What is an Earthquake?

An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the earth due to the sudden release of energy in
the earth’s crust. As a result, seismic waves (also known as S waves) are created. The seismic
activities in an area determine the type and intensity of the earthquake.

What Causes an Earthquake?

Earthquakes are caused due to sudden tectonic movements in the earth’s crust. When the
tectonic plates slide over one another, there is a cause of orogeny which results in earthquakes
and volcanoes. These disturbances cause vibrations that spread in all directions. As there is a
relative motion of these plates, there is stress built up, which breaks by releasing the stored
energy known as shock waves.
What to do During an Earthquake?
Before the disaster:
Connections of gas lines and appliances must be made flexible.
An earthquake readiness plan must be kept ready, including locating a shelter house, canned
food and up to date first aid kit, gallons of water, dust masks, goggles, firefighting equipment, a
torch, and a working battery-operated radio.
Architects and structural engineers must be consulted before laying the foundation of buildings in
earthquake-prone areas. Also the building must be manufactured as per the rules and regulations
laid by the disaster management committee.
Awareness must be spread among friends and family members about the above-mentioned
measures.
Dos and Dont’s:
One must stay indoors until the shaking stops and it’s officially announced that it is safe to exit.
One must stay away from bookcases, furniture, and heavy appliances that may fall.
The shelter must be under a table or bed, and hold on to a post or any other fixture.
If one is outdoors, the shelter must be taken in a clear stop away from buildings, trees, and
power lines.
What are the Effects of an Earthquake?
Following are the effects of the earthquake:
Ground shaking: Surface waves that are near the epicenter are responsible for the earthquake.
The intensity of ground shaking depends on the duration, local geology, and distance.
Damage to a man-made structure.
An outbreak of fire and spilling of hazardous chemicals.
Mitigation measures
Common earthquake mitigation measures include:
• Structural mitigation measures to improve the capacity of a building to resist
seismic forces. Structural measures include improving the building elements
that hold up a building and resist lateral forces from winds and earthquakes,
including: foundations, columns, load-bearing walls, floor diaphragms, roof
diaphragms and the connections between these structural elements.
• Nonstructural mitigation measures to restrain, brace, anchor or otherwise

improve the seismic resistance of nonstructural building components such as

parapets, chimneys, non-load bearing walls, fire sprinkler systems, HVAC
systems, suspended ceilings and lights, windows, water heaters, furnaces, air
conditioners and emergency generators.
• Nonstructural mitigation measures to restrain, brace or anchor building
contents, especially tall and/or heavy items that pose life safety risks if they
fall, such as bookcases, file cabinets, storage shelves, computers, monitors,
televisions and others
.• Design and construction of a new facility to higher than the minimum seismic
standards required by building codes, especially for facilities that may serve as
emergency shelters.

• Practicing drop, hold and cover drills, which may reduce injuries from falling
objects, but which are not a substitute for other mitigation measures for
buildings with substantial structural seismic deficiencies and that may be
subject to collapse in major earthquakes

.
What is a Tsunami?
The series of extremely long waves, Tsunami are very long wavelengths of water caused by a
large and sudden displacement of the ocean due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions etc.
These are also called seismic sea waves and are one of the most powerful and destructive natural
forces.
When they reach the coast, they can cause dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents
that can last for several hours or days.
Most tsunamis are caused by large earthquakes. Though, not all earthquakes cause tsunamis.

Causes of Tsunami
How are Tsunami generated?

A Tsunami can be generated only through the vertical movement of the seafloor. Most Tsunamis
are generated by earthquakes. Volcanic eruption, underwater explosion, landslides and meteorite
impacts are some other causes of Tsunami.

The details of causes of Tsunami is explained below-

Earthquake – Tsunami is generated by the earthquake because of the disturbance of the seafloor
and is formed generally with vertical displacement. Most Tsunami is generated by earthquakes
that occur along the subduction boundaries of plates along the ocean trenches. The size of the
Tsunami is related to the size of the earthquake.

Underwater explosion – A Nuclear Testing by the US generated Tsunami in 1940 and 1950s in
Marshall island.
Volcanic eruption – Volcanoes that occur along the Coastal waters can cause several effects that
can cause a tsunami.

Landslides – Earthquake and volcanic eruptions generally generate landslides, these landslides
when moving into the Oceans, bays and lakes can generate Tsunami.

Meteorite Impacts – Though no historic example as such of meteorite impact has caused
Tsunami, the apparent impact of a meteorite about 5 million years ago produced Tsunami leaving
deposits along the Gulf Coast of Mexico and the United States.

Tsunami Risk, Hazard & Mitigation Measures

The main damage from the Tsunami comes from the destructive nature of waves. The second
effect of the Tsunami includes debris acting as projectiles and the tertiary effect includes the loss
of crops and water which leads to famine and disease.

Mitigation Measures

Effective Planning
The building of walls was done by Japan.
Planting trees as done in Tamil Nadu by a village
Proper relief and rehabilitation preparedness
Awareness among the masses

Valcanoes
Volcanoes are ruptures in the crust of our planet Earth that allow hot gases, molten lava and
some rock fragments to erupt by opening and exposing the magma inside. In this piece of article,
we will be discussing how and why volcanoes erupt.

How Do Volcanoes Erupt?

It is so hot deep within the earth that some rocks slowly melt and turn into a thick flowing matter
known as magma. Since it is lighter than the solid rock around it, the magma rises and gets
collected in magma chambers. Eventually, some magma pushes through fissures and vents in the
earth’s surface. Hence, a volcanic eruption occurs and the erupted magma is known as lava.
Causes of valcanoes
We need to understand the Earth’s structure to know how volcanoes erupt. At the top lies the
lithosphere, being the outermost layer that consists of the upper crust and mantle. The thickness
of the crust ranges from 10km to 100km in mountainous locations and mainly consists of silicate
rock.

We know that the mantle of the Earth is too hot and the temperature ranges from 1000° Celsius
to 3000° Celsius. The rocks present inside melt due to high pressure and temperature. The
melted substance is light in weight. This thin lava comes up to the crust since it can float easily.
Since the density of the magma between the area of its creation and the crust is less than the
enclosed rocks, the magma gets to the surface and bursts.
The magma is composed of andesitic, and rhyolitic components along with water, sulfur dioxide,
and carbon dioxide in dissolved form. By forming bubbles, excess water is broken up with
magma. When the magma comes closer to the surface, the level of water decreases, and the
gas/magma rises in the channel. When the volume of the bubbles formed is about 75%, the
magma breaks into pyroclasts and bursts out.

Mitigation measures
One of the most effective ways of reducing the risk of a volcanic eruption is having an
evacuation plan. This involves ensuring evacuation strategies are in place along with
emergency shelter and food supplies being planned for.
Based on monitoring data, exclusion zones can be set up to ensure people are evacuated
from areas likely to be affected before an eruption.
Local people can also be educated about actions they can take to reduce the risk of loss of
life or injury.
People are taught that if they are unable to be evacuated what they should do to protect
themselves, e.g. go indoors to avoid falling ash and rock.