纪录片《为何无法预测地震》 第14期:7毫米滑动的后果（在线收听）

I sometimes worry there's a snake under here.

我有时会担心下面有蛇

Not this time.

这次没有

There is an element of, er,

这有一点点

a Heath Robinson contraption about it.

像个荒谬的小发明

It's a very simple gadget,

它是个非常简单的装置

it's a cylinder with, um, a rod,

一个装了个铁轴的圆柱容器

the rod is connected across from the other side of the fault.

这根铁轴从断层的另一边连过来

When the fault slips

当断层滑动

it pulls this rod away

就会拉动这根铁轴

from the metal sensor.

偏离这个金属感应器

It has a range of about, er...

它可拉伸的长度大约是

This one is about 30mm

大约是30毫米

and so because there's 7mm of slip each year,

这里每年会有7毫米的滑动

about every four years I have to reset it.

大约每四年我会重设一次

But first, download the data.

不过 先要将数据下载下来

I'll get my computer out.

我把电脑拿出来

7mm of slip might not sound like much

7毫米的滑移也许不算什么

but it could have a devastating effect.

但可能会带来毁灭性的后果

150km up the fault in San Francisco

在旧金山断层以上150千米处

the tectonic plates are locked,

构造板块被卡住

and eventually this pent-up energy

下面积蓄的能量最后

will be released in the form of an earthquake.

会以地震的形式释放