Causes and Remedies of Earthquakes

Posted: Nov 06, 2006 | Comments: 0 | Views: 2,002 | Bookmark and Share

An Earthquake is a sudden movement of the ground that releases the elastic energy stored within the rocks, creating destructive seismic waves. The word "seismic" comes from the Greek word "seismos" meaning an earthquake. These quakes are not isolated events. They come with smaller shocks, called aftershocks, with smaller effects.

An earthquake is caused when two sides of a large fracture in the rocks within the earth slide past each other. This fracture is called a fault, which may be microscopic or thousands of kilometers in length, while their width is usually a few millimeters or a few meters in size.The size of an earthquake depends on the area of the fault that ruptured, and the distance through which the rocks on the two sides of the fault slide past one another.Small earth quakes are caused by small faults or small parts of big faults. These last only for a fraction of a second and usually unnoticed, as the rocks on either side of the faults are not displaced much. The larger ones are caused due to faults which are tens to thousands of kilometers long, taking minutes and the displacement of the rocks is around tens of meters.

Earthquakes are caused because the earth is regularly cooling since it was born, the seismic wave being one of its ways to release the elastic energy.
Earthquakes are generally categorized into three types: Tectonic, Volcanic and Artificial.

Tectonic earth quakes are the most devastating, and unfortunately the most unpredictable. The volcanic quakes are seldom important or devastative, but they help predict the eruption of volcanoes. The artificial ones are caused due to human activities, like pumping fuels deep into the earth or due to explosives, and several other reasons.

MEASUREMENT OF EARTHQUAKES:

The most popular scale used to measure earthquakes is the Richter scale, named after Charles Francis Richter (US).This scale measures the energy released at the focus of the quake, read through a seismograph which gives the direction and force of the quakes. An earthquake of size 8 is 10 times more devastative than size 7, 100 times more destructive than 6, and so on. the frequency of earthquakes decreases as the magnitude increases, as the earth experiences about 800 earth quakes of size 5-6 , but only one or two quakes of size 8-9.

EARTHQUAKE EFFECTS:

Earthquakes cause great loss of life by causing damage to buildings, bridges, dams, etc. they can trigger devastating landslides. Fires can begin due to leaks in Gas plants and electrical lines. Earth quakes can also generate tidal waves, or the tsunamis, capable of destroying entire townships. These quakes also cause liquefaction of soils, which makes soil lose almost all its strength, which makes it function like quicksand. This material is capable of swallowing an entire building within itself.

Earthquakes around the world cost around 15,000 lives per year. Several countries like the United States of America, China, Japan and Russia are most actively participating in seismological research, trying to predict future earthquakes.

(ArticlesBase SC #70332)

Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 20 vote(s)
    Feedback
    RSS
    Print
    Email
    Re-Publish

    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/causes-and-remedies-of-earthquakes-70332.html

    Article Tags:

    earthquakes

    ,

    Seismic Waves

    ,

    Richter Scale

    The Chi-Chi Earthquake in Taiwan

    Learn about the Chi-Chi Earthquake, that took place in Taiwan (01:00)

    Earthquake Preparedness

    How to shut off gas line after an earthquake. http://handygoddess.com Handy Goddess tips on how to prepare for an earthquake and learn how to shut off gas line after an earthquake in the diy home safety tips demonstration. (02:41)

    The 1963 Skopje Earthquake in Yugoslavia

    Learn about the 1963 Skopje Earthquake in Yugoslavia (01:04)

    Learn about Earthquakes

    Learn about Earthquakes in this educational video from dizzo95. (00:36)

    Earthquake FX

    http://www.videomaker.com Some simple tips on re-creating an earthquake. (03:06)

    Using induced earthquakes to prevent large magnitude natural earthquakes. The tectonic plates movement cause faults in the earth crust, which are the center of earthquakes and volcanic activity. Rock blocks on two sides of a fault accumulate elastic energy during many years and release it instantly in the form of an earthquake. It is possible to eliminate the risk of earthquakes by preventing the accumulation of the rocks elastic energy. Generating large shocks in the ground ab

    By: Dan Bar-Zohar l Education > Science l Mar 11, 2008 l Views: 894 l Comments: 1
    Garry Gamber

    The 1964 Anchorage, Alaska, earthquake and the resulting tsunami struck without warning on Good Friday, March 27.

    By: Garry Gamber l News and Society > Nature l Jan 01, 2008 l Views: 978
    Moon Ch. Deka

    Guwahati metropolitan city is the fastest growing city in the India now.Rapid haphazard urbanisation have been taken place in all parts of the city. Keeping view in high seismic region in the northeastern part of India, the Guwhati is a major concern from the point of probable seismic hazards.The scietnitfic inputs and microzonation map of the city has already completed but requires more inputs in the socioeconomic field for preparing favorable disaster management plan in the forthcoming year.

    By: Moon Ch. Deka l Education > Science l Aug 25, 2008 l Views: 575

    We were reminded recently of the devastating effect of earthquakes when a 7.0 hit Hiatit. Guatemala also suffers from frequent earthquakes, but it doesn't seem to effect the fishing - the sailfishing here is better than anywhere lese.

