CASTILLO, AUGUSTO LOUISE C.

22-09102

BSCE-2203 March 22, 2024

LECTURE 4: Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior

TRIVIAS.

Japan lies between the Pacific Plate and Eurasian Plate, that is to why Japan experiences many earthquakes. Half
a million earthquakes occur per year, as estimated by (U.S.G.S) U.S Geological Survey. Earthquakes can change
the length of the day because NASA says that large earthquakes can shift Earth’s axis. In addition, if the axis is
affected, the sunlight that the Earth receives will also be affected.

WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE?

A sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements
within the earth's crust or volcanic action. Crust does not flow like asthenosphere, it is brittle and that