Earth: Vital Seconds - The Journey Toward Earthquake Early Warning for All

Americans are reminded in September to be prepared for natural hazards during “National Preparedness Month.” A major goal of preparedness is to provide early warnings for earthquakes. Earthquake early warning (EEW) is exactly what it says: It is an early warning that shaking is coming and it can typically give a few seconds to a few minutes, at most, of warning.

The October cover story in EARTH Magazine explores the development of EEW systems in California, Oregon, and Washington. Learn about how EEW systems work, who gets to beta test them, and how scientists and engineers are navigating the waters of the public policy-science interface.

EARTH Magazine is filled with stories on exciting and cutting-edge research, including a feature on mitigating the harmful effects of contaminated urban soils, news about the Kennewick Man’s closest genetic relations, and a story on how declining U.S. water use is challenging traditional models, and much more!