Class: Grade 9

Date: March 2020

Subject: Geography

Topic: Earthquakes

What is and earth quake

Earthquakes are sudden earth movements or vibrations in the earth’s crust.

How are they caused?

1. The Development of faults or crack in the crust as a result of collision between crustal
plates.
2. Movement of molten rocks below or within the crust
3. The sudden release of stress which has slowly build up along the fault line

Structure of a volcano

Focus: The point underground where the earthquake shock wave originate.

Epicenter: The point on the surface directly above the epicenter that experiences the greatest
seismic waves.

Seismic waves: Series of shocks that decreases in strength as you move further away from the
epicenter.
 How are earthquakes measured?

Two variables are measures the intensity and the magnitude.

The seismograph is used to record the intensity of an earthquake’s vibrations.

The Richter scale indicates the magnitude that is the strength of force of earthquakes.

Example of a Richter scale

 Recent Earthquakes in the Caribbean

Country Year Magnitude

Jamaica 2020 7.7
Puerto Rico 2020 6.4
Cayman Islands 2020 7.7
Cuba 2020 7.7
Venezuela 2018 7.3
Trinidad 2018 7.3
Haiti 2010 7.0
Martinique 2007 7.4
Dominica 2004 6.3
Guadeloupe 2004 6.3
Indonesia 2004 9.0
Dominican republic 2003 6.4

Effects of an Earthquake

1. Destruction of property
2. Loss of lives
3. Diseases
4. Landslides
5. Disruption in communication
6. Fires
7. Tsunami
8. Injures
9. Destruction or damage to infrastructure
10. Changes in land scape