EARTHQUAKES AND

FAULTS
Ring of Fire: trenches and associated
subduction zones that surround the
Pacific Ocean
What is an earthquake?
Causes of Earthquakes
Tectonic stress
(most common)
Water added under
pressure
Geothermal
gradient
Rock type
Fast/cold versus
slow/warm rate
and temperature
Causes of Earthquakes
Stress accumulation and energy
release at plate boundaries.
Explain the 3 different types of
stresses
Tension
pulls apart
What is a fault?
A fault is a break in the rocks that
make up the Earths crust, along
which rocks on either side have
moved past each other.

The direction of movement along the
fault plane determines the fault type.
Explain the 3 different types of
stresses
Pushes together
Compression
Explain the 3 different types of
stresses
Tension
pulls apart
Explain the 3 different types of
stresses
Shearing
Rocks move in two
opposite directions
Three Kinds of faults major
Faults
Strike-slip
Reverse
Normal
Normal Fault
The hanging wall moves down relative to the foot wall.

This fault type is caused by tensional stress.
Normal Fault
Normal Fault
Normal Fault
Reverse Fault
The hanging wall
moves up relative to
the foot wall.

This fault is caused by
Compressional stress.
Reverse Fault
Reverse Fault
Reverse Fault
Strike-Slip Fault
The fault exists
between two pieces
of crust and the
Movement occurs
horizontally where
the sides slide past
each other.
This fault type is caused by shear stress.
Strike-Slip Fault
Strike Slip Fault
Strike-Slip Fault
Fault Movement = Earthquakes
An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip
on a fault. The tectonic plates are always
slowly moving, but they get stuck at their
edges due to friction. When the stress on
the edge overcomes the friction, there is
an earthquake that releases energy in
waves that travel through the earth's
crust and cause the shaking that we feel.

Faults in the Philippines
Philippine Fault Zone- longest fault
system in the Philippines. From
ilocos norte, Abra, La union, Quezon,
Masbate, Leyte, Agusan, Compostela
Compostela Valley and Davao
Oriental
In Luzon- Dumon River Fault System
in Cagayan and West Ilocos, Iba,
Zambales, Marikina, Rodriguez and
San Mateo, Rizal, Pasig, Taguig,
Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Binan,
Calamba, Santa Rosa, Carmona,
Tagaytay, Cavite , Mindoro
In Visayas- Negros and Bohol
In Mindanao- Lanao fault System,
Davao, Central Mindanao and
Tangbulan.

Focus- where the slip happens below ground

Epicenter-where the shaking is first felt above
ground directly above the focus.
FOCUS
Point in Earths interior where
seismic waves originated. Focus can
be 5 to 700 km below the surface of
the earth. Seismic waves travel
outward in all direction from the
focus
The primary and secondary waves
originates from an earthquakes
focus.
EPICENTER
The point on the earth surface
directly above the focus.
Primary Waves
P waves- are the first waves to arrive
at a seismograph station.
-fastest form of wave, sometimes
called compression waves.
- Can move through both liquids and
solids.
- These waves cause rock particles to
move back and forth in the same
direction as the wave is traveling
(push-pull).
S-Waves- arrive after the primary
waves at the seismograph station.
-Can travel through solids only.
-Cause particles to move back and
forth at right angles to the line of
wave movement
Secondary Waves
SEISMOLGY
EARTHQUAKE LOCATION
Travel time versus distance plots
Can construct distance versus
travel time for earthquakes
knowing properties of
earths interior

Note that with increasing
distance the arrival times
for the various waves
separates.

The 3 min 45 sec difference
between the arrival time of
the P and S waves
corresponds to a distance of
2000 km.
SEISMOLOGY
LOCATING EARTHQUAKES
Triangulation
-Need three different
seismic stations to locate
an earthquake.
-Measure the P-S arrival
times and convert these
to distance.
-Triangulate using radius
given by P-S travel
times.
-Triangulation for position of
an earthquake near New
Madrid using stations in
Columbus, St Louis and
Memphis

Surface Waves
Rayleigh wave-surface wave causing
the ground to shake in an elliptical
motion
Because of its motion, it moves the
ground up and down, and side-to-
side in the same direction that the
wave is moving
Most of EQ shaking is due to this
type of wave
Measuring Earthquakes
Magnitude- the amount of energy
released during an EQ
Intensity- measures the amount of
effect
Richter Magnitude Scale- based on
the largest seismic waves generated
by the EQ on a factor of 10.
Moment Magnitude Scale- considers
the size of the fault rupture, the
amount of movement, and rocks
stiffness
Modified Mercalli Scale
Measures the intensity of the EQ using
a rating system of the damage
Scientists compile information from
various observers within different zip
codes to get a better understanding
of the devastation caused by an EQ
to determine its intensity.