EARTHQUAKE

Cause & effects

 Earthquake
any sudden shaking of the ground caused by
the passage of seismic waves through 
Earth’s rocks. Seismic waves are produced
when some form of energy stored in Earth’s
crust is suddenly released, usually when
masses of rock straining against one another
suddenly fracture and “slip.” 
 how to measure an Earthquake
They use the seismogramrecordings made on
the seismographs at the surface of the earth to determine
how large the earthquake was. A short wiggly line that
doesn’t wiggle very much means a small earthquake, and
a long wiggly line that wiggles a lot means a large
earthquake. The length of the wiggle depends on the size
of the fault, and the size of the wiggle depends on the
amount of slip.
Parts of an Earthquake
FAULT
 FAULT
 A fault is a break in the rocks that make
up the Earth's crust, along which rocks on
either side have moved past each other.
Not every crack in the ground is a fault.
 focus
The location where
the earthquake begins. The ground
ruptures at this spot, then seismic waves
radiate outward in all directions.
 epicenter
The point on the Earth's surface located
directly above the focus of
an earthquake.
What Causes an Earthquake?
 TECHTONIC ORIGIN
Violent shaking of the ground caused by either
movements of the bedrocks underneath the
surface
 VOLCANIC ORIGIN
Magma trying to push its way up onto the
surface through the process which we call
eruption
MAGNITUDE VS. INTENSITY
 Magnitude
Earthquake size is a quantitative measure
of the size of the earthquake at its source.
The Richter Magnitude Scale measures the
amount of seismic energy released by an
earthquake.
 Intensity
The severity of earthquake shaking is
assessed using a descriptive scale –
the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
Seismic Waves
Seismic wave, vibration generated by
an earthquake, explosion, or similar
energetic source and propogated
within the Earth or along its surface.
Primary Waves
the primary, or P, wave has the higher speed
of propagation and so reaches a seismic
recording station faster than the secondary,
or S, wave.
Secondary Waves
S waves, also called shear or transverse waves,
cause points of solid media to move back and
forth perpendicular to the direction of
propagation; as the wave passes, the medium is
sheared first in one direction and then in another
Potential Hazards
1. Ground Shaking
2. Ground Rupture
3. Liquefaction
4. Ground Subsidence (Eathquake-
Induced)
5. Landslide (Earthquake Induced)
Ground Shaking
is the primary cause of earthquake damage to
man-made structures. When the ground
shakes strongly, buildings can be damaged or
destroyed and their occupants may be injured or
killed.
Ground Rupture
is rarely confined to a simple narrow and distinct
line. Instead, a complex fault pattern results
where the main fault zone is complicated by
branching and formation of secondary faults
where lesser displacements occur.
 Liquefaction
is a phenomenon in which the strength and
stiffness of a soil is reduced by earthquake
shaking or other rapid loading. 
 Subsidence
Subsidence—sinking of the ground because of
underground material movement—is most often
caused by the removal of water, oil, natural gas,
or mineral resources out of the ground by
pumping, fracking, or mining activities.
 Landslide
A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass
of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Landslides
are a type of "mass wasting," which denotes any
down-slope movement of soil and rock under the
direct influence of gravity.
EARTHQUAKE
DO'S AND DON'TS