Seconds before the quake: How Google’s android alert system detected Venezuela’s tremor early
The system uses phone accelerometers to detect P-waves and sends “Be Aware” or “Take Action” alerts via internet. It doesn’t predict quakes but gives crucial early seconds. Available in India on Android 5.0+ with location and internet enabled
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : Following the powerful earthquake in Venezuela, a new discussion has erupted on social media. Many users claimed they received an Earthquake Alert from Google just seconds before they felt the tremor. Numerous screenshots were shared along with these claims, raising questions about how Google receives earthquake information in advance.
Google doesn't actually predict earthquakes, but rather attempts to detect early earthquake waves and send alerts seconds in advance using the Android Earthquake Alerts System . This system works with sensors built into millions of Android smartphones.
How does a smartphone become an earthquake detector?
Most Android smartphones today have a sensor called an accelerometer . It's typically used to adjust the orientation of the phone's screen and detect movement, but it can also sense minor ground vibrations.
If multiple smartphones in an area simultaneously record unusual vibrations, they anonymously send signals to Google's servers. The server analyzes the data from the individual devices and, if an earthquake is confirmed, issues an alert to people in the affected area.
Why do we get an alert a few seconds in advance?
P-waves are the first waves to emerge during an earthquake. They cause relatively little damage but travel at very high speeds. They are followed by S-waves , which cause the most destruction.
The Android system detects the initial P-waves and immediately transmits the information to the server. This information is transmitted extremely quickly via the Internet, often delivering a warning to nearby mobile phones before the S-waves even reach them. However, this delay can range from a few seconds to a few dozen seconds, depending on the distance from the epicenter.
Google sends two types of alerts
1. Be Aware Alert:
Sent for mild earthquakes or low intensity tremors, so that people can be alert.
2. Take Action Alert:
Issued for a strong and potentially damaging earthquake. People are advised to immediately evacuate to a safe location.
On tapping on the alert, the user also sees the estimated intensity of the earthquake, the location of the epicenter, a map of the affected area and important safety instructions.
This facility is also available in India
Google's Android Earthquake Alerts System is also available in India and works on most smartphones running Android 5.0 or higher. To take advantage of this feature, the phone must have internet (mobile data or Wi-Fi) and location services enabled.
However, experts clarify that this technology does not predict earthquakes , but rather attempts to warn people a few seconds in advance by detecting the initial waves after an earthquake has already begun. These few seconds can prove crucial in saving lives during a disaster.