Notes 2: EARTHQUAKE

 Tectonic earthquake - earthquake caused by movement of plates or shifting of faults

 The strength of the earthquake is measured by its intensity and magnitude.
 Intensity – measuring the earthquake in terms of damage done on the surroundings. Uses Mercalli scale.
 Modified Mercalli Scale - which was revised by an Italian volcanologist Giuseppe Mercalli from the original
widely used simple ten-degree Rossi- Forel scale to twelve-degrees. The ratings are expressed in Roman
Numerals ranging from 1 (no damage) to XII (greatest destruction).
 Magnitude - measuring the earthquake in terms of energy released or size. Uses Richter scale.
 Richter scale - based on seismological records and expressed in numerical value- whole number and decimal
fractions. Developed in 1935 by an American seismologist, Charles Richter and his friend, Beno Gutenberg.
 Seismic wave – a wave of acoustic energy that travels through the Earth
 Seismographs – are instruments used to record the motion of the ground during an earthquake
 Tsunami - huge waves displaced by earthquakes
 PHIVOLCS – government agency in charge of monitoring earthquake activities.
 What to do before, during, and after an earthquake is part of the Earthquake Preparedness Guide which can be
downloaded from the PHIVOLCS website.
 It is very important to participate in earthquake drills for preparedness.

(PEIS) PHIVOLCS Description Damage Richter Magnitude Effects

Earthquake Intensity Scale
Mercalli Scale

I Scarcely perceptible None 0-2 Not felt

II Slightly felt None 2-3 Felt little
III Weak None 3-4 Ceiling lights swing
IV Moderately Strong None 4-5 Walls crack
V Strong Very light 5-6 Furniture moves
VI Very strong Light 6-7 Some buildings
collapse
VII Destructive Moderate 7-8 Many buildings
destroyed
VIII Very Destructive Heavy 8-up Total destruction of
buildings, bridges
and roads
IX Devastating Heavy
X Completely Very Heavy
Devastating
Notes 3:
 An active fault is one that has moved in the past and is expected to move again. Has seismic activity during the
last 10,000 years.
 Inactive faults are structures that we can identify, but which do not have earthquakes. No seismic activity in the
last 10 years.
 Scientists’ ways to find out if a fault is active: checking the country’s historical records, studying the vibrations,
past and present, that come from faults and by observing the surroundings.
 5 active fault line in the Philippines: Western Philippine fault, Easter Philippine fault, Marikina Valley Faultline,
Central Philippine fault, and South of Mindanao fault
 Studying seismic waves gives scientist an image like an ultrasound of the layers of the Earth.
 Layers of the earth:
 Crust – solid outermost layer of the Earth made of solid rocks and minerals
 Mantle – mostly solid rock thickest layer of the Earth’s interior composed of hot, dense rock
 Outer Core- fluid layer composed mostly of iron and nickel
 Inner Core- solid hot, dense ball of mostly iron
 Seismic waves are recorded in a seismograph
 Seismic waves are usually generated by tectonic plate movement or earthquakes when rocks within break
producing a tremendous amount of energy
 Seismic comes from the Greek word “seismo” which means earthquake.
 Body waves originate from the focus, travel through Earth’s interior before the surface waves. These waves
have higher frequency than surface waves which can only move along very near the earth’s surface.
 2 Types of Body Waves: Primary waves (P-waves), Secondary waves (S-waves)
 Primary waves (P-waves) - Also known as compressional or longitudinal waves, are the fastest seismic waves
penetrating the gases, fluid, and solid rocks and first waves detected by the seismograph. They can travel as fast
as 1 to 5 miles per second in Earth’s crust.
 Secondary waves (S-waves) are transverse waves or shear waves that follow the P-waves, second to arrive at
seismic recording station, travel half the speed of P-waves but can be more dangerous due to larger amplitude
causing the ground to rapidly split and move in different direction.
 Surface waves are easily distinguished on a seismogram for being the last waves that arrive due to their lower
frequency and lesser velocity. They cause more destruction because of the long duration and larger amplitude of
the waves. These waves are to blame for most of earthquake’s effect to the people and to their properties.
 2 Basic Types of Surface Waves: Love waves (L waves), Rayleigh waves (R waves)
 Love waves (L waves) - named after British mathematician, Augustus Edward Hough Love. These waves are
similar to S-waves in terms of its shearing motion. They move the ground horizontally, which damages the
foundations of structures. Third conspicuous wave detected by the seismograph.
 Rayleigh waves (R waves) slower than the L waves thus, have lower velocity. Described in 1885 by Lord Rayleigh.
These waves exist at any free surface in a continuous body; they may be generated by large earthquakes moving
in rolling motion. However, when these waves emanate from the epicenter, the waves travel along Earth’s
surface at about ten times the speed of sound waves.