Earthquake experts turn to history for guidance

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Damage in Jerusalems Old City following a July 11 1927 earthquake. One of the first earthquakes on the Dead Sea Fault to be recorded by modern seismographic techniques it reached 6.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was in the northern part of the ...
Damage in Jerusalem's Old City following a July 11, 1927, earthquake. One of the first earthquakes on the Dead Sea Fault to be recorded by modern seismographic techniques, it reached 6.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was in the northern part of the Dead Sea. Credit: American Colony Collection

A major quake of magnitude seven on the Richter scale in the politically-fragile region of the Middle East could have dire consequences for precious holy sites and even world peace, says Tel Aviv University geologist Dr. Shmulik Marco. In light of this imminent danger, Marco, from the school’s Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, has taken an historical approach to earthquake forecasting by using ancient records from the Vatican and other religious sources in his assessment. The past holds the key to the future, he says.


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