Earthquake
- An earthquake is a sudden
motion or trembling in the earth
caused by the abrupt release of
slowly accumulated energy.
Parts of Earthquake
Fault
- A fracture in the rocks that make up
the Earth’s crust
Epicenter
- The point at the surface of the Earth
above the focus
Plates
- Massive rocks that make up the outer
layer of the Earth’s surface and whose
movement along faults triggers
earthquakes
Seismic waves
- Waves that transmit the energy
released by an earthquake
Focus (Hypocenter)
- The point within the Earth where an
earthquake rupture starts
Types of Earthquakes
Tectonic Earthquake
The movement of tectonic plates occurs
in different forms; towards each other,
away from each other, sliding past each
other or colliding with each other.
 The main causes of earthquakes
are: Plate tectonics. They account
for most earthquakes worldwide
and usually occur at the boundaries
of tectonic plates.
Plate boundaries
a. Convergent Boundary
 (Also known as a destructive
boundary) is an area on Earth
where two or more lithospheric
plates collide. One plate eventually
slides beneath the other, a process
known as subduction.
b. Divergent Boundary
 (Also known as a constructive
boundary or an extensional
boundary) is a linear feature that
exists between two tectonic plates
that are moving away from each
other.
 Divergent boundaries within
continents initially produce rifts,
which eventually become rift
valleys. Most active divergent plate
boundaries occur between oceanic
plates and exist as mid-oceanic
ridges.
c. Transform Boundary
 Splits into pieces and carried in
opposite directions.
 A transform fault or transform
boundary, is a fault along a plate
boundary where the motion is
predominantly horizontal. It ends
abruptly where it connects to
another plate boundary, either
another transform, a spreading
ridge, or a subduction zone. A
transform fault is a special case of a
strike-slip fault that also forms a
plate boundary.
Volcanic Earthquakes
 Compared to tectonic
earthquakes, volcanic
earthquakes are less prevalent.
They typically take place before
or after an eruption.
 Volcanic earthquakes come in
two forms: long-period volcanic
earthquakes and volcano-
tectonic earthquakes.
Collapse Earthquakes
a.
Volcano-tectonic Earthquakes
 usually happen after a volcanic
eruption. During an earthquake,
magma erupts from inside the
earth’s crust leaving a space behind.
 The space left after magma eruption
must be filled. To fill it, rocks move
towards the space resulting in
severe earthquakes. On numerous
occasions, magma blocks the vents
during volcanic activity. This
means that high pressure fails to be
released.
 The buildup of pressure becomes
unbearable and releases itself with a
massive explosion. The massive
explosion results in a ruthless
earthquake.
b. Long Period of Volcanic
Earthquake
 takes place after a volcanic
eruption. Some days prior to the
massive explosion, the magma
inside the earth’s crust experiences
rapid changes in heat. The change
in heat triggers seismic waves,
resulting in an earthquake.
 These are caused by nuclear
explosions. They are,
essentially, man triggered kind
of earthquakes and represent the
biggest impact of modern-day
Explosion
nuclear Earthquakes
war. During the 1930s
nuclear tests conducted by the
United States, numerous small
towns and villages were
 These kindsasofa earthquakes
devastated result of thisare
generally
grave act.smaller and most
commonly occur near underground
mines. They are sometimes referred
to as mine bursts.
 Collapse earthquakes are instigated
by the pressure generated within the
rocks. This kind of earthquake leads
to the collapse of the roof of the
mine instigating more tremors.
Collapse earthquakes are prevalent
in small towns where underground
mines are located.
Causes
Volcanic
Eruption
- The magma's movement beneath the
surface of the Earth. These movements
result in pressure changes, now when
pressure changes the rocks around the
magma experience lots of stress and at
some point, the stress can cause a rock
to move or break causing an
earthquake.
- earthquake caused by a volcanic
eruption
Geographical Faults
- Faults is a fracture or a zone of
fracture between two blocks of rocks
and inside the faults are smaller rocks
that carry stress and just like in
volcanic earthquakes at some points
stress can cause a rock to move or
break.
Plate Tectonics
- Plate tectonics get stuck at their
edges due to friction. When the stress
on the edge overcomes the friction,
there is an earthquake that releases
energy in waves that travel through the
earth's crust and cause the shaking that
we feel.
Human Activities
- Human activities like nuclear
bombing and mining are major causes
of earthquakes. The displacement of
plates from their original position cause
earthquakes.
