Chapter 9

Earthquakes

9.1 Forces Inside Earth

Objectives
Explain how earthquakes result from the buildup of stress in Earths crust Contrast normal, reverse, and strike-slip faults

Causes of Earthquakes
Passing the Elastic Limit Causes Faulting
Applied stresses can cause rocks to bend and stretch Eventually rocks will break away from one another Area in which the rocks break and move is called a fault Vibrations produced is called an earthquake Earths crust movement causes the stresses applied

Types of Faults
Normal Fault
Earths plates move apart Movement of the plates causes tension Rocks above the fault surface move downward in relation to the rocks below the fault surface

Types of Faults
Reverse Faults
Compression forces are applied because Earths plates are coming together Causes rocks to bend and break Rocks above the fault surface are forced up and over the rocks below the fault surface

Types of Faults
Strike-slip Fault
Earths plates move sideways to one another Creates a shear force Rocks on either side of the fault surface are moving past each other without much upward or downward movement

9.2 Earthquake Information

Objectives
Compare and contrast primary, secondary, and surface waves Explain how an earthquake epicenter is located using seismic wave information Describe how seismic wave studies indicate the structure of Earths interior

Types of Seismic Waves

Earthquake focus
Focus the point in Earths interior where the energy waves are produced Seismic waves Seismic wave - the energy waves that move outward from the earthquake focus and make the ground quake Epicenter The point on Earths surface directly above the earthquake focus

Types of Seismic Waves

Seismic Waves
Primary waves Energy waves that cause rocks to move back and forth in the same direction Compression and stretching forces are created Secondary waves Energy waves that cause rocks to move at right angles to the wave

Types of Seismic Waves

Surface waves Energy waves that reach the Earths surface Energy waves that move rocks in an elliptical motion

Locating an Epicenter
Seismic waves do not travel through
earths surface at the same speed
Primary waves are the fastest Surface waves are the slowest

Seismograph stations
Record the information from the earthquake by recording the different types of waves as they reach the station

Locating and Epicenter

Epicenter Location
If information is received from the earthquake at three stations, then the epicenter can be located A circle is drawn around each station on a map The radius is equal to the distance from the station to the epicenter The point in which all three circles intersect is the earthquake epicenter

Using Seismic Waves to Map Earths Interior

The speed of the waves changes as the
depth changes
The speed changes in accordance to the density of the layers of Earth

Using Seismic Waves to Map Earths Interior

Structure of Earth
Inner core Solid and very dense Composed of mostly nickel and iron Outer core Liquid layer that surrounds the inner core Composed of nickel and iron

Using Seismic Waves to Map Earths Interior

Mantle Largest layer located above the inner core Composed of silicon, oxygen, magnesium, and iron Crust Outermost layer Solid and similar in composition to the mantle

Using Seismic Waves to Map Earths Interior

Moho Discontinuity
Boundary between the crust and the mantle Seismic waves speed up as they reach this area Seismic waves speed up as they reach more dense areas and slow down when the reach less dense areas The more solid the layer the more dense

Using Seismic Waves to Map Earths Interior

Shadow zone
The area between 105-140 degrees from the epicenter Area in which seismic waves cant be detected What is the cause? Secondary waves cant be transmitted through liquid layers Primary waves are slowed and deflected by the outer core and speed up again when the reach the solid inner core

9.3 Destruction by Earthquakes

Objectives
Define magnitude and Richter scale List ways to make your classroom and home more earthquake safe

Measuring Earthquakes
Seismology
Seismologists - People who study earthquakes and seismic waves Use instruments called seismographs Record seismic waves A drum with a sheet of paper vibrates and a stationary pen marks the vibrations on the paper The height of the lines are used to measure the energy released from the earthquake called the magnitude

Measuring Earthquakes
Earthquake Magnitude
Usually determines the strength of the break Doesnt determine the duration or the size For each increase of 1is 10 times stronger An earthquake of 4 is 10 times stronger than an
earthquake of 3

Tsunamis
Caused by the movement of the ocean floor
Causes a disruption in the water Some are so wide that a large ship can travel over the wave without knowing Recent earthquake in the Indian Ocean created a tsunamis that was 100 feet high and moving at 500 mph

Earthquake Safety
Quake proofing your home
Place heavy objects near the floor Fix gas appliances in place

9.4 Living on a Fault

Objectives
Recognize that most loss of life in an earthquake is caused by the destruction of human-made structures Consider who should pay for making structures seismic safe

Who should pay for earthquake preparation?

Seismic safe structures
Structures that are resistant to the vibrations of Earths crust Structures are made with moorings Made of steel and are filled with alternating layers of rubber and steel These structures absorb the energy produced from the earthquake