EARTHQUAKES AND THEIR EFFECTS
What is an Earthquake?
An earthquake is the dispersion or distribution of the Earth’s surface caused by a rapid release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere, which results in seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in magnitude from those that are so weak that people are unable to feel them to those that are powerful enough to propel objects and people into the air and destroy entire cities.so soft that people cannot touch them to those. The frequency, kind, and size of earthquakes experienced in a given location are called seismic activity. Seismicity is the average rate of seismic energy release per unit volume at a specific region on Earth. Tremor is another term for non-earthquake seismic rumbling.
Earthquakes show themselves at the Earth’s surface by shaking and displacing or altering the ground. When the epicenter of a big quake is offshore, the seafloor may moved enough to generate a tsunami. Landslides can also caused by earthquakes.
The term earthquake, in its broadest sense, refers to any seismic event that generates seismic waves, whether natural or artificial. Earthquakes primarily produced by the failure of geological faults, as well as other events such as volcanic activity, landslides, mine explosions, and nuclear testing. The hypocenter, or focal point, of an earthquake, is the location of the first rupture. The epicenter lies at ground level, immediately above the hypocenter.
REASONS OF EARTHQUAKE
Earthquakes have been a terrible experience for us. When you feel the Earth trembling, your only hope is that it will end and not injure any more people. Aside from shocked by the event, the after effects of an earthquake, such as the occurrence of tsunamis, are incredibly frightening.
You hear horrifying stories about how earthquakes can devastate a community in an instant. But, no matter how much we hope it never occurs again, tremors are uncontrollable. It can happen at any moment and at any location along the fault lines.
Earthquakes are among the many natural calamities that have caused devastation to properties and claimed thousands of lives over the years. In fact, according to statistics, 50 to 80 earthquakes occur every single day, and about 2000 each year. When an earthquake occurs, it’s difficult to tell the amount of destruction it would cause in its wake.
Apart from devastating properties and buildings, earthquakes can trigger a tsunami that can uproot populations or lead to loss of lives. Earthquakes kill many people because they have no warning signs and find people unprepared. Despite efforts by governments to educate the masses on earthquake warning signs and preparedness, a lot has not been accomplished.
An earthquake is an announced or sudden tremor due to movements within the Earth’s crust or volcanic eruptions. To understand earthquakes better, let’s look at how they build up.
DIFFERENCE
Differences between earthquakes, volcanoes
| Earthquakes | Volcanoes |
| Earthquakes occur when the surface is shaken or disturbed due to internal processes. | Volcanoes are ruptures in a planet’s crust due to upwelling magma or molten rock. |
TYPES OF EARTHQUAKE
1. Tectonic Earthquakes
The Earth’s crust comprises tectonic plates, which are loose, broken chunks of land. These plates can move gently and gradually. These plates move in various ways, including moving towards, away from, sliding past, and colliding with one another. When two moving tectonic plates collide, a significant earthquake ensues. A tectonic earthquake is a name given to this type of earthquake.
The most common type of earthquake in the world is a tectonic earthquake. Its size might be tiny or enormous. The majority of the planet’s mass destruction has produced by tectonic earthquakes. Tremors caused by tectonic earthquakes are usually violent, and if the magnitude is large enough, they may bring a whole city down in seconds.
2. Volcanic Earthquakes
Volcanic aftershocks are less frequent than tectonic earthquakes. They usually occur before or after an eruption. Long-period volcanic earthquakes and volcano-tectonic earthquakes are the two types of volcanic earthquakes. Volcano-tectonic earthquakes often happen following a volcanic eruption. Magma bursts inside the Earth’s crust during an earthquake, leaving space behind. The void created by lava eruption must filled. Severe earthquakes occur when rocks travel toward the location. During volcanic activity, magma frequently plugs the vents. This implies that high pressure does not escape. The pressure buildup becomes unmanageable, culminating in a tremendous explosion and a violent earthquake.
On the other hand, a long volcanic earthquake takes place after a volcanic eruption. Some days before the massive explosion, the Earth’s crust’s magma experiences rapid heat changes. The change in heat triggers seismic waves, resulting in an earthquake.
3. Explosion Earthquakes
Nuclear explosions cause these. Essentially, they are man-triggered tremors representing the most significant impact of modern-day atomic war. During the 1930s, nuclear tests were conducted by the United States, and numerous small towns and villages were devastated due to this grave act. And represent the most significant impact of modern-day atomic war.
4. Collapse Earthquakes
These tremors are often more modest and take place underground. Mine bursts are another name for them. The pressure created within the rocks causes collapse tremors. This earthquake causes the mine’s ceiling to fall, causing further tremors. Collapse tremors are typical in small communities with underground mines.
Devastating Effects of Earthquakes
1. Damage to buildings
High-magnitude earthquakes can cause entire buildings to collapse. The primary threat during an earthquake is debris from crumbling structures since the falling impacts of massive, heavy things can be fatal to humans. High-magnitude earthquakes cause mirrors and windows to shatter, posing a threat to humans.
2. Damage to infrastructure
Earthquakes can cause power lines to collapse. This is risky because exposed live wires can electrocute people or create fires. Roads, gas lines, and water pipes can all be damaged by significant tremors. Gas can leak from broken gas lines. Explosions and flames caused by escaping gas can be difficult to control.
3. Landslides and rockslides
Large boulders and pieces of Earth positioned uphill can displaced during an earthquake and tumble fast down into valleys. People living downstream can killed or injured by landslides and rockslides.
4. It Can result in floods.
High-magnitude Tremors can cause dam walls to break and eventually collapse. This would cause raging floods to enter surrounding regions, resulting in significant flooding.
5. Earthquakes can cause tsunamis.
A tsunami involves lengthy high sea vibrations caused by an earthquake or underwater volcanic explosions. A tsunami may wipe out an entire coastal area’s inhabitants. A classic example is March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan’s shoreline, killing over 18,000 people.
6. Leads to liquefaction
Liquefaction is the process through which soil becomes saturated and loses strength. When high-water-content sediments exposed to continual shaking, water pressure in the sediment pores gradually rises.
Eventually, the sediments lose practically all of their cohesive strength and begin to behave like liquids. Buildings and other buildings constructed on liquid soil collapse or sink into the Earth. Tremors cause the majority of the liquefaction that occurs across the planet. The earthquake that wrecked Port Royal in Jamaica in 1692 is a classic example of the liquefaction phenomenon.
Measuring and locating earthquakes.
The amount of force or energy produced by earthquakes measured. The Richter scale used for this. You’ve probably heard or read about this gadget in the news or on the internet. The Richter scale calculates the magnitude of an earthquake using data from seismographs.
The magnitude of an earthquake indicates the extent of its impact. Quakes measuring seven on the Richter scale known to catastrophic, causing severe damage to life and property. Earthquakes with magnitudes less than three on the Richter scale not felt. Earthquakes with magnitudes of 3 to 6 considered moderate. Japan, for example, is prone to earthquakes due to its location in a high seismic zone. When an earthquake happens in the water, it creates the conditions for a tsunami. One of the most devastating Tsunamis occurred in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004.
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