Earthquake

Hazards
Hazard and Risk
Example of hazard and risk
 Magnitude and intensity
Magnitude and Intensity measure different
characteristics of earthquakes. Magnitude measures the
energy released at the source of the earthquake.
Magnitude is determined from measurements on
seismographs. Intensity measures the strength of shaking
produced by the earthquake at a certain location.
Intensity is determined from effects on people, human
structures, and the natural environment.
Examples of magnitude and intensity
 Focus and epicenter of an earthquake
Focus of an earthquake
The focus is also called the hypocenter of an earthquake. The
vibrating waves travel away from the focus of the earthquake in all
directions. The waves can be so powerful they will reach all parts of
the Earth and cause it to vibrate like a turning fork.

Epicenter of an earthquake
Directly above the focus on the Earth's surface is the earthquake
epicenter. Earthquake waves start at he focus and travel outward in
all directions. Earthquake waves do not originate at the epicenter.
Example of focus and epicenter
 Richter scale
What is the Richter Scale?
The Richter magnitude scale (often shortened to Richter
scale) is the most common standard of measurement for
earthquakes. It was invented in 1935 by Charles F. Richter
of the California Institute of Technology as a mathematical
device to compare the size of earthquakes. The Richter
scale is used to rate the magnitude of an earthquake, that
is the amount of energy released during an earthquake.
Example of richter scale
 Mercalli scale
Qualitative measure of earthquake intensity, it is a linear
empirical scale based on the observed effects of seismic
phenomenon. It indicates earthquake intensity on a scale I
to XII (Roman numerals are used to avoid confusion with
Richter scale which measures earthquake magnitude).
Devised in 1902 by the Italian geologist Giuseppe Mercalli
(1850-1914). Its US version (called Modified Mercalli) was
developed in 1956 by Charles Richter.
Example of mercalli scale
 Plate Boundaries
What are Plate Boundaries?
In Plate Tectonic Theory, the lithosphere is broken into
tectonic plates, which undergo some large scale
motions. The boundary regions between plates are
aptly called plate boundaries. Based upon their
motions with respect to one another, these plate
boundaries are of three kinds: divergent, convergent,
and transform.
Three types of plates boundaries

Convergent
Boundaries
Divergent Boundaries

Transform Boundaries
 Convergent boundaries
Convergent boundaries are those that move towards
one another. When they collide, subduction usually
takes place. That is, the denser plate gets subducted
or goes underneath the less dense one. Sometimes,
the plate boundaries also experience buckling.
Convergent boundaries are responsible for
producing the deepest and tallest structures on
Earth.
Example of convergent boundaries
 Divergent boundaries
Divergent boundaries are those that move away from one
another. When they separate, they form what is known as a
rift. As the gap between the two plates widen, the
underlying layer may be soft enough for molten lava
underneath to push its way upward. This upward push
results in the formation of volcanic islands. Molten lava that
succeeds in breaking free eventually cools and forms part of
the ocean floor.
Example of divergent boundaries
 Transform boundaries
Transform boundaries are those that slide alongside
one another. Lest you imagine a slippery, sliding
motion, take note that the surfaces involved are
exposed to huge amounts of stress and strain and are
momentarily held in place. As a result, when the two
plates finally succeed in moving with respect to one
another, huge amounts of energy are released. This
causes earthquakes.
Example of transform boundaries
 What is
earthquake
hazards?
Earthquake hazard is anything associated
with an earthquake that may affect the
normal activities of people. This includes
flooding, fire, ground shaking, ground
displacement liquefaction, tsunamis, and
seiches.
 Types of earthquake
hazards
Ground shaking
Ground Displacement
Flooding

Fire
 Ground shaking
The first main earthquake hazard (danger)
is the effect of ground shaking. Buildings
can be damaged by the shaking itself or
by the ground beneath them settling to a
different level than it was before the
earthquake (subsidence).
 Example of ground
shaking
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 Buildings can even sink into the ground if soil
liquefaction occurs. Liquefaction is the mixing of sand
or soil and groundwater (water underground) during
the shaking of a moderate or strong earthquake.
When the water and soil are mixed, the ground
becomes very soft and acts similar to quicksand. If
liquefaction occurs under a building, it may start to
lean, tip over, or sink several feet. The ground firms up
again after the earthquake has past and the water has
settled back down to its usual place deeper in the
ground. Liquefaction is a hazard in areas that have
groundwater near the surface and sandy soil.

Buildings can also be damaged by strong surface waves making the ground heave and
lurch. Any buildings in the path of these surface waves can lean or tip over from all the
movement. The ground shaking may also cause landslides, mudslides, and avalanches on
steeper hills or mountains, all of which can damage buildings and hurt people.
 Ground displacement
The second main earthquake hazard is
ground displacement (ground movement)
along a fault. If a structure (a building, road,
etc.) is built across a fault, the ground
displacement during an earthquake could
seriously damage or rip apart that structure.
From Figure 4 you can tell
that the San Andreas
Fault is a right-lateral
transverse (strike-slip)
fault because the other
side of the road (on the
opposite side of the fault)
has moved to the right,
relative to the
photographer's position. FIGURE 4 - THIS ROAD, WHICH CROSSES THE SAN ANDREAS
FAULT, WAS CUT IN HALF BY THE 1906 EARTHQUAKE. ONE
END OF THE ROAD SLID 20 FEET (6.5 METERS) PAST THE
OTHER DURING THE QUAKE.
 Flooding
The third main hazard is flooding. An
earthquake can rupture (break) dams or
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levees along a river. The water from the river

Part 01
or the reservoir would then flood the area,
damaging buildings and maybe sweeping
away or drowning people.
 Tsunamis and seiches can also cause
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a great deal of damage. A tsunami is
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what most people call a tidal wave,

but it has nothing to do with the tides
on the ocean. It is a huge wave
caused by an earthquake under the
ocean. Tsunamis can be tens of feet
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and tip over trees.
 Fire
The fourth main earthquake hazard is fire.
These fires can be started by broken gas lines
and power lines, or tipped over wood or coal
stoves. They can be a serious problem,
especially if the water lines that feed the fire
hydrants are broken, too. For example, after
the Great San Francisco Earthquake in 1906,
the city burned for three days. Most of the
city was destroyed and 250,000 people were
left homeless.

Most of the hazards to people come from man-made structures themselves and the
shaking they receive from the earthquake. The real dangers to people are being crushed
in a collapsing building, drowning in a flood caused by a broken dam or levee, getting
buried under a landslide, or being burned in a fire.
 THANK YOU

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