    By: Kevin Styles l Hobbies l Feb 02, 2010 l Views: 2

    It has been ten days since the disastrous 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti and it was followed by a powerful 5.9 aftershock Wednesday scaring the daylights out of the remaining survivors.

    By: Frank Bilotta l Technology > Cable and Satellite TV l Jan 23, 2010 l Views: 25
    Mr. Ashok Sharma

    Please go through these pages, at least once, as and when you have some leisure time. Today, the age of competition, the collection may be useful for the students, who are preparing for their competition examinations.

    By: Mr. Ashok Sharma l Careers > Interviews l Jun 05, 2009 l Views: 78

    An earthquake is an unpredictable event in which masses of rock shift below Earth's surface, releasing enormous amounts of energy and sending out shock waves that sometimes cause the ground to shake dramatically. A tsunami is a giant wave created by an underwater earthquake, volcano, or landslide. Though not all earthquakes are enormous, some can become one of Earth's most destructive forces.

    By: Dr.Badruddin Khan l Education > College and University l Aug 16, 2008 l Views: 33

    Search Bernalillo County Criminal Records and Bernalillo County Court Records online now! Bernalillo County Records - Bernalillo County Criminal / Court Records

    By: Thomas Whaley l Technology l Feb 10, 2010

    Search Clark County Criminal Records and Clark County Court Records online now! Clark County Records - Clark County Criminal / Court Records

    By: Thomas Whaley l Technology l Feb 10, 2010

    Search Shawnee County Criminal Records and Shawnee County Court Records online now! Shawnee County Records - Shawnee County Criminal / Court Records

    By: Thomas Whaley l Technology l Feb 10, 2010

    Search Multnomah County Criminal Records and Multnomah County Court Records online now! Multnomah County Records - Multnomah County Criminal / Court Records

    By: Thomas Whaley l Technology l Feb 10, 2010

    Search Snohomish County Criminal Records and Snohomish County Court Records online now! Snohomish County Records - Snohomish County Criminal / Court Records

    By: Thomas Whaley l Technology l Feb 10, 2010

    Search Maricopa County Criminal Records and Maricopa County Court Records online now! Maricopa County Records - Maricopa County Criminal / Court Records

    By: Thomas Whaley l Technology l Feb 10, 2010

    Search Broward County Criminal Records and Broward County Court Records online now! Broward County Records - Broward County Criminal / Court Records

    By: Thomas Whaley l Technology l Feb 10, 2010

    Search Nassau County Criminal Records and Nassau County Court Records online now! Nassau County Records - Nassau County Criminal / Court Records

    By: Thomas Whaley l Technology l Feb 10, 2010

    A flood is an overflow of water, an expanse of water submerging land, a deluge. Floods are most commonly widespread of all natural disasters. They are also one of the most dangerous disasters as they carry enough power to change the shape of land on Earth.

    By: Pacific Disaster l News and Society > Nature l Nov 17, 2006 l Views: 748

    Precipitation is one form of hail. Hail in other sense means falling of balls or irregular lumps of ice (hailstones), 5 mm-50 mm in diameter on average, with much larger reported from severe thunderstorms. Thunderstorms always produced by cumulonimbus. small hailstones are >5 mm in diameter. They are layered and can be irregular and clumped together

    By: Pacific Disaster l News and Society > Nature l Nov 17, 2006 l Views: 391

    when a body of water, such as an ocean is rapidly displaced on a massive scale then we call it tsunami. It Is a series of waves. The effects of a tsunami can range from unnoticeable to devastating. There are various reasons behind the tsunami

    By: Pacific Disaster l News and Society > Nature l Nov 14, 2006 l Views: 1,117 l Comments: 1

    An Earthquake is a sudden movement of the ground that releases the elastic energy stored within the rocks, creating destructive seismic waves. The word "seismic" comes from the Greek word "seismos" meaning an earthquake, . These quakes are not isolated events

    By: Pacific Disaster l Technology l Nov 06, 2006 l Views: 2,002

    A tropical cyclone evolves when the storm system fueled by the heat released when moist air rises and the water vapor in it condenses. The earth's rotation also imparts an acceleration.

    By: Pacific Disaster l News and Society > Environment l Oct 31, 2006 l Views: 776

    A severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or greater is a Hurricane. Major hazards include high winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, storm surge and high surf. Hurricane is the term used for systems located in the central and eastern Pacific regions.

    By: Pacific Disaster l Technology l Oct 26, 2006 l Views: 315

    Preparing for natural disaster, whether it's a hurricane, tsunami, flood, or some other event can mean the difference between life and death. Taking the time to assemble a Disaster Supply Kit before a disaster strikes will help cope with the temporary loss of everyday conveniences.

    By: Pacific Disaster l Business l Oct 20, 2006 l Views: 216

    Add new Comment

     
    * Required fields
    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    0