L5&6 - Earthquates Flashcards
Define an Earthquake
Vibration in the Earth produced by rapid release of energy
How common are Earthquakes
- 12-14,000/yr
- 35/day
Name 3 categories of Earthquake by depth
- Shallow (0-70km)
- Intermediate (70-300km)
- Deep (>300km)
Name 4 natural mechanisms behind earthquakes
- Tectonic Plate Movements
- Volcanic eruptions
- Rockfalls and slides
- Spontaneous rock bursts
Name 2 artificial mechanisms behind earthquakes
- Explosions
- Rock bursts due to minind releasing pressure
What 2 scales are used for Earthquakes
- Richter Scale
- Modified Mercalli Scale
What is the Richter Scale?
- Amplitude of largest waves 100km from source on seismograph
- Logarithmic
What was the largest ever Earthquake on the Richter scale?
9.5 in S. Chile
Below what point on the Richter scale are EQ undetectable by humans
> 2,5
What is the Mercalli Scale?
- Describes earthquake-induced damage
- Somewhat subjective, based on observation
How many grades are there on the Mercalli Scale?
- 12(I-XII)
What are the weakest, strongest and middle categories called on the Mercalli Scale?
I = Instrumental VI = Strong XII = Cataclysmic
What is the primary hazard associated with EQ?
- Ground Shaking
List 5 Secondary hazards associated with EQ
- Tsunami
- Soil Liquefaction
- Landslides
- Fire
- Seismic Seiches
What were the 3 main hazards associated with the 1995 Kobe EQ?
- Building collapse
- Fire
- Liquefaction
Where do Tsunamis occur?
- Coastlines adjacent to oceanic fault lines
Why and where does soil liquefaction tend to occur?
- Shaking causes soil particles to move apart
- Occurs in porous, water-saturated sediments
- E.g. Deltas, drained lake beds
Describe the life-cycle of a tsunami
- EQ with epicentre in Abyssal Plain
- Very fast in deep ocean 800-900 /hour
- Slower as they approach shallow water due to friction
- > Causes water to pile up
- ‘Draw back’ before tsunami hits land
Where do landslides tend to occur?
- Mountainous regions
- Where soil liquefaction has stabilised slopes
How big was the EQ that induced the 1962 and 1970 Peruvian landslides?
- 7.7
What major hazard caused the majority of damage in the 1906 San Francisco EQ?
- Fire
Where and when were the two deadliest EQ on record?
- China, 1976 - 242,000
- Haiti, 2010 - 222,570
Where and when were the two EQ that affected the most people?
- China (Sichuan), 2008 - 46,000,000
- India, 1988 - 20,000,000
Where and when were the two EQ that were the most costly?
- Japan, 2011 - $210 billion
- Japan, 1995 - $100 billion