Abstract Earthquake prediction is an area of research rSbQ}O4V
of great scientiÞc and public fascination. The reason for MKe *f%
this is not only that earthquakes can cause extremely 6iyt2qkh
large numbers of fatalities in a short time, but also Lm.Ik}Gli
because earthquakes can have a large social and economic xNx`J@xt$
impact on society. Earthquake prediction in the hN}5u"pS
sense of making deterministic predictions about the <@%ma2
place, time, and magnitude of earthquakes may very z(r"JNO@
well be fundamentally impossible. However, based on 8m \;P
a variety of data, earth scientists can make statements ]svw
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about the probability that earthquakes with a certain wV?[3bEhM
size will occur in a certain region over a speciÞed time >7W"giWP
period. In this context one speaks of ÔÔearthquake forecasting. h4h d<,
ÕÕ A number of methods to achieve this are presented. DSTx#*
However, it is not obvious how society should ![j(o!6&
respond to these forecasts. It is shown that there is a fundamental s7AI:Zv
dilemma for decision makers that statements of |:}L<9Sq
scientists concerning earthquake occurrence either contain %K`4k.gN
very speciÞc information but are very uncertain, or eNivlJ,K|@
contain very general information but are very certain. w[|y0jtw
Earthquake hazard can to a large extent be reduced by <%(f9j
formulating and enforcing appropriate building codes. r*>QT:sB
However, given the fact that the majority of the population i'9eKO
that is threatened by earthquakes is living in the third |B,dEx/uU
world, it is clear that this cannot easily be realized. For 7~L|;^(
these reasons, earthquake prediction is not only a scienti |})rt5|f1!
Þc problem: it also has a complex political dimension. np= J:v4
Key words Earthquakes á Forecasting á Hazard á risk á ,qYf#fU#7
Decision making