纪录片《为何无法预测地震》 第6期:万事俱备（在线收听）

This ranch house is the high-tech outpost

这座小屋就是美国美国地质勘探局的

for a team of scientists from the US Geological Survey.

科学家们的一座高科技监测站

Every morning they check sophisticated sensors,

他们每天早上都查看精密传感器

looking for signs that the Earth is ready to rumble.

寻找地震将要发生的前兆迹象

So how many instruments are buried here in Parkfield?

帕克菲尔德埋了多少仪器

You know, it's a little hard to count.

有点数不过来

There's probably about two to three hundred.

大概有两三百吧

We had some creepmeters that measure fault slip,

我们装备了蠕变仪 来测量断层滑动距离

some geo-chemical experiments,

还有一些地质化学实验设备

strain metres, pole positioning system.

应变计 极点定位系统

And on the fault line itself,

而对断层本身

TV cameras are constantly recording.

则由摄像机进行不间断录像

The instruments may provide a perfect...

这些设备会提供完美的...

As 1993 approached,

随着1993年的到来

excitement mounted amongst the geologists.

地质学家们开始兴奋起来

For five years

这五年来

scientists have been preparing this experiment

科学家们一直致力于为93年地震的

for the quake of '93.

实验作准备

Now that it's built,they're hoping it will come.

现在万事俱备只欠东风

But then, 1993 passed without incident.

但随后 1993年安然无恙地过去了

'94.

94年

'95.

95年

'96.

一直到96年

There was still nothing.

地震仍未发生