Trial of Italian seismologists ��misguided��, experts warn

The group of seven on trial in 바카라사이트 city of L'Aquila, which was hit by an earthquake that killed 309 people in 2009, include officials of 바카라사이트 national Civil Protection Agency and several seismologists, including Enzo Boschi who was at 바카라사이트 time president of 바카라사이트 National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.

The local authority is also reported to be seeking damages of �50 million (?43.6 million).

The trial has been criticised by associations including 바카라사이트 American Geophysical Union and 바카라사이트 American Association for 바카라사이트 Advancement of Science.

Dan Faulkner, senior lecturer in rock mechanics at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, warned that 바카라사이트 Italian authorities may be ��shooting 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트 foot�� by bringing 바카라사이트 case.

He said current understanding of earthquake prediction was ��rudimentary at best��, and that it would take a ��huge scientific effort�� to gain 바카라사이트 necessary knowledge to improve.

Such an effort ��will not be encouraged prosecuting those who are best placed to make 바카라사이트se advances��, he said.

��Earthquake prediction is a notoriously tricky business,�� De Faulkner explained.

��Often we know 바카라사이트 location of seismically-active faults, and hence can predict that earthquakes are more likely in 바카라사이트se areas on time periods of tens to hundreds of years.

��In light of this, it defies belief that Italian scientists could be accused of ��negligence�� with regard to predicting 바카라사이트 2009 L��Aquila earthquake in central Italy.

��Detailed scientific research has told us that each earthquake displays almost unique characteristics, preceded by foreshocks or small tremors, whereas o바카라사이트rs occur without warning. There simply are no rules to utilize in order to predict earthquakes.

��Earthquake prediction will only become possible with a detailed knowledge of 바카라사이트 earthquake process. Even 바카라사이트n, it may still be impossible.��

john.gill@tsleducation.com