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L2-1 EARTHQUAKES
CIVE 430
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
SUMMER 2013
6/5/2013
Tectonic plates that float on the viscousfluid-like interior of the Earth. Earthquakes
are usually caused by sudden movement
of earth plates
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ELASTIC
REBOUND
THEORY
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SAN ANDREAS
SAN ANDREAS
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Study of Earthquakes
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Seismograph?
Seismograph?
The ancient Chinese seismograph
consist of a special vase that had eight
sculpted dragons mounted around the
vase in eight primary directions. Each
dragon held in its mouth a metal ball.
When the ground shook, some of the
balls would fall from the mouths of the
dragons into the waiting mouths of the
sculpted frogs to show how the ground
had moved.
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Earthquake Waves
Seismograph
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Modern
Seismograph
(Horizontal)
Modern
Seismograph
(Horizontal)
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Seismogram
BODY WAVES
10
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BODY WAVES
BODY WAVES
11
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BODY WAVES
SURFACE WAVES
Rayleigh
Love
12
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WAVES
EARTHQUAKES
CHARACTERISTICS
13
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14
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15
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(215 km)
16
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Earthquake Depth
Earthquakes usually occur at some depth below the
ground Surface. The depth can also be calculated from
seismograph records
Earthquake foci are described as:
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EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY
Intensity Scale
Modified Mercalli
from FEMA
I. People do not feel any Earth movement.
II. A few people might notice movement if they are at rest and/or
on the upper floors of tall buildings.
III. Many people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing
back and forth. People outdoors might not realize that an
earthquake is occurring.
IV. Most people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing.
Dishes, windows, and doors rattle. The earthquake feels like a
heavy truck hitting the walls. A few people outdoors may feel
movement. Parked cars rock.
V. Almost everyone feels movement. Sleeping people are
awakened. Doors swing open or close. Dishes are broken.
Pictures on the wall move. Small objects move or are turned
over. Trees might shake. Liquids might spill out of open
containers.
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Intensity Scale
Modified Mercalli
from FEMA
VI. Everyone feels movement. People have trouble walking. Objects fall
from shelves. Pictures fall off walls. Furniture moves. Plaster in
walls might crack. Trees and bushes shake. Damage is slight in
poorly built buildings. No structural damage.
VII. People have difficulty standing. Drivers feel their cars shaking.
Some furniture breaks. Loose bricks fall from buildings. Damage is
slight to moderate in well-built buildings; considerable in poorly
built buildings.
VIII. Drivers have trouble steering. Houses that are not bolted down
might shift on their foundations. Tall structures such as towers and
chimneys might twist and fall. Well-built buildings suffer slight
damage. Poorly built structures suffer severe damage. Tree
branches break. Hillsides might crack if the ground is wet. Water
levels in wells might change.
IX. Well-built buildings suffer considerable damage. Houses that are
not bolted down move off their foundations. Some underground
pipes are broken. The ground cracks. Reservoirs suffer serious
damage.
Modified Mercalli
from FEMA
Intensity Scale
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EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE
Moment Magnitude, MW
Function of (1) Amount of slip
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ENERGY
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Predicting Earthquake?
Strange Animal Behavior
stress in the rocks causes hairline fractures to form, the
cracking of the rocks emits high pitched sounds and
minute vibrations imperceptible to humans but
noticeable by many animals.
Foreshocks
unusual increase in the frequency of small earthquakes
before the main shock
Seismic Gaps
based of the chronological distribution of major
earthquakes
Predicting Earthquake?
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Kilometers
1000
100
10
1
5.5
6.5
7
Magnitude
7.5
24
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Seconds
100
10
1
5.5
6.5
7.5
Magnitude
Local
soils
25