Earthquakes

Question 1

Describe the distribution of earthquakes around the globe

Answer 1

Occur on constructive and conservative plate boundaries

Question 2

Why do earthquakes occur?

Answer 2

when large parts of the earths crust and upper mantle move suddenly

Question 3

What is the difference between the focus and the epicentre of an earthquake?

Answer 3

The focus is the point within the earth where the seismic waves originate, the epicentre is on the earths surface directly above the focus - where the earthquake happens

Question 4

Explain how seismic waves from an earthquake differ?

Answer 4

some seismic waves are longitudinal which means they can travel through solids and liquids, whereas transverse waves only travel through solids

Question 5

Name the differences between the Richter and Mercalli scale

Answer 5

Richter scale measures amount of energy released
, mercalli scale measures damage caused by the earthquake
Richter scale is 0 - 10 , e.g size 6 on the scale is 10 x more powerful than size 5
mercalli scale 1 - 12

Question 6

Explain why some earthquakes lead to more death and destruction than others

Answer 6

The more powerful the earthquake the more death, Nepal earthquake measured 7.9 on Richter scale compared to a 6.3 in Christchurch - Nepal’s earthquake effected a whole country whereas Christ church effected a village

Question 7

Short term effects of Nepal earthquake

Answer 7

Buildings collapsed due to poor structure, deaths of 8,000, 2.8 million made homeless,

Question 8

Long term effects

Answer 8

Communications were cut off, sleeping in the open, aftershocks of 6.9, tourism damaged

Question 9

How is it possible to predict, protect and prepare for earthquakes?

Answer 9

predict = seismographs
Protect = have well designed houses, steel frames, flexibility,
prepare- construct shelters, have practices, emergency kits