China to develop global top-notch forecasting technology by 2030

China will speed up its efforts to develop global top-notch earthquake forecasting technology by 2030, making it competitive with that of developed countries by 2020, said Zheng Guoguang, head of the China Earthquake Administration on Sunday.

China aims to become one of the most advanced countries in earthquake forecasting.

Over the past five years, China saw great progress in earthquake preparation and disaster relief, according to Zheng. At present, It is capable of detecting an earthquake above 2.5-magnitude and reporting it within two minutes.

Besides, seismic resistance materials, such as shock-absorption devices, have been already widely used in the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings in the country.

A building was struck by a 5.8-magnitude earthquake.

China has given priority to earthquake forecasting technology, which requires a solid understanding of complicated subterranean activity, said Sun Shihong, a researcher from China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

To raise the accuracy of earthquake forecasting, China plans to launch a satellite that can be used for real-time monitoring of earthquakes and possible seismic precursors in China and its neighboring regions, according to the CENC.

Earthquake forecasting technology

China is situated in one of the most active seismic zones in the world. Since 1900, it has had a 7.5-magnitude earthquake or above every five years on average on the mainland, and every decade has seen one tremor measuring at least magnitude 8.0.

In 2016, China released a new seismic parameter zoning map, providing national standards for construction and anti-seismic design. All buildings and infrastructure must meet basic criteria and requirements as outlined by the country.

(CHINA DAILY)