When an earthquake occurs, its (generally weak but fast) P-wave travels rapidly from the epicentre, triggering the EEW system which then alerts people and systems before the (slow but strong) S-wave arrives. (Photo: Government of Canada)
An Early Earthquake Warning System is set to be launched in BC and across Canada in the spring.
It ‘s an online system that will provide an alert — seconds, up to a few minutes — after an earthquake has been detected and strong shaking is imminent.
Seismologist John Cassidy says its to give people time to take protective action.
“If you are 10, 20 or 30 kilometres or even further away from an earthquake, you will have some warning time that is provided, so you can get under a table and get away from windows or objects that might fall over.”
Cassidy says it’s also a chance for automated systems to kick in safety measures.
“To open garage doors at firehalls, stop elevators so people can get off before strong shaking hits and bells that might go off in hospitals so that surgeons can put down their scalpels.”
He says the EEW is first rolling out in British Columbia.
“But it will also cover all the parts of Canada that have the most seismic hazard so, through the St. Lawrence Seismic Zone, Ottawa Valleys, Yukon and Haida Gwaii, so it will eventually cover all of Canada.”
Cassidy says the alert system is the same one used in California, Oregon, Washington and Japan for earthquake warnings for several years now.
The province says there are approximately 5,000 earthquakes across Canada each year and approximately 3,000 of these occur in British Columbia.
More details on the EEW can be found here.
