3.

Endogenic forces: Earthquakes and Volcanoes

We have learnt that the crustal or tectonic plates float on the molten magma in the
asthenosphere. Movements of these plates give rise to changes on the earth surface
as well as inside it. But this is not the only reason that affects it. There are external
factors also, such as erosion that leads to changes on the earth’s surface.

Forces which affect the earth’s surface from inside are called Endogenic forces. They
change the face of the earth’s surface with sudden movements. Forces which affect
the earth’s surface from the outside are called Exogenic forces. They change the
face of earth surface very slowly. We will study about them in the next chapter.

Endogenic forces result in sudden changes like

earthquakes and volcanic eruptions which are
the most spectacular and dangerous of all
natural hazards. They happen all the time and
scientists continuously record and measure
them.
Natural hazards are extreme
natural events that can cause loss of life,
extreme damage to property and disrupt
human activities.

What is an earthquake?
Have you ever been in an earthquake? An earthquake is a movement or shaking of
the ground. They are vibrations inside the Earth that follow the release of energy
that has built up inside rocks. Earthquakes happen when huge pieces of Earth’s crust
move suddenly and give off energy. They are caused by movements deep below the
surface. When the crustal plates push against each other, they build up an
enormous amount of pressure. The sudden movement of crustal plates causes an
earthquake. They last only a few seconds but can be very damaging. Earthquakes
are so powerful that buildings collapse, dams burst, bridges fall and communication
is disrupted. If an earthquake is intense, fires break out as electricity wires and gas
pipe lines are broken and they come into contact. Landslides may also occur.
Seismology is the study of earthquakes. Scientists who study earthquakes are called
seismologists.

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Where do most earthquakes happen?
You might think, "If an earthquake only happens in one
place, how can you feel it hundreds of miles away"?
Most earthquakes happen at places where two tectonic
plates touch. Tectonic plates are always moving. The
movements of the plates cause Earth’s rocky crust to
break. A place where the crust is broken is called a
fault. Earthquakes happen when rock breaks and slides
along a fault. A lot of energy is given off. This energy
travels through the earth in the form of waves called
seismic waves. Fig. 1: San Andreas fault line

The place inside the earth where the rock

first breaks is called the earthquake’s focus.
It is the exact point where the earthquake
started and is usually many miles/kilometers
below the surface of the Earth. Scientists
also try and locate where the epicenter. The
epicenter is the place on the earth’s surface
that is right above the focus.
Fig. 2: Focus and epicenter of an earthquake

How do scientists study earthquakes?

Scientists who study earthquakes use an important
tool called a seismograph. A seismograph records
vibrations that are caused by seismic waves. When the
waves from an earthquake reach a seismograph, it
records them as lines on a chart called a seismogram.
Scientists study seismograms to find out how much
the ground moved during an earthquake.
Fig. 3: Seismogram of an earthquake

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What Is the Magnitude of an Earthquake?
Scientists measure the earthquakes using the Richter scale. This scale was invented
in 1934 by Californian seismologist, Charles Richter. The Richter scale is used to
describe the strength, or magnitude, of an earthquake on a scale ranging from 0 to
10, as measured on a seismograph. Each level recorded on the Richter scale is 10
times stronger than the previous level.

Fig.4: Earthquake magnitudes on Richter scale Fig.5: A seismograph instrument

What is a volcano?
When you think of a volcano, what comes into your mind? Most people think of a
steep mountain with smoke coming out. In fact, a volcano is an opening on the
earth’s crust from where the molten rocks (magma) erupt through the surface. Once
the magma erupts through the earth's surface, it is called lava. When a volcano
erupts lava, ash, rocks and gases come out through the opening with gigantic
fireworks and explosion.

Where do the volcanoes occur?

Scientists still find it difficult to predict exactly where and when an eruption will
happen. Volcanic eruptions do not occur just anywhere on the earth’s surface but
they are confined to certain areas.

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The crust of the earth is broken into huge pieces called plates. These plates move
around very slowly. Their edges meet at plate boundaries. Most of the volcanoes
maybe found where plates either come together or move apart. At these places, the
earth’s crust is weak, and red-hot molten rock underneath the crust forces its way
upwards. On reaching the surface it erupts to form a volcano.
Most volcanoes occur in narrow belts or are grouped together in small clumps. One
belt runs all the way around the edge of Pacific Ocean and is called the Ring of Fire.

Fig.6: The Ring of Fire

Structure of a Volcano
If you could look inside an erupting volcano, it would look similar to the figure
below. Below the volcano is a body of magma called a magma chamber. The magma
from the magma chamber rises to the surface and erupts at the volcano. Magma
escapes from the volcano through openings in the earth’s crust called vents. When
magma flows onto the Earth’s surface, it is called lava.
At the top of the volcano, at its highest point, is a crater or the mouth of the
volcano. Some volcanoes have a bigger mouth called a caldera. A caldera forms
when a volcano gets hollow and then collapses on itself. Some volcanoes erupt with
lot of pressure and large amounts of pyroclastic materials which include volcanic
ash, stones, volcanic dust, lava and sometimes even huge rocks and boulders fly out.
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 Fig.7: Structure of Volcano

The word Pyroclastic is derived from the Greek word pý͜yr meaning
‘fire’ and klastós meaning ‘broken in pieces’. It is formed when magma
explodes from a volcano.

Reference:
http://www.geography4kids.com
HOLT Interactive Earth Science Textbook

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Key words:
Key words What do I understand

Seismic waves

Focus

Epicenter

Vent

Crater

Caldera

Pyroclastic