I guess I am curious, given the fact that earthquakes, volcanoes, and other seismic events seem very unpredictable and I suppose this is the right place to ask someone knowledge. How much do we really know? How accurately can we hope to predict seismic events? Is it simply the need for more sensors and monitoring equipment, or do we have to break technology barriers?

In the past a lot of research was done into this area, I think the problem was it never had much success. The main reason for this is most likely the fact that it is very hard to understand what is going on inside the earth due to it being to hot to put sensors there, this means you have to use an indirect source of measurement and maybe these aren't accurate enough to collate data which is relevant.

 

We know quite a lot about what happens in earthquakes but prediction isn't possible, most systems now act to warn people of an imminent earthquake so people can stop surgery and other dangerous jobs before it arrives, but this is only possible if they aren't at the epicentre.