solution, Google launched its own earthquake alert system for Android users worldwide.
25Google says the system turns its phones into small seismometers.
26Millions of devices with the technology "form the world's largest earthquake detection network," the company said on its website.
27More than 2 billion devices use the Android operating system.
28Google says all smartphones have built-in accelerometers to measure direction and force of motion.
29These sensors are mainly used to show how the phone is being held.
30If the phone identifies something that might be an earthquake, it sends a signal with data about where the shaking happened to a central computer server.
31The server then combines the data with information from other devices to decide whether an earthquake is, in fact, happening.
32Google says the process "is racing the speed of light against the speed of an earthquake."
33It adds: "Lucky for us, the speed of light is much faster!"
34No extra computer software is needed to run the system on Android devices.
35Alerts will be sent for earthquakes with a strength of 4.5 or greater.
36Users will receive a sound alert and warning on the screen telling them to immediately drop to the floor and seek cover.
37Google says the data will also be used to provide fast and accurate information on earthquakes through its search engine.
38When a user searches "earthquake" or "earthquake near me" on Google, the latest information will be shown, along with "helpful resources" on what to do after an earthquake, the company said.
39Google said it plans to add the service to Android users in other states and countries over the next year.
40I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Google has launched a communications system that uses the company's Android phones to detect earthquakes. It aims to provide timely information about earthquakes to phones that run the mobile operating system. 2The new warning system has already been tested in California, which has more damaging quakes than any other part of the United States. 3To develop the system, the company worked with the U.S. Geological Survey - USGS - a federal agency that uses seismographic equipment to measure earthquake activity. 4Technology for predicting earthquakes does not yet exist. But the USGS says it does have equipment to predict seismic activity near a quake. This means it is possible to warn people in areas where such activity is expected. People could then get several seconds or perhaps up to a minute of warning before a quake strikes. 5The USGS joined several university partners in developing the new warning system, called ShakeAlert. 6Scientists say the Earth's outermost surface is made up of large tectonic plates. As many as 20 tectonic plates cover the planet. They move slowly, sometimes sliding under one another. When that happens, earthquakes can take place. This sudden release of energy creates different kinds of waves that cause the ground to move. 7The USGS says the purpose of ShakeAlert is to identify the first energy to be released in an earthquake. This first sign of a quake is known as primary wave energy. 8When sensors identify this primary wave, Android phones immediately report the movement to a processing center, which then estimates the quake's size and intensity. The center uses this data to create a message to warn people using the phones to take action, such as dropping to the ground or taking cover. 9The USGS says studies in California and two other states have shown that the system could provide warning times "from a few seconds to tens of seconds." In addition to warning individuals, such alerts could be used to slow trains, airplanes moving on the ground or prevent cars from entering bridges or tunnels. 10These messages could also be sent to businesses so their workers can close down gas lines, elevators or other equipment before the shaking begins. 11The USGS system in California has more than 700 sensors, called seismometers, to measure earthquakes. But creating equipment-based systems around the world would be difficult. 12As a possible solution, Google launched its own earthquake alert system for Android users worldwide. Google says the system turns its phones into small seismometers. Millions of devices with the technology "form the world's largest earthquake detection network," the company said on its website. 13More than 2 billion devices use the Android operating system. 14Google says all smartphones have built-in accelerometers to measure direction and force of motion. These sensors are mainly used to show how the phone is being held. 15If the phone identifies something that might be an earthquake, it sends a signal with data about where the shaking happened to a central computer server. The server then combines the data with information from other devices to decide whether an earthquake is, in fact, happening. 16Google says the process "is racing the speed of light against the speed of an earthquake." It adds: "Lucky for us, the speed of light is much faster!" 17No extra computer software is needed to run the system on Android devices. Alerts will be sent for earthquakes with a strength of 4.5 or greater. Users will receive a sound alert and warning on the screen telling them to immediately drop to the floor and seek cover. 18Google says the data will also be used to provide fast and accurate information on earthquakes through its search engine. When a user searches "earthquake" or "earthquake near me" on Google, the latest information will be shown, along with "helpful resources" on what to do after an earthquake, the company said. 19Google said it plans to add the service to Android users in other states and countries over the next year. 20I'm Bryan Lynn. 21Bryan Lynn wrote this for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Google. George Grow was the editor. 22We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 23________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25detect - v. discover or notice something 26mobile - adj. able to be moved freely or easily 27seismographic - adj. relating to equipment used to detect and measure earthquakes 28tectonic plate - n. one of the parts of the earth's surface that move in relation to each other 29primary - adj. earliest in time or order 30tunnel - n. long passage that runs underground or through a mountain 31elevator - n. a device that moves people and things up and down inside a building 32screen - n. the flat panel area on an electronic device 33accurate - adj. correct or exact