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Earthquakes
1. According to dictionary.reference.com an earthquake is a: Series of vibrations induced in the earth's crust by the abrupt rupture and rebound of rocks in which elastic strain has been slowly accumulating. The earth is made up of tectonic plates these are massive slabs of rock floating on magma ,as the plates move about, they spread apart, collide, or slide past each other, This is the main cause of volcanoes and earthquakes Earthquakes occur in many regions all over the world in some regions they occur more frequently and severely than in others (depending on the location), the main cause of earthquakes is tectonic plates grinding against each other , therefore earthquakes occur more frequently and more severely in these regions , less commonly earthquakes are caused by volcanic activity in this case they either proceed or ac company eruptions .
Volcanoes
Volcanoes are formed when plates collide or move away from one another thus they are usually found at the edge of tectonic plates .Volcanoes can also occur in the interior of plates, these volcanoes are commonly known hotspots.
MOVEMENT OF TECTONIC PLATES
Volcanoes
There are three different ways that volcanoes can cause tsunamis : a land-based volcano can break down and collapse, forcing large amounts of ash and rubble into the water. This sudden change and displacement of the water column transfers to kinetic energy (movement energy) and results in waves. More debris can create a bigger increase in wave size and amount. An offshore or submarine volcanic eruption can create high magnitude lifts on seafloors, which pushes large water columns upwards creating a tsunami. The collapsing of a submarine volcano's slope creates a sudden disturbance in the water resulting
in tsunami waves.
Landslides
Tsunamis are often generated by a submarine landslide, which usually occurs because of an earthquake, (shaking unsettles coral, rock, or ice formations causing them to fall). A submarine landslide, rock fall, or ice fall can trigger a tsunami by displacing large amounts of water. This causes a rise in water levels, generating a tsunami.
These plates are in continuous movement. This movement eventually causes collision among the plates. Stress builds up on the lithosphere. This stress causes a break or shift in the crust. When the stress is released the energy starts moving from one place to another in the form of waves (called seismic waves). These waves shake the earth and causes an earthquake. Sometimes the stress occurs near the centre of the plate, but mostly it occurs on the edges. Here two plates collide or goes over or into another plate. This causes different types of earthquakes of different magnitudes. When two tectonic plates slide past one another huge amounts of energy is built up .
image from http://www.stmarysmedia.co.uk/jb11/project/CausesofEarthquakes.htm
Earthquake Detection
Earthquake prediction Despite considerable research efforts by seismologists we still cannot at this stage predict earthquakes to day month or year, however, for well-understood faults the probability that a segment may rupture during the next few decades can be estimated. Many phenomena are considered to be possible precursors of earthquakes, and among those under investigation are seismicity, changes in the ionosphere, various types of electromagnetic indicators including infrared and radio waves, radon emissions, and even unusual animal behaviour. Earthquake warning systems Currently people detect earthquakes by monitoring seismic activity. Earthquake warning systems consist of seismic motion sensors arranged throughout a region. High speed communications systems and computers collect the sensor readings and the computers are programmed to detect the likely strength and progression of the seismic event. If a dangerous event is detected then alarms can be signalled through the region likely to be affected, allowing warnings before local ground motion of up to and beyond twenty seconds. While short, such warnings would be sufficient to allow many people to move to safer areas or to take shelter.
Folding caused due to horizontal movements Forces move towards a common centre. Due to compression, different types of folds are formed. It leads to the formation of anticlines and
Faulting caused generally due to vertical movements. Forces move away from the common centre. Due to tension, faults occur along which displacement of rocks take place. It leads to the formation of Block Mountains and
synclines. They are generally common in sedimentary rocks, e.g., the Himalayas and the Alps.
Rift valleys, due to upliftment and subsidence of land. They are generally common in Igneous or Metamorphic rocks, e.g., Vosges and Black forest are Block Mountains and the river Rhine flows through the rift valley. In India, river Narmada and Tapi flow through a rift valley.
Terminology
Dictionary definitions from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ anticlinesplural of anticline Noun:A ridge or ridge-shaped fold of stratified rock in which the strata slope downward from the crest. synclinesplural of syncline Noun:A trough or fold of stratified rock in which the strata slope upward from the axis.
Block mountains are formed when faulting in the crust due to either tension or compression causes a block of the crust to be uplifted, RIFT VALLEY (GRABEN): rift valleys are the reverse of block mountains(horst), they are formed by tension, compression or parallel faults
Sources used
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