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Modern seismology has been with us for over 100 years,
现代地震学已有一百多年的历史
but scientists are still no closer to predicting earthquakes.
但科学家们还是无法预测地震
However, they haven't completely given up.
尽管如此 他们并没有完全放弃
But where they once thought it
从前他们以为能够
might be possible to predict months in advance,
提前几个月预测地震
now, it's come down to a matter of seconds.
现在 能提前几秒钟已是万幸
We are prototyping earthquake early warning,
我们正在为地震预警系统建造原型
this is also sometimes called now casting,
有时也称它为实时预测
because it's not saying there's going to be earthquake,
因为它无法预报你地震的发生时间地点
its rather saying an earthquake has already begun
它只能告诉你地震已经发生
and we're giving you that information before
然后我们在震波从震源移动到
the waves have travelled from the fault to where you are.
该地区前给出预警信号
The warning system will start from stations like this,
预警系统由像这个位于
located along the San Andreas Fault.
圣安地列斯断层的站点启动
Instruments buried deep underground will track
利用高精度全球定位系统卫星
how much the fault is moving,
深埋地底的仪器能追踪到
using high-precision GPS satellites.
断层的移动程度
The, er, antenna itself is inside of this hemispherical shell
天线藏在半球形外壳里
and it's constantly
它会不断地自动追踪
locked onto the radio signals from the GPS satellites.
来自全球定位系统卫星的无线电信号
Each leg of this tripod goes down about 30 feet,
三脚架的每根脚都延伸到地下三十英尺
ten metres into the ground
就是地下十米的地方
and firmly attached to the bedrock here.
牢固地附在基岩上
But to have this system up and running,
要让整个系统运行并运作起来
these instruments need to be able to feed back data
这些仪器必须能在地震的瞬间
the moment the ground starts to shake.
及时反馈数据

重点解释

However, they haven't completely given up.尽管如此，他们并没有完全放弃

give up:放弃

She doesn't give up easily.

她做任何事都不轻易放弃。

But where they once thought it might be possible to predict months in advance,从前他们以为能够提前几个月预测地震

in advance:提前

All seats are bookable in advance.

所有的座位都可以预订。

now, it's come down to a matter of seconds.现在，能提前几秒钟已是万幸

a matter of:大约

It may be a matter of months before it's ready.

要准备好可能得数月时间。

The revolt was suppressed in a matter of hours.

叛乱在几小时之内就镇压下去了。

firmly attached to the bedrock here.牢固地附在基岩上

attach to:系在 ... 上

All blame must attach to myself.

一切责任应由我本人承担。