California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 2801

(a) “Long-term prediction” means a prediction of an earthquake that is expected to occur within a few years up to a few decades.

(b) “Intermediate-term prediction” means a prediction of an earthquake that is expected to occur within a period of a few weeks to a few years.

(c) “Short-term prediction” means a prediction of an earthquake that is expected to occur within a few hours to a few weeks.

(d) “Parkfield prototype earthquake prediction system” means a dense cluster of instruments along the Parkfield section of the San Andreas fault which monitors earthquake activity, local distortion of the Earth's crust, strain levels, creep adjustments along the fault, and other phenomena which may be useful in making a short-term earthquake prediction.

(e) “Parkfield characteristic earthquake” means an earthquake that has, among other qualities, a magnitude between 5.5 and 6.0 on the Richter scale, and occurs on a location somewhere along the 15-mile section of the San Andreas fault that is centered in the City of Parkfield.