David Johnson, a Caltech instrumentation specialist, hauls 20-year-old seismic monitoring equipment out of an old Nike missile site atop a high bluff in Rancho Palos Verdes. New systems are being installed across Southern California. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Johnson, right, and his colleague Jacob Crummey work to remove outdated hardware. The machines let scientists know how and where the earth is shaking -- and the upgrades allow them to get the word out five seconds earlier. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
The upgraded technology will provide precious seconds for officials to shut down gas and water lines, halt train operations and possibly even notify the public to take cover. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
The new monitors will be especially helpful for earthquakes that occur outside of urban areas, such as on the San Andreas fault, and take several seconds to travel to high-density areas such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
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The current upgrades are being paid for with $2 million in federal stimulus money and some private funds. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
