Some monitoring stations have reported that earthquakes are sometimes preceded by a spike in ultra low frequency ( ULF ) activity . A remarkable example of this occurred before the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California , although a subsequent study indicates that this was little more than a sensor malfunction . On December 9 , 2010 , geoscientists announced that the DEMETER satellite observed a dramatic increase in ULF radio waves over Haiti in the month before the magnitude 7.0 Mw 2010 earthquake . Researchers are attempting to learn more about this correlation to find out whether this method can be used as part of an early warning system for earthquakes
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Magnetohydrodynamics