Earthquakes & Tsunamis: Causes & Information

Almost every year, a large earthquake occurs somewhere in the world and

captures the public's attention. Meanwhile, every day thousands of smaller tremors

often go unnoticed by most people. Although we usually consider the ground to be

solid and stable, the earth is, in fact, constantly shifting under our feet.

What causes earthquakes?

Earth's crust ranges from 3 to 45 miles deep (5 to 70 kilometers). The crust is

a thin, hard shell that floats on the denser, hotter rock of the mantle. The crust is

divided into several pieces known as tectonic plates that are constantly in motion,

grinding past one another at boundaries known as faults.

As they slide past one another, the tectonic plates snag on rough patches of

rock. They lock together like Velcro. However, even though the fault boundaries are

locked together, the plates still move, pulling at the entangled sections. This pulling

can further crack the Earth's crust, creating more faults near the plate boundaries.

An earthquake occurs when the pressure built up along a fault becomes stronger than

the pressure holding the rocks together. Then the rocks on either side of the fault

suddenly rip apart, sometimes at supersonic speeds. The two sides of the fault slide

past one another, releasing the pent-up pressure. Energy from this separation radiates

outward in all directions, including towards the surface, where it is felt as an

earthquake.
 Even though the tectonic plates slide at a regular rate over time, the way that

faults release stored energy is different with each earthquake, said Shimon

Wdowinski, a geophysicist at the University of Miami's Rosentiel School of Marine

& Atmospheric Sciences. "Every earthquake doesn't repeat exactly what happened

before. Sometimes there is a big earthquakes, sometimes there are two or three

together," he told Live Science. "There is no regularity."

A large earthquake is often followed by aftershocks, which are smaller

quakes that result from the crust adjusting to the main shock. These aftershocks can

help scientists target the origin of the main quake, but can create problems for those

suffering its aftermath.

Tsunamis

If the earthquake occurs in the ocean, it can push up powerful waves, known

as tsunamis. The sudden upward or downward movement of the seafloor during an

earthquake creates large tsunami waves, similar to a child splashing in the bathtub.

Earthquakes can also trigger tsunamis by unleashing underwater landslides, which

also displace huge amounts of seawater.

In this photo taken by a tourist Eric Skitzi from England, tourists watch as

tsunami waves hit the shore from a safe place inside Casuarina Beach Hotel resort in

Penang, northwestern Malaysia around 1:00pm in local time (0500GMT) Sunday,

Dec. 26, 2004. The resort hotel lifeguards noticed waves were huge and sounded

warning to all tourists around the hotel beach area to run to the safety area. The

Malaysian government on Wednesday canceled New Year celebrations nationwide,

urging people to pray this weekend that the country will be spared from future

disasters such as the recent tsunamis that killed at least 65 Malaysians.

Measuring earthquakes

An earthquake's size, or magnitude, depends on how large its parent fault is

and how much it has slipped. Because these faults extend from the surface down to

several miles deep, geologists can't simply visit the source to calculate these

numbers. Instead, they rely on a tool known as a seismograph, which measures

seismic waves, or vibrations, from an earthquake.

An earthquake's magnitude is ranked on the moment magnitude scale, not the

Richter scale. The moment magnitude scale provides a better idea of the shaking and

possible damage from earthquakes of all kinds around the world. [Related: Whatever

Happened to the Richter Scale?]

Earthquakes with magnitudes less than 3 occur every day, and are generally

not felt by people. A magnitude of 3 to 5 is considered minor, while a quake with a

magnitude of 5 to 7 is moderate to strong. At the higher end, these quakes can be

destructive to cities. Earthquakes from 7 to 8 are major; about 15 of these occur

annually. Every year, at least one earthquake with a magnitude over 8 — a "great"

quake — wreaks havoc. An earthquake with a magnitude of 10 has never been

measured, but it would create widespread devastation. [Scary Scenario: Devastating

Earthquake Visualized]
 By using the readings from at least three seismographs, geologists can

triangulate the origin of the earthquake. At the fault, that origin is called the

hypocenter; on the surface, the epicenter.

Most of the major earthquakes strike on well-known fault lines. Californians,

for instance, are unlikely to be shocked if they feel the ground shuddering beneath

their feet. But a draft map released by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2014 reveals

that 42 out of the 50 states have a moderate to high seismic hazard risk.

Preparing for disaster

Scientists have not yet come up with a way to forecast earthquakes. Although

animals are reputed to have a sixth sense when it comes to these vibrations, no

research has confirmed it, much less determined how such predictions might occur.

