Can Earthquakes Be Predicted Algorithmically?

An anonymous reader with this story about a practical application of big data analysis as applied to the trove of sensor readings taken by satellites and by ground-based senosrs. A company called Terra Seismic says that earthquakes can be predicted 20-30 days before they occur, by sifting data for thermal, ionic, and other abnormalities in areas where quakes are considered likely. Says the linked article: "The company claims to have successfully predicted a number of earthquakes. For example, on 5th of April 2013, the firm issued a forecast for Japan. On 12th April 2013, an earthquake hit the identified area and 33 people were injured. On 4th June 2013, the firm again made a prediction for an earthquake in North Italy. On 21st June, an earthquake hit the identified area. On 3rd March 2013, the firm issued a forecast for an earthquake in Iran. Again, after 35 days, an earthquake hit the identified area."

Comments

Lists

[Anonymous Coward]

how about a list of times they predicted an earthquake and nothing happened.

without context its meaningless

And what of false positives?

[wbr1]

How often do their algorithms generate a false positive? If that rate is sufficiently high, the system is useless.

Even if it were used, people would likely begin to ignore it.

Sensitivity and Specificity

[ceoyoyo]

Sensitivity and specificity or it didn't happen.

No.

[dskoll]

Betteridge's law.