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EARTHQUAKES
Shaking of the earth’s surface caused by sudden release of energy
stored in the rocks beneath earth’s surface is called an earthquake.
Earthquake Hazard:
This term is associated with an earthquake that may effect the normal
activities of people. This includes surface faulting, ground shaking,
landslides, liquefaction, tectonic deformation, tsunamis etc.
Earthquake Risk:
This term denotes the probable damage to buildings and other
structures. The expected number of people and cattle population to
be hurt or killed if an earthquake occurs.
Causes of Earth Quake:
• Tectonic forces acting deep in the earth may put a stress in the rocks.
It bends and change the shape of rocks. When these rocks break,
waves of energy are released and sent out through the earth. These
seismic waves cause to shake the ground during earthquake.
• Volcanic activity can also cause earthquake.
• Movement of plates (plate tectonics) may also cause earth quake.
PLATE TECTIONICS
• The entire earth surface is composed of several rigid but relatively
thin plates. These plates are 100-150 km. thick. They carry both
continental and oceanic crust. They are continuously in motion
with respect to each other. These plates can be thought like
cracked shell on a boiled egg.
• The plates vary in size. There are about 20 crustal plates on the
earth’s surface. Seven are very large. . The large plates are:
(i) The North American Plate (ii) The South American Plate
(iii) The Eurasian Plate (iv) The African Plate
(v) The indo-Australian Plate (vi) The Pacific Plate
(vii) The Antarctic Plate
• These plates slide over a partially molten plastic layer beneath the
earth surface called the “Asthenosphere”
Tectonic Plates
Major Plates
Plate Boundaries and Plate Movement
Almost all seismicity, volcanicity and tectonic activity is localized
around plate margins. Depending upon relative motions of adjacent
plates, Plate boundaries are classified in to three groups:
• Divergent.
Plates moves apart which result in creation of new ocean floor with
submarine volcanoes, mid-oceanic ridge and small to moderate
earthquakes.
• Convergent:
Plate move towards each other resulting destruction of ocean floor,
creation and growth of mountain range with volcanoes, subduction
zones. Earth’s greatest earthquake and tsunamis.
• Transform:
Plates moves sideways past each other. It causes no creation or
destruction of crust and results small to large earthquake.
(i) Focus:
The point within the earth where seismic waves first originate is
called “Focus”. This is centre of earthquake.
(ii) Epicenter
The point on the earth surface directly above the focus is called
epicenter.
Focus and Epicenter of Earthquake
Classification of Earthquakes
(a) Shallow focus Earth quake
Focus ranges between 0-70 km. These EQ are large and more
dangerous as they are closer to the surface of earth. They are more
common and occur near plate boundaries. They account for 85% of
total energy.
(b) Intermediate Focus Earthquake
Depth 70-350 km and account 12% .Causes less damage as
compared to shallow focus EQ.
(c) Deep Focus Earthquake
Focus range between 350-670 km. These occur in subduction
zones. Cause less damage and are 3% of the total because most
deep rocks flow and deformed when stressed.
Seismic Waves
Two types of seismic waves are generated during earthquakes:
• Body waves
• Surface Waves
• Body waves:-These are seismic waves that travel through the earth’s interior,
spreading outward from the focus in all directions. These are of two types:-
(i) P- Waves (Primary waves)
It is compressional or longitudinal wave in which rock vibrates back and forth
parallel to the direction of wave propagation. These are very fast (4 to 7km/sec)
and first to arrive at a recording station after earthquake occurrence.
(ii) S-Waves(Secondary waves)
It is shear wave and the rock vibrates perpendicular to the direction of wave
propagation .These are slower than P-waves (2 to 5 km/sec) in near surface
rocks. Both P-waves and S-waves pass easily through solid rocks. P-wave can
pass through a liquid, but an S-wave cannot pass through liquid.
• Surface waves:
Surface waves are the slowest waves generated by the earth quake. These are
high amplitude waves and in general cause most property damage because
they move slowly and take more time to pass.
There are two types of surface waves:
(i) Love waves
Love waves are like S-waves. The ground moves side to side i.e. perpendicular
to the direction the wave is travelling or propagating. Like S-Waves Love waves
cannot pass through liquid and cannot be felt upon a water body. These waves
knock the building off their foundations and may destroy highway bridge
support.