Eli5: Why can’t earthquakes be predicted with accuracy?

Question

Eli5: Why can’t earthquakes be predicted with accuracy?

In: 2

Answer 1

Because earthquakes are not part of a lengthy process that we can observe with enough detail to see when it happens. We know the idea of how earthquakes happen, but we can’t predict it with any kind of confidence because seismometers only measure shocks already in progress. You can’t see when the plates are going to grind, when the mantle shifts. We can’t look underground and see it, measure it in any kind if detail.