Effects
Soil Liquefaction
- Soil liquefaction occurs when a
cohesionless saturated or partially
saturated soil substantially loses
strength and stiffness in response to an
applied stress such as shaking during an
earthquake or other sudden change in
stress condition, in which material that
is ordinarily a solid behaves like a
liquid.
Landslides
- When an earthquake occurs, the
transmission of seismic waves can
cause shaking and vibration of ground
surface. This often trigger the collapse
of potential landslide areas, which is
known as earthquake-induced
landslide.
Fissures
- Ground fissure, also called an earth
fissure or simply a fissure, is a long,
narrow crack or linear opening in the
Earth's crust.
Avalanches
- The forces induced by an earthquake
can cause an increase in the load down
the slope and can also decrease the
shear strength and both effects can
cause the release of an avalanche. This
phenomenon represents an important
hazard associated with earthquakes in
snow-covered mountain areas with high
seismicity.
Fires
- Earthquake shaking causes
movement or damage of equipment and
contents. This movement can result in
released flammable gases or liquids and
other combustible material coming into
contact with ignition sources, such as
open flames or electrical arcing.
Tsunamis
- When a great earthquake ruptures,
the faulting can cause vertical slip that
is large enough to disturb the overlying
ocean, thus generating a tsunami that
will travel outwards in all directions.
Magnitude and
Density
Magnitude
 Quantitative (measurable)
 The amount of energy released by
an earthquake
 It can be recorded using an
instrument called Seismograph
 The strength of the earthquake can
be determined using the Richter's
Magnitude scale
 The Ritchter Magnitude Scale
named after a american
seismologist "Charles Richter"
 It does not vary with the distance
from the epicenter of the
earthquake
 It is written in Hindu Arabic
number and with decimal
Density
 Qualitative (describable)
 The strength of the earthquake to
the observer
 Can be determined from the
shaking and the damage produced
by an earthquake
 the severity of an earthquake can be
determined using "Mercalli
intensity scale"
 The Modified Mercalli Scale (MM)
It was developed by the Italian
volcanologist "Guiseppe
Mercalli"
 It varies on how close or far the
location is from the epicenter of the
earthquake
 It is written In Roman Numerals
The 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake
in Southern Mindanao with a
magnitude of 8.1 and which
claimed the lives of up to 8,000
persons is by far the worst
earthquake in the Philippines
with regard to strength of ground
shaking and death toll.
A large part of the deaths,
injuries, and missing persons
were presumably swept to the
sea and devoured by sharks as
the powerful earthquake was
tsunamigenic, or it generated a
tsunami. Both the earthquake and
subsequent tsunami struck while
the unsuspecting residents were
fast asleep.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE an
EARTHQUAKE?
 Make sure you have a fire
extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-
powered radio, a flashlight, and
extra batteries at home.
 Learn first aid.
 Learn how to turn off the gas,
water, and electricity when not in
use.
 Make up a plan of where to meet
your family after an earthquake.
 Don't leave heavy objects on
shelves (they'll fall during a quake).
 Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards,
and appliances to the walls or floor.
 Learn the earthquake plan at your
school or workplace. (Earthquake
Drills, etc.)
WHAT TO DO during an
EARTHQUAKE?
 Stay calm! If you're indoors, stay
inside. If you're outside, stay
outside.
 If you're indoors, stand against a
wall near the center of the building,
stand in a doorway, or crawl under
heavy furniture (a desk or table).
Stay away from windows and
outside doors.
 If you're outdoors, stay in the open
away from power lines or anything
that might fall. Stay away from
buildings (stuff might fall off the
building or the building could fall
on
 Don't use matches, candles, or any
flame. Broken gas lines and fire
don't mix.
 If you're in a car, stop the car and
stay inside the car until the
earthquake stops.
 Don't use elevators (they may shut
down).
WHAT TO DO after
an EARTHQUAKE?
 Check yourself and others for
injuries. Provide first aid for anyone
who needs it.
 Check water, gas, and electric lines
for damage. If any are damaged,
shut off the valves. Check for the
smell of gas. If you smell it, open
all the windows and doors, leave
immediately, and report it to the
authorities (use someone else's
phone).
 Turn on the radio. Don't use the
phone unless it's an emergency.
 Stay out of damaged buildings.
 Be careful around broken glass and
debris. Wear boots or sturdy shoes
to keep from cutting your feet.
 Stay away from beaches. Tsunamis
and seiches sometimes hit after the
ground has stopped shaking.
 stay away from damaged areas.
 If you're at school or work, follow
the emergency plan or the
instructions of the person in charge.
 EXPECT AFTERSHOCKS.