There are subtle changes prior to earthquakes that many animals can perceive. It's true that there are also stories about snakes abandoning their burrows, dogs barking excessively, or birds flying away days or even weeks before they occur. In these cases, it's more debatable whether these behaviors actually occur. But the truth is that many animals are capable of detecting earthquakes moments before they occur.
When an earthquake occurs, vibrations course through the ground at a level we can't consciously perceive. However, these types of vibrations, the primary ones, travel at a higher speed than the secondary ones, which are the ones that cause all the damage. Some animals, which they are capable of, is to detect the primary vibrations before the secondary ones arriveThis time interval, which can be at least two minutes, gives them the opportunity to react before the loud bang arrives.
Scientific evidence
A study by the Open University in the UK found interesting evidence. The tensions that build up throughout the earthquake fault lines release electrically charged particles. These are transmitted through the rocks, producing chemical changes in the groundwater. In this way, yes It could be understood that the toads suddenly abandoned their ponds days beforeA good example of this was the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in Italy. The pond where the toads were found was 74 km from the epicenter of the earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale, causing extensive damage and completely destroying many homes.
Other assumptions that could be attributed by analogy to what has been described are the behaviors of birds and bats. It is possible that Positive charges influence the electromagnetic fields that bats and birds use to navigateHowever, no direct link has yet been corroborated. So for now, the most plausible response remains the primary vibrations that many animals can perceive. This is the scientific reason why they can react before the strong tremor arrives.
Furthermore, it is important to note that animals have a much sharper sense of hearing than humans, allowing them to detect low-frequency sounds and vibrations that go unnoticed by us. For example, dogs can hear frequencies beyond our audible range, allowing them to perceive the beginning of an earthquake before it becomes a devastating earthquake. Their instinct is comparable to that of other animals in similar situations, as mentioned in the article on anticipate rain through animal behavior.
Why can animals anticipate earthquakes?
Recent studies suggest that animals have the ability to perceive changes in your environment that are imperceptible to humans. These may include changes in the terrestrial magnetism, gas release, and vibrations. Through their senses, animals are able to react to these signals before natural disasters occur, something that could be crucial to understanding how they behave in risky situations, as described in the analysis of the animal behavior in response to early warningsIts ability to detect these subtle changes could be key to future seismic prediction technologies.
The most prominent animals in anticipating earthquakes
- Snakes: It has been documented that reptiles tend to abandon their burrows before an earthquake, appearing restless and escaping before the tremors occur.
- Dogs: Many times, dogs bark or show unusual behaviors hours before an earthquake. This has been observed on several occasions and in different locations.
- Toads: As previously mentioned, his behavior changed before the L'Aquila earthquake, abandoning their ponds shortly before the disaster.
- Birds: Some species of birds show a behavior frantic just before an earthquake, such as flying in different directions or grouping together.
Recent studies on animal behavior
More recent research has attempted to correlate animal behavior with earthquakes, observing that certain species can reach predict the arrival of an earthquake minutes or even hours before from occurring. For example, a study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute suggests that the behavior of animal groups can be a reliable indicator of seismic activity. This type of behavior is analyzed in a similar way to what is studied in the article on volcanic activity and animal behavior. To learn more about how changes in the environment affect wildlife, you can consult Shocking images show how global warming affects the Arctic.
Scientists have begun to use technologies such as GPS transmitters and monitoring devices to record animal behavior in regions with high tectonic activity. These devices allow observing activity patterns that can warn of possible earthquakes. A notable case is on Mount Etna, where researchers have used video-cameras to analyze the behavior of snakes and other animals on nearby farms.
The results of these studies indicate that, in some cases, the behavior of animals can change up to 20 hours before an earthquake, which could offer a useful warning window for humans. This concept of using animal behavior as a predictive tool is similar to what is explored in the relationship between climate and animals, as detailed in the effect of climate change on species.
Historical examples of animal anticipation
History is full of anecdotes about animals' unexpected reactions to natural disasters. One of the most cited examples is the city of Helice, in Greece, where rats, dogs, and snakes They left the area days before that a devastating earthquake devastated the city in 373 BC. This phenomenon has been documented over the centuries and has sparked the interest of scientists and scholars.
In addition, during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, many animals, including elephants and birds, were observed. fleeing to higher ground minutes before the tragedy occurred, suggesting that their instinct allowed them to pick up on signals that humans couldn't perceive. This also relates to how patterns of change in wildlife are studied, as mentioned in global warming and its impact on animals.
Future perspectives
As technology advances, researchers are increasingly interested in using animal behavior data as a way to improve earthquake prediction. In countries like China, a monitoring system has been implemented that uses cameras and sensors to monitor the behavior of snakes and other animalsThis could create a more effective model for alerting the public to the impending disaster.
The impact of earthquakes on wildlife
It is important to consider the impact of earthquakes not only on humans, but also on wildlife. Rapid changes in the environment caused by an earthquake can affect the habitats of the species, causing forced migrations and, in some cases, endangering endangered species. Studies show that some animals can adapt to these changes, but others may not be so lucky.
