Facts about Earthquake
An earthquake is caused by tectonic plates getting stuck and putting a strain on the ground.
Specific local geological, geomorphological, and geostructural features can induce high levels of shaking on the ground surface even from low-intensity earthquakes.
Earthquakes may also occur in volcanic regions and are caused there both by tectonic faults and by the movement of magma in volcanoes.
Most of the earthquake's energy is used to power the earthquake fracture growth and is converted into heat, or is released to friction.
Following an earthquake, fires can be generated by break of the electrical power or gas lines.
At the Earth's surface, earthquakes may manifest themselves by a shaking or displacement of the ground.
Earthquakes are measured with a seismometer, commonly known as a seismograph.
Shaking and ground rupture are the main effects created by earthquakes, principally resulting in more or less severe damage to buildings or other rigid structures.
More detailed statistics on the size and frequency of earthquakes is available from the USGS.
Large earthquakes occur less frequently, the relationship being exponential; for example, roughly ten times as many earthquakes larger than magnitude 4 occur in a particular time period than earthquakes larger than magnitude 5.
The severity of the local effects depends on the complex combination of the earthquake magnitude, the distance from epicenter, and the local geological and geomorphological conditions, which may amplify or reduce wave propagation.
When the failure at the fault plane results in a violent displacement of the Earth's crust, the elastic strain energy is released and seismic waves are radiated, thus causing an earthquake.
Earthquakes can cause landslides and avalanches, which may cause damage in hilly and mountainous areas.
A possible mechanism for the generation of deep focus earthquakes is faulting caused by olivine undergoing a phase transition into a spinel structure.
Smaller earthquakes can also be caused by volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts, and nuclear tests.
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of stored energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves.
Small earthquakes occur nearly constantly around the world in places like California and Alaska in the United States, as well as in Chile, Indonesia, Iran, the Azores in Portugal, New Zealand, Greece, and Japan.
Massive earthquakes tend to occur along other plate boundaries, too, such as along the Himalayan Mountains.
Most naturally occurring earthquakes are related to the tectonic nature of the Earth.
The majority of tectonic earthquakes originate at depths not exceeding tens of kilometers.
In Christianity, certain saints were invoked as patrons against earthquakes, including Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus, Saint Agatha, Saint Francis Borgia, and Saint Emygdius.
Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. ... When the rocks break, the earthquake occurs.
A seismometer detects the vibrations caused by an earthquake. It plots these vibrations on a seismograph. The strength, or magnitude, of an earthquake is measured using the Richter scale. ... Earthquakes measuring around 7 or 8 on the Richter scale can be devastating.
Most earthquakes happen where tectonic plates meet and glide against each other. Quakes occur when the frictional stress of the movement exceeds the strength of the rocks, causing a failure at a fault line. Violent displacement of the Earth's crust follows, leading to a release of elastic strain energy.Aug 17, 2007
Earthquakes are caused by tectonic movements in the Earth's crust. The main cause is that when tectonic plates collide, one rides over the other, causing orogeny (mountain building), earthquakes and volcanoes. The boundaries between moving plates form the largest fault surfaces on Earth.
Drop down; take cover under a desk or table and hold on. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to exit. Stay away from bookcases or furniture that can fall on you. Earthquakes 101 Earthquakes are unpredictable and can strike with enough force to bring buildings down.
We cannot prevent natural earthquakes from occurring but we can significantly mitigate their effects by identifying hazards, building safer structures, and providing education on earthquake safety. By preparing for natural earthquakes we can also reduce the risk from human induced earthquakes.
If you are inside a building:Drop down onto your hands and knees so the earthquake doesn't knock you down. ... Cover your head and neck with your arms to protect yourself from falling debris. ... Hold on to any sturdy covering so you can move with it until the shaking stops.Stay where you are until the shaking stops.More items...
From this came our belief that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. True- if you live in an old, unreinforced adobe house. In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house. You are safer under a table.