Earthquakes

-Ground vibrations caused by volcanic activity or the sudden release of built-up stress in
the solid part of the earth (lithosphere)
-Common types are tectonic and volcanic
Tectonic earthquakes
- Occur when rocks break suddenly due to geological forces underneath the earth
-Originate from a depth of about 15 to 50 km below the earth’s surface
-Occur along faults where rocks are more rigid and brittle and are capable of breaking
and slipping suddenly
-After an earthquake occurs the fault surfaces interlock again by friction and
cementation. Pressure may build up and in time another earthquake may occur. The
point at which the first movement occurs is called focus and the point directly above the
focus is called the epicenter.
Volcanic earthquakes
-Associated with movements of magma or molten rock materials within volcanoes or by
the welling up of magma to the earth’s surface
Locations and Frequency
-Earthquake can occur in any region of the earth
-although major earthquake epicenters are nearly concentrated in two linear belts –
areas of crustal weakness where movement of the earth’s crust is evident and highly
deformed.
- One belt encircle the Pacific where 90% of large earthquakes occur. It extends from
Chile through Peru, Central America, Mexico, California, then through the Aleutian
Islands, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand and certain Pacific Island groups.
-Second belt includes the Mediterranean areas including North Africa, Alpine regions of
Europe and a section across Asia
-Areas outside the earthquake belts are not entirely free from tremors
Volcanic Eruptions
-Volcanic activity is associated with magma extrusion
-Mostly occur very close to plate boundaries where subduction zones are found.
Example is the Pacific ocean referred to as Ring of Fire where Philippines is found –
made it an earthquake-prone country with 46 volcanoes, 14 of which are considered
active
Environmental Effects of Volcanic Eruptions
-The ejected lava solidifies while in air, then falls back to the ground as solid particles
called pyroclastic – these particles come in different sizes and shapes as ash, bombs
and blocks
-Gaseous materials emitted can be relatively harmless (e.g. steam and carbon dioxide)
or deadly (e.g. carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric and
hydrofluoric acid and ammonium chloride
-Large quantities of volcanic ash and gases released into the atmosphere take years to
settle down – partially block sunlight causing the lowering of atmospheric temperature
-Volumes of sulfuric gases produce clouds of sulfuric acid droplets which block sunlight
and fall back to earth as acid rain.
-Solar energy reaching the earth becomes lower in intensity every after great eruption
-Dust particles can act as nuclei for moisture condensation in the atmosphere
increasing potential rainfall and snow
-Carbon dioxide contributed to the greenhouse effect that tends to raise atmospheric
temperature
-Volcanic ash and other pyroclastic materials create temporary devastation of
agricultural areas – must undergo physical or chemical weathering before they can be
formed as soil
- Volcanic materials can turn low-productive lands into highly productive agricultural
areas.
Some large plantations are near active volcanoes.
-Volcanic soils contain high proportions of calcium, nitrogen, magnesium and
phosphorus
-Volcanic activity provides geothermal energy
Typhoons and Floods
-Typhoons are tropical cyclones characterized as large violent whirlwinds that originate
over the Pacific ocean within the region between 5 and 20 degrees latitudes north
-Hurricanes are tropical cyclones when they originate from the Atlantic ocean and
Australian coasts
Classified according to wind speed:
Tropical Depression – maximum winds of not more than 63 kph
Tropical Storm – wind speed ranges from 63 to 118 kph
Typhoon – wind speed is more than 118 kph
Winds of 240 kph or more are common to typhoons when approaching the shores
Energy source of typhoon
-Oceans and seas are essential to the formation and continual existence of typhoons
-When the sun’s radiation heats up the earth’s surface, water evaporates into the
atmosphere.
-Great amount of heat energy is absorbed during evaporation, locked in the water vapor
in the form of latent heat.
-During condensation, latent heat is released into the atmosphere which become the
very source of energy for typhoons.

 When typhoon moves over land it weakens due to less supply of water vapor