纪录片《为何无法预测地震》 第22期:预测的准确性

Sometimes, humans can see the patterns and we propose¹

有时 我们可以观察到那些模式

something that seems to us logical²

并且按照地震发生的方式

in terms of the way earthquakes behave,

按照我们的思维逻辑来提出建议

but sometimes, their patterns are too complicated³

然而有时 地震的模式太过复杂

and the hope is that computers,

人们就只能希望借助计算机

using vast amounts of data,

利用大量的数据

and, er, combing the data for those patterns,

然后将数据和那些模式结合

can out-think us in that particular way.

代替我们计算出结果

But the patterns haven't always

然而 研究地震的模式

led to accurate⁴ predictions.

并不总能作出准确的预测

Nine years after Northridge,

在北岭地震发生后9年

Keilis-Borok's team announced

凯列斯勃洛克小组宣布

that a major earthquake would strike near Palm Springs

在2004年9月5日 美国棕榈泉附近

by September 5th, 2004.

将发生一次大地震

Once again,

再一次

the enigmatic Russian was putting his career on the line.

这神秘的俄国人赌上了他的整个职业生涯

But this time, nothing happened.

然而这一次 地震没有发生

The team's work continues to be

小组的研究工作

a mixture of success and failure,

继续徘徊于成功和失败之间

but Keilis-Borok is confident

但是凯列斯勃洛克坚信

that he can improve his hit rate.

他的预测准确率可以提高

There is no such thing

做到百分之百准确

as 100% accuracy⁵,

根本不可能

It's go without exist, but

那是无稽之谈 但是

we believe the accuracy can be increased

我们认为预测的准确性

by a factor of at least five.

至少可以提高五个点

1 propose   

v.提出，建议；提名，推荐

参考例句：

• Did he propose marriage to you?他向你求婚了吗？
• I propose resting for an hour.我建议休息一小时。

2 logical   

adj.逻辑(上)的，符合逻辑的；合乎常理的

参考例句：

• It is logical that the book is expensive.书贵是很自然的事。
• This is undoubtedly logical.这显然是顺理成章的。

3 complicated   

adj.错综复杂的，麻烦的，结构复杂的

参考例句：

• The poem is so complicated that I cannot make out its meaning.这首诗太复杂，我理解不了它的意思。
• This is the most complicated case I have ever handled.这是我所处理过的最为复杂的案子。

4 accurate   

adj.正确无误的；准确的，精确的

参考例句：

• He has made an accurate measurement of my garden.他准确地丈量了我的花园。
• He is always accurate in what he says and does.他说的和做的总是正确无误。

5 accuracy   

n.准确(性)；精确(性)

参考例句：

• There is need to check the accuracy of these figures.有必要核对一下这些数字的精确性。
• I doubt the accuracy of your statement.我怀疑你的话的正确性。