A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Google Earthquake Alerts on Your Smartphone
US tech giant Google recently launched Android Earthquake Alerts on Android smartphones in India. This system is already operational in many countries around the world and provides early earthquake warnings to people when the tremors begin.
“Our alerts are easy to read and follow, and available in Indian languages supported by Android. With this release, we aim to provide Android users with automatic early warning notifications when an earthquake occurs in their area,” Google wrote in a blog post.
Earthquakes are one of the most common natural disasters in the world, and early warning can be key in helping people prepare and keep themselves and their loved ones safe. That’s why Google created the Android Earthquake Alerts System, which uses sensors in Android smartphones to detect and assess earthquakes.
How does it work
According to Google, every Android smartphone is equipped with tiny accelerometers that can act as mini-seismometers. When the phone is plugged in and charging, it can detect the initial phase of an earthquake.
If many phones detect an earthquake-like vibration around the same time, our server can use this information to estimate that an earthquake may occur, as well as the characteristics of the event, such as its epicenter and magnitude.
Then the Google server can send alerts to nearby phones. Internet signals travel at the speed of light, much faster than the propagation of an earthquake through the earth, so alerts often reach phones several seconds before a strong tremor.
Using the Android Earthquake Alert System
– Android Earthquake Alerts System is made available to all Android users in India with Android version 5 or higher.
– To receive alerts, users must have a Wi-Fi and/or mobile data connection and both Android Earthquake Alerts and location settings are enabled.
– Users who do not want to receive these alerts can turn off earthquake alerts in the device settings.
– The system also offers information about local seismic events and safety measures through a Google search when people search for information such as “Earthquake near me”.
This Android Earthquake Alerts System was announced in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Center for Seismology (NCS) under Ministry of Earth Sciences.
