草莓污视频导航

July 29, 2024

草莓污视频导航 prof鈥檚 research supports launch of Canada鈥檚 earthquake alert system

Glenn Dolphin provides solutions on informing the public about earthquake safety
A man stands in a forest
Dr. Glenn Dolphin, Associate Professor from the Department of Earth, Energy and Environment at 草莓污视频导航. Courtesy Glenn Dolphin

Time is everything when you鈥檙e in the middle of an emergency, and having those extra seconds during a serious earthquake can save lives and property. It鈥檚 that extra time that the Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system, an alert system developed by the Government of Canada, aims to provide for Canadians.

Two years ago, Dr. Glenn Dolphin, EdD, an associate professor from the Department of Earth, Energy and Environment, received $260,000 from Natural Resources Canada to conduct research and provide several strategies and recommendations on how to inform the public on earthquakes and the EEW alerts. 

With his extensive background in science education, Dolphin has been tackling the challenges that come with communicating to the public about earthquake safety in his research 鈥 and now the first EEW systems being activated across Canada.

About the EEW alert system

The EEW recently launched in British Columbia and will launch in Quebec and Ontario by the end of 2024. It works by monitoring the seismic waves created by an earthquake and delivering an early warning. 

Much like dropping a pebble in water, an earthquake generates seismic waves across the earth鈥檚 surface. Those waves are known as primary P waves and secondary S waves. 

The P waves are faster and less damaging than the slower S waves. Using sensors, the EEW system captures the P waves before the S waves. It then transfers that data to a software system, which sends out an alert to the affected region through a text-based alert system.

Delivering the message

In developing his recommendations to Natural Resources Canada, Dolphin and his team 鈥 Jason Droboth, Esther Muturi and Shona de Jong 鈥 took into consideration the historical, linguistic and sociocultural factors that would impact how the public receives, interprets and responds to the EEW alert. 

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of my main strategies in teaching 鈥 to use the history of science, and the developmental trajectory of concepts, to teach those concepts rather than just giving it out in its abstract form,鈥 says Dolphin. 鈥淎nd then also, just trying to understand the language that we use also influences how we understand things.鈥

Interestingly, Dolphin鈥檚 research found that the public goes through a 鈥渃ycle of awareness, wonder and then investigation鈥 after feeling an earthquake. The EEW system can circumvent this cycle by providing immediate information. 

A graphic showing the cycle of an earthquake

Earthquake Comprehension Cycle.

Jason Droboth

Furthermore, his research also emphasizes the importance of understanding earthquake magnitude and intensity, and the need for clear communication to maintain trust in the EEW system. 

鈥淭rust in the system is another prerequisite for proper response to an alert,鈥 says Dolphin. 鈥淔or people to maintain trust and avoid user fatigue, understanding why they did or did not receive an alert is crucial.

鈥淎dditionally, having consistent definitions of magnitude and intensity among government websites, along with standardized concepts and definitions across different countries, can help inform the public.鈥

That timely warning, backed by relevant and consistent information, gives people the chance to 鈥渄rop, cover and hold on鈥 鈥 helping to prevent injury, save lives and reduce property damage.


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