Earthquakes can create havoc. The events of December 26, when a massive earthquake triggered a tsunami across large parts of south Asia leaves little doubt of that.
Even before that quakes in Bhuj and Latur have demonstrated the awesome destructive power of seismic activity.
All this points to the need for more research and analysis, that can help us preempt such disasters. This is where seismologists can play a vital role. Seismology is an important part of geology and concentrates on earthquakes and related issues.
Though earthquakes have been in existence for centuries, seismology is still a young science: the first instruments capable of recording earthquake (seismic) waves were developed just a century ago.
The first seismometers were used only for studying earthquakes. Later the scope of seismology broadened to include investigations of the Earth's interior using waves from earthquakes as well as other sources.
Today seismology has become a multifaceted discipline that focuses on issues of both scientific and societal concern.
There are many subfields of modern seismology. Ground motion seismology deals with understanding and predicting the shaking that is generated by large earthquakes.
Such efforts can then guide engineering and building practices so that structures can be made earthquake-resistant. Another subfield involves determining the location and time of the thousands of earthquakes that occur each year.
For this seismologists require detailed knowledge of the earth's internal structure. While considerable progress has been made, fundamental questions still remain unanswered.
Large earthquakes do not always occur where they are expected, and expected earthquakes do not occur as predicted.
Seismology is also playing a vital role in monitoring nuclear weapons' tests. Seismic networks have always been a part of the Cold War. After the Cold War era a large international seismic network was set up, the International Monitoring System (IMS).
IMS can hear an explosion of one kiloton, and pinpoint it to within about 40 kilometres, anywhere on Earth. Forensic seismology, which is long-distance detective work through analysis of seismic records, is another growing field.