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The problem with the Ring of Fire is that geologists can’t accurately predict when a volcano is going to erupt or an earthquake will shake the ground.
火山带的问题在于地质学家无法准确预测火山何时爆发，地震何时会让大地为之震颤。
They can monitor tremors, gas emissions and temperature changes around a volcano
他们可以监测火山周围的震动，气体排放和温度变化，
to estimate when it might erupt, but they can't be sure of the exact timing or the severity.
来估计何时可能爆发，但无法确定确切的时间及严重程度。
And those predictions get even weaker with earthquakes which aren't preceded by any warning signs,
而且，这些预测会在地震来临时变得更加微弱，而地震发生前是不会出现任何警示的，
so we can't even see them coming.
所以，就算地震要来了，我们也是察觉不到的。
One way scientists forecast the future of these phenomena is by looking at the past --
科学家预测这些现象的一种方法是通过研究过去的案例 -
take New Zealand for example: Earthquakes have occured on this fault line every 500 to 1,000 years.
以新西兰为例：每隔500到1000年这条断层线上就会发生地震。
There was a massive quake over 800 years ago and another one around the 500 mark.
800多年前，这里就曾发生过大规模的地震，500年前也发生了一次大地震。
So scientists now believe New Zealand is due for mega quake.
所以，科学家们相信，新西兰的下一次大地震就要来了。
Over here in California, there is a 72% chance of a major earthquake along northern section of the San Andreas faultline in the next 30 years.
在加州，未来30年内圣安德烈斯断层北段发生大地震的可能性为72％。
Parts of Japan have a 25% chance of a big quake
日本部分地区发生大地震的概率为25％，
and Seattle could see one in the next 50 years that could impact 7 million people.
未来50年内，西雅图可能也会经历一场足以影响700万人的大地震。
In fact many countries along the Ring of Fire will continue to be at risk for the foreseeable future.
事实上，位于火山带的许多国家在不远的未来将会继续面临火山爆发的风险。
They can't get out of harm's way, but there is something they can do about it.
伤害他们是躲不开了，但他们还是可以为此做点儿什么的。
In 2011, an earthquake and a following tsunami, killed 15,000 people and caused $300 billion in damages in Japan.
2011年，日本一场地震及随后的海啸造成了1.5万人死亡，损失近3000亿。
But those numbers could’ve been a lot higher.
然而，这些数字原本可能要高得多。
See, Japan requires buildings be constructed with anti-earthquake designs, like the one in this video.
原来，日本要求建筑物采用抗震设计，就像本期视频中的这所建筑一样。
And it has an early warning system that stopped high-speed trains, factory lines, and sent countrywide text alerts a full minute before the tremor hit.
他们还有一个预警系统，可以在地震发生前一分钟停止高速列车、工厂生产线、同时在全国范围内发送信息警报。
While Japan’s precautions didn’t prevent the disaster, they did save countless lives.
虽然日本的预防措施并没有阻止灾难的发生，但这些措施确确实实挽救了无数人的生命。
The problem is, not every country in the Ring of Fire is like Japan.
问题是，并非火山带的每个国家都像日本一样。
Most of these countries have some form of anti-earthquake building code,
这些国家大多都有某种形式的建筑规范，
but the quality and implementation of these codes varies.
但这些规范的质量和实施情况各不相同。
And none of these countries have early warning systems for earthquakes.
而且，这些国家没有一个有地震预警系统。
In developing countries, funding these projects can be a problem.
在发展中国家，要为这些项目提供资金并不容易。
But even richer countries aren’t taking the risk seriously enough.
即使是富裕国家也没有认真对待这些风险。
California, Oregon, Washington,
加州，俄勒冈州，华盛顿，
some of the most vulnerable states in the US, still don’t have a public early-warning system in place.
美国最容易受到伤害的一些州也还没有公共预警系统。
Because volcanoes and earthquakes continue to be unpredictable threats, governments tend to treat them as a low priority.
因为火山和地震仍然是不可预测的威胁，所以，政府往往会较后考虑这些风险。
And that's what makes the Ring of Fire even more dangerous.
由此进一步加重了火山带的危险性。
We know for certain that there will be more natural disasters along this belt.
我们当然知道这个地带的自然灾害比世界其他地方更多。
What we don't know is if we'll be prepared for them.
我们不知道的，是我们是否会为此做好准备。
Future studies will surely improve the clarity with which scientists view the interior of the Earth and will help people accomodate their activities to these powerful, sometimes destructive, often beneficial, always fascinating neighbors.
“不过，未来的研究必然能够提高科学家对地球内部认识的清晰度，帮助人们适应这些强大，有时颇具破坏性，但通常又有益且始终令人着迷的邻居。
