Earthquakes: Causes, Effects, and Measurement
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Formation of
the Earth
EARTHQUAKES
An
earthquake
is a natural hazard caused by the
sudden and rapid movement of a large volume of
rock
Earthquakes are a way for the earth to release stress
More than a million earthquakes occur every year
Earthquakes can happen all over the nation, but are
most likely to occur along the West Coast
Earthquakes usually last less than one minute
Earthquakes cannot be predicted!
WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE
There are about 20 plates that are constantly moving
along the surface of the earth
As the plates move, they put forces on themselves
and each other
When enough force is added, the earth’s crust snaps
When the snap occurs, stress is released as energy
which moves through the earth in the form of waves
A
fault
is the area of stress in the earth where
broken rocks slide past each other causing a crack in
the earth’s surface
THE CAUSES OF AN EARTHQUAKE
The
epicenter
is the point at the surface directly
above the focus
The
focus
is the location where the earthquake
begins
The
hypocenter
is the point within the earth where
the earthquake rupture starts
Seismic Waves
are waves of energy that travel
through the earth’s layers as a result of an
earthquake
PARTS OF AN EARTHQUAKE
THE PARTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE
Surface waves: travel along the earth’s surface
Body waves: travel through the interior of the earth
Primary waves: compressed, longitudinal waves
Secondary waves: transverse waves
SEISMIC WAVES
Scientists use the
Richter Scale
to measure the intensity of
an earthquake
Each one-point increase on the scale indicates ten times the
amount of shaking and 33 times the amount of energy
The energy released by a large earthquake may be equal to
10,000 times the energy of the first atomic bomb.
4 Minor Earthquake
5 Moderate Earthquake
6 Strong Earthquake
7 Major Earthquake
8 Great Earthquake
HOW TO MEASURE AN EARTHQUAKE
DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON!
During an earthquake it is important to stay indoors
until the shaking stops
Stay away from windows
If you’re outdoors, find a clear spot away from
buildings, trees and power lines.
Always drop to the ground.
If you’re in a car, slow down and drive to a safe
place. Stay in the car until the shaking stops.
EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
Earthquakes are natural hazards resulting from the movement of tectonic plates, causing stress release in the Earth's crust. They occur globally, with the West Coast being a hotspot. Learn about the formation, causes, parts, and seismic waves associated with earthquakes. Discover how scientists measure earthquakes using the Richter Scale to gauge their intensity.
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Presentation Transcript
EARTHQUAKES Formation of the Earth
WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE An earthquake is a natural hazard caused by the sudden and rapid movement of a large volume of rock Earthquakes are a way for the earth to release stress More than a million earthquakes occur every year Earthquakes can happen all over the nation, but are most likely to occur along the West Coast Earthquakes usually last less than one minute Earthquakes cannot be predicted!
THE CAUSES OF AN EARTHQUAKE There are about 20 plates that are constantly moving along the surface of the earth As the plates move, they put forces on themselves and each other When enough force is added, the earth s crust snaps When the snap occurs, stress is released as energy which moves through the earth in the form of waves A fault is the area of stress in the earth where broken rocks slide past each other causing a crack in the earth s surface
PARTS OF AN EARTHQUAKE The epicenter is the point at the surface directly above the focus The focus is the location where the earthquake begins The hypocenter is the point within the earth where the earthquake rupture starts Seismic Waves are waves of energy that travel through the earth s layers as a result of an earthquake
SEISMIC WAVES Surface waves: travel along the earth s surface Body waves: travel through the interior of the earth Primary waves: compressed, longitudinal waves Secondary waves: transverse waves
HOW TO MEASURE AN EARTHQUAKE Scientists use the Richter Scale an earthquake an earthquake Each one-point increase on the scale indicates ten times the amount of shaking and 33 times the amount of energy The energy released by a large earthquake may be equal to 10,000 times the energy of the first atomic bomb. 4 Minor Earthquake 5 Moderate Earthquake 6 Strong Earthquake 7 Major Earthquake 8 Great Earthquake Richter Scale to measure the intensity of to measure the intensity of
EARTHQUAKE SAFETY DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON! During an earthquake it is important to stay indoors until the shaking stops Stay away from windows If you re outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees and power lines. Always drop to the ground. If you re in a car, slow down and drive to a safe place. Stay in the car until the shaking stops.
