Earthquakes

Dr. R. B. Schultz

Global Earthquake Locations

Earthquakes
Shaking of earth due to movement of rocks along a fault. Rocks under stress accumulate strain energy over time. When stress e ceeds strength of rocks! rock "reaks. Strain energy is released as seismic #aves. $he longer that energy is stored u% and is maintained #ithout release! the more likely that a strong earthquake #ill occur.

Types of seismic waves &. Body #aves '' travel through interior (. Surface #aves '' travel on surface of earth Specific Body Waves )rimary or *)* Waves+ )rimary #aves ,ighest velocity -auses com%ression and e %ansion in direction of #ave travel. Secondary or *S* Waves+ Secondary or shear #aves Slo#er than ) #aves "ut faster than surface #aves. -auses shearing of rock %er%endicular to direction of #ave %ro%agation -annot travel through liquids Surface Waves or Love !"L#$ Waves -ause vertical . horizontal shaking $ravel e clusively along surface of earth

%rimary or "%# Wave

Secondary or "S# Wave

Types of Seismo&raphs

Seismo&ram %rintout

Determining the location of an earthquake /irst! distance to earthquake is determined. &. Seismogra%hs record seismic #aves (. /rom seismogra%h record called the seismogram! measure time delay "et#een ) . S #ave arrival 0. 1se travel time curve to determine distance to earthquake as function of )'S time delay 2o# #e kno# distance #aves traveled! "ut #e don3t kno# the direction from #hich they came. We must re%eat the activity for each of at least three 405 stations to triangulate a %oint 4e%icenter of quake5. )lot a circle around seismogra%h location6 radius of circle is the distance to the quake. 7uake occurred some#here along that circle. Do the same thing for at least 0 seismogra%h stations6 circles intersect at e%icenter. $hus! %oint is triangulated and e%icenter is located.

'ocus and Epicenter of Earthquake

Time(Travel )urve

Trian&ulation of * stations to locate earthquake epicenter

Determining the magnitude of an earthquake +a&nitude '' measure of energy released during earthquake. $here are several different #ays to measure magnitude. 8ost common magnitude measure is ,ichter +a&nitude! named for the reno#ned seismologist! -harles Richter. Richter 8agnitude 8easure am%litude of largest S #ave on seismogra%h record. $ake into account distance "et#een seismogra%h . e%icenter. Richter Scale 9ogarithmic numerical 42:$ a %hysical5 scale ;ncreasing one #hole unit on Richter Scale re%resents &< times greater magnitude. =oing u% one #hole unit on Richter Scale re%resents a"out a 0< times greater release of energy. ;ntensity ;ntensity refers to the amount of damage done in an earthquake 8ercalli Scale is used to e %ress damage

Richter Scale Less than 4 4-4.9 5-5.9 6-6.9 7-7.9 More than 8

Severity of Earthquake Insignificant Minor Damaging Destructive Major Great

he !argest earth"ua#e ever recor$e$ occurre$ on Ma% &&' (96) in *hi!e +ith estimate$ magnitu$e of 9.5 on ,ichter -ca!e' affecting 9)'))) s"uare mi!es an$ #i!!ing 6)')))) .eo.!e. he $evastating earth"ua#e recor$e$ hit /huj to+n in Gujarat ha$ cause$ massive $amage #i!!ing &)')))-0)'))) .eo.!e an$ !eaving man% injure$. It ha$ an energ% e"uiva!ent to 5.0 megaton h%$rogen 1om1.

 2arth"ua#e-generate$ +ater +aves are ca!!e$ sunamis can severe!% affect coasta! areas. hese giant sea s+e!!s can move at a s.ee$ u.to ())#m3hr or even faster. 4hi!e a..roaching the sea shore the% ma% often reach u.to (5m or sometimes u.to 65m in height an$ causing massive $evastation in coasta! areas. 5nthro.ogenic activities can cause or enhance the fre"uenc% of earth"ua#es.

 Im.oun$ment of huge "uantities of +ater in the !a#e 1ehin$ a $am. 6n$ergroun$ nuc!ear testing. Dee. +e!! $is.osa! of !i"ui$ +aste. Damage can 1e .revente$ 1% constructing earth"ua#e resistant 1ui!$ings in earth"ua#e .rone areas. 7or this reason' structures are heavi!% reinforce$' +ea# s.ots are strategica!!% .!ace$ in the 1ui!$ing that can a1sor1 vi1rations from the rest of the

1ui!$ing' .a$s or f!oats are .!ace$ 1eneath the 1ui!$ing. 4oo$en houses are .referre$ in 8a.an. Large structures are ma$e +ith strong frame+or#s of stee! or reinforce$ concrete' so that the frame stan$s firm even if the groun$ is sha#ing. he .%rami$-sha.e$ ransamerica 1ui!$ing in -an 7rancisco +as $esigne$ in this fashion.

,azards associated #ith 7uakes Shaking+ /requency of shaking differs for different seismic #aves. ,igh frequency "ody #aves shake lo# "uildings more. 9o# frequency surface #aves shake high "uildings more. ;ntensity of shaking also de%ends on ty%e of su"surface material. 1nconsolidated materials am%lify shaking more than rocks do. /ine'grained! sensitive materials can lose strength #hen shaken. $hey lose strength "y liquefaction. Buildings res%ond differently to shaking de%ending on construction styles! materials Wood '' more fle i"le! holds u% #ell Earthen materials '' very vulnera"le to shaking. =round dis%lacement+ =round surface may shift during an earthquake 4es%. if focus is shallo#5. >ertical dis%lacements of surface %roduce fault scarps. $sunamis 42:$ tidal #aves5 $sunamis are huge #aves generated "y earthquakes undersea or "elo# coastal areas. ;f earthquake dis%laces sea surface! #ave is generated that can gro# as it moves over sea surface. /ires 1sually occurs from shifting of su"surface utilities 4gas lines5

$sunami 8ovement

Tsunami +ovement- ./00 mph in deep water

.120 mph in medium depth water .*2 mph in shallow water

Earthquake )rediction 4?5 ,o# can scientists %redict an earthquake?

/uture technology #ill monitor su"surface seismic #aves and %eriodic shifting indicative of future sli%%age.

Earthquake 3a4ard %otential +ap

)arkfield! -@ AEarthquake -a%ital of the WorldB

World5s Lar&est Earthquake- 67/8 9nchora&e: 9laska ,e&istered ;</ on ,ichter Scale