In many cases, animals are simply sensing the arrival of earthquake waves that go

unnoticed by people.

However, scientists can identify locations that are likely to experience

earthquakes in the future. For instance, along the tectonic plate boundary off the

western shore of South America, researchers have mapped the location of historical

earthquakes and found "seismic gaps" — zones with no recent large earthquake

quakes. And indeed, scientists had forecast a major earthquake in a seismic gap near

Maule, Chile, which was hit by a magnitude-8.8 temblor in 2010. "There have been

some very successful forecasts based on the seismic gap theory," Wdowinski said.

Even without such forecasts, there are some basic things that can be done to

prepare for an earthquake. The Federal Emergency Management Agency

recommends that all families everywhere should have an emergency kit in their

home and car, and communicate with your loved ones a plan for any type of disaster

(not just for earthquakes). Such preparation can make a difference not only

physically, but also emotionally.

If you live in known earthquake territory, make sure your shelves are firmly

attached to the walls, with heavy objects on lower shelves. Keep heavy objects away

from beds and sitting areas, and fasten fixtures such as large televisions to the walls.

Locate a safe place in each room, under a sturdy desk or table, where you can seek

refuge from falling objects. Reinforced doorways can be a safe shelter, but most

indoor doorways are not strong enough; a sturdy desk is likely to provide more

protection, according to the U.S Geological Survey.

"Earthquakes don't kill, buildings kill," Wdowinski said.

If you are outside, get into an open area, away from structures or bridges.

According to FEMA, many deaths in the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred

when people ran outside, only to be crushed by falling debris from collapsing

structures. Remember that the shaking ground rarely causes injury or death; instead,

it is the falling objects that result from the quake. If you are in a car, stop as soon as

you are able, but stay inside the car. If you are at or near the beach, move quickly

inland to avoid potential waves from tsunamis.

After an earthquake, proceed with caution. Remember that most earthquakes

are generally followed by aftershocks. Keep an eye (and a nose) out for gas leaks. If
you were inside during the quake, move outside. Listen for public service

announcements; a battery-powered radio is ideal for your emergency kit.

Great San Francisco Fire and Earthquake - April 18, 1906

Credit: Records of the Office of the Chief Skinal Officer

Famous quakes

1811-1812 — Missouri. In the early 19th century, the New Madrid series of

earthquakes rattled the central United States. No seismographs existed at the time, so

researchers used historical eyewitness accounts to determine that the magnitudes of

the quakes ranged between 7 and 8. Huge waves formed on the Mississippi, causing

some portions of the river to appear to flow backward.

1906 — San Francisco, California, Magnitude: 8. About 3,000 people died

from the earthquake, on the San Andreas Fault, and resulting fire.

1923 — Tokyo, Japan, Magnitude: 7.9. One of the world's most destructive

earthquakes, more than 142,000 people died from collapsing buildings and the

resulting firestorm. The quake also resulted in enormous tsunami waves.

1960 — Chile, Magnitude: 9.5. The largest earthquake ever recorded, the 1960

quake in Chile killed more than 1,600 people, with many of the deaths resulting from

tsunamis. Waves reached 38 feet (11.5 meters) and carried debris as far as 2 miles

(3.2 kilometers) inland.

1970 — Peru, Magnitude: 7.9. Approximately 66,000 people died, many

from collapsed buildings and a post-earthquake avalanche.

2004 — Indonesia, Magnitude: 9.1. The third largest earthquake in the world in this

century, the quake killed more than 227,000 people. Powerful tsunami waves

crisscrossed the Indian Ocean and ravaged 12 Asian countries.

2011 — Japan, Magnitude: 9.0. More than 15,000 people were killed when

an earthquake in northern Japan triggered a giant tsunami. The tsunami also

overwhelmed a nuclear reactor, creating new problems for people in the midst of

destruction. [Japan Earthquake & Tsunami]

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are the result of plate tectonics, or shifting plates in the crust of

Earth, and quakes occur when the frictional stress of gliding plate boundaries builds

and causes failure at a fault line. In an earthquake, elastic strain energy is released

and waves radiate, shaking the ground. Scientists can predict where major temblors

might occur in a general sense, but research does not yet allow forecasts for specific

locations or accurate predictions of timing. Major earthquakes, some generating

tsunamis, have leveled entire cities and affected whole countries. Relatively minor

earthquakes can also be induced, or caused by human activity, including extraction

of minerals from Earth and the collapse of large buildings.