What are Earthquakes?

Anearthquake(also known as
aquake,tremorortemblor) is
the perceptible shaking of the
surface of the Earth, which can be
violent enough to destroy major
buildings and kill thousands of
people.
Earthquakes have destroyed whole
cities. They result from the sudden
release of energy in theEarth's
crustthat createsseismic waves.

Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling or sudden

shock of the earths surface. Earthquakes
happen along "fault lines" in the earths crust.
Earthquakes can be felt over large areas
although they usually last less than one minute.
Earthquakes cannot be
predicted -- although
scientists are working on it!

Most of the time, you will notice an

earthquake by the gentle shaking of the
ground. You may notice hanging plants
swaying or objects wobbling on shelves.
Sometimes you may hear a low rumbling noise
or feel a sharp jolt flight of stairs.

Earthquakes can also occur

within plates, although plateboundary earthquakes are
much more common. Less than
10 percent of all earthquakes
occur within plate interiors.

Damage: Key Factors

Amount & duration of
shaking
Water content of soil
Population
concentration
Building construction
Distance from
Epicenter
Depth of focus
Direction of rupture
Material amplification

The Focus and Epicenter of an Earthquake

The point within Earth

where faulting begins is
the focus, or hypocenter
The point directly above
the focus on the surface
is the epicenter

Seismographs record
earthquake events

At convergent boundaries,
focal depth increases
along a dipping seismic
zone called a Benioff
zone

Where Do Earthquakes Occur and How Often?

~80% of all earthquakes occur in the circum-Pacific belt
most of these result from convergent margin activity
~15% occur in the Mediterranean-Asiatic belt
remaining 5% occur in the interiors of plates and on
spreading ridge centers
more than 150,000 quakes strong enough to be felt are
recorded each year

Damage: Causes
Ground motion
Duration of Shaking
Surface Rupture
Poor building design

Effects
Fires
Liquifaction
Landslides

What are Seismic Waves?

Response of material to
the arrival of energy
fronts released by
rupture
Two types:
Body waves
P and S

Surface waves
R and L

Body Waves: P and S waves

Body waves
P or primary waves
fastest waves
travel through solids,
liquids, or gases
compressional wave,
material movement is
in the same direction
as wave movement
S or secondary waves
slower than P waves
travel through solids
only
shear waves - move
material perpendicular
to wave movement

Surface Waves: R and L waves

Surface Waves
Travel just below or along the grounds surface
Slower than body waves; rolling and side-to-side
movement
Especially damaging to buildings

How is an Earthquakes Epicenter Located?

Seismic wave behavior
P waves arrive first, then S waves, then L and R
Average speeds for all these waves is known
After an earthquake, the difference in arrival times at a
seismograph station can be used to calculate the distance
from the seismograph to the epicenter.

How is an Earthquakes Epicenter Located?

Time-distance
graph showing the
average travel
times for P- and Swaves.
The farther away a
seismograph is
from the focus of
an earthquake, the
longer the interval
between the
arrivals of the Pand S- waves

How are the Size and Strength of an Earthquake

Measured?
Intensity
subjective measure
of the kind of
damage done and
peoples reactions to
it
isoseismal lines
identify areas of
equal intensity

Modified Mercalli Intensity Map

1994 Northridge, CA earthquake,
magnitude 6.7

How are the Size and Strength of an Earthquake Measured?

Magnitude
Richter scale measures
total amount of energy
released by an
earthquake;
independent of
intensity
Amplitude of the
largest wave produced
by an event is
corrected for distance
and assigned a value
on an open-ended
logarithmic scale

This is an image of a seismograph, an

instrument used to record the energy
released by an earthquake. When the
needle is moved by the motion of the
earth, it leaves a wavy line.

Can Earthquakes be Predicted?

Earthquake Prediction Programs
include laboratory and field studies of rocks
before, during, and after earthquakes
monitor activity along major faults
produce risk assessments

Earthquake Safety
Stay There! Do NOT Run
Outside
Stay Calm & Remember the
Phase, Duck, Cover, and
Hold
Duck And Look for
Cover
Cover Under a Sturdy
Desk or Table
Hold Onto the
Furniture Leg Until
Shaking Stops

During an Earthquake - Indoors

-Face Away from Windows
Stay Clear of Tall Objects
that May Topple Over
Watch for Falling Objects
-Get into the Open
Stay Clear of Buildings &
Power Lines
-Do Not Smoke or Light
Matches or Lighters

Emergency Food
Camp or backpacking stove
propane tank
Canned foods
manual can opener
MREs
Granola bars
Energy bars

Safe Drinking Water

Store a supply of water

1 and 5 gallon containers
do not store on concrete
Purifying tap water
8 drops bleach per gal of water
add bleach when storing
or, boil for 10 minutes
Water from water heater
turn off gas or electric
turn off cold water supply
once cooled, drain at bottom
Other sources
toilet storage tank
melted ice cubes
water trapped in pipes

After The Earthquake

Be prepared for aftershocks, plan for

cover when they occur
Check for injuries, give first aid as
necessary
Remain calm, try to reassure others
Wear shoes to avoid injury from
broken glass
Check for fire and take appropriate
actions
Check gas, water, and electric lines

Tune to emergency broadcast system

on radio

EARTHQUAKES
In what ways are earthquakes predictable?
To what other hazards are earthquakes linked?
What are the potentially disastrous consequences of
earthquakes?
In what ways has human activity made earthquake
hazards catastrophic?
How can the hazardous consequences of earthquakes
be minimized?

Earthquakes: Facts and Fiction

Fiction: Earthquakes usually happen in the morning.
Fact: Earthquakes happen in both the day and the night.
There is no pattern.
Fiction:There is such a thing as "earthquake weather."
Fact: There is no connection between earthquakes and
weather. Remember, earthquakes happen deep in
the earth, far away from the weather!
Fiction: Earthquakes are on the increase.
Fact: It may seem like were having more earthquakes
because there are more reporting stations, but the
truth is were not.
Fiction: We can prevent earthquakes from happening.
Fact: No. You can protect yourself by doing things to
secure buildings, like your home, but earthquakes
cant be prevented -- or predicted.

THANK YOU
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