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Learn about the types, effects and causes of Earthquakes in this 500+ words essay. Find out how Earthquakes occur due to tectonic, volcanic, collapse and explosive activities and how they can result in landslides, tsunamis and fires.
- Overview
- Causes of earthquakes
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Over the centuries, earthquakes have been responsible for millions of deaths and an incalculable amount of damage to property. Depending on their intensity, earthquakes (specifically, the degree to which they cause the ground’s surface to shake) can topple buildings and bridges, rupture gas pipelines and other infrastructure, and trigger landslides, tsunamis, and volcanoes. These phenomena are primarily responsible for deaths and injuries. Very great earthquakes occur on average about once per year.
What are earthquake waves?
Earthquake waves, more commonly known as seismic waves, are vibrations generated by an earthquake and propagated within Earth or along its surface. There are four principal types of elastic waves: two, primary and secondary waves, travel within Earth, whereas the other two, Rayleigh and Love waves, called surface waves, travel along its surface. In addition, seismic waves can be produced artificially by explosions.
How is earthquake magnitude measured?
Magnitude is a measure of the amplitude (height) of the seismic waves an earthquake’s source produces as recorded by seismographs. Seismologist Charles F. Richter created an earthquake magnitude scale using the logarithm of the largest seismic wave’s amplitude to base 10. Richter’s scale was originally for measuring the magnitude of earthquakes from magnitudes 3 to 7, limiting its usefulness. Today the moment magnitude scale, a closer measure of an earthquake’s total energy release, is preferred.
Where do earthquakes occur?
Earth’s major earthquakes occur mainly in belts coinciding with the margins of tectonic plates. This has long been apparent from early catalogs of felt earthquakes and is even more readily discernible in modern seismicity maps, which show instrumentally determined epicentres. The most important earthquake belt is the Circum-Pacific Belt, which affects many populated coastal regions around the Pacific Ocean—for example, those of New Zealand, New Guinea, Japan, the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and the western coasts of North and South America. It is estimated that 80 percent of the energy presently released in earthquakes comes from those whose epicentres are in this belt. The seismic activity is by no means uniform throughout the belt, and there are a number of branches at various points. Because at many places the Circum-Pacific Belt is associated with volcanic activity, it has been popularly dubbed the “Pacific Ring of Fire.”
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A second belt, known as the Alpide Belt, passes through the Mediterranean region eastward through Asia and joins the Circum-Pacific Belt in the East Indies. The energy released in earthquakes from this belt is about 15 percent of the world total. There also are striking connected belts of seismic activity, mainly along oceanic ridges—including those in the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the western Indian Ocean—and along the rift valleys of East Africa. This global seismicity distribution is best understood in terms of its plate tectonic setting.
Learn about earthquakes, the sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through Earth's rocks. Find out how earthquakes occur, where they occur, and how they are measured by seismology.
Feb 13, 2024 · Earthquake Essay: Earthquake Essay is an important topic for students to learn about. It educates the students about what an earthquake is and its repercussions. From a geological perspective, earthquakes (Magnitude 2 and smaller) occur several hundred times a day worldwide.
- Earthquakes are caused when two or more tectonic plates meet.
- An earthquake can be defined as the “shaking” of the earth’s surface as a result of a sudden release of energy from the lithosphere.
- Earthquakes cause the ground to shake. More intense earthquakes can cause liquefaction, flooding, landslides and even tsunamis.
- Earthquakes do not directly affect humans, however, being in the wrong place can be dangerous - such as a building during an earthquake or on a bea...
- No, earthquakes cannot be predicted.
Learn about the science, causes, types, effects, and precautions of earthquakes in this comprehensive essay. Find out how tectonic plates, volcanoes, human activities, and other factors can trigger earthquakes and how to stay safe during and after them.
3 days ago · Learn about earthquakes, their types, effects and examples from this essay by Vedantu. Find out how to prepare for earthquakes and score marks in exams.
Jan 25, 2024 · Earthquakes and Their Devastating Consequences Essay. Exclusively available on IvyPanda®. Updated: Jan 25th, 2024. Nature and its actions are often unpredictable and frightening. Almost every day, TV channels and news websites report on natural disasters in different parts of the world.
Apr 22, 2024 · The primary purpose of an earthquake essay is to analyze and provide insights into the scientific aspects of earthquakes, such as their causes, their effects, and the strategies for mitigation and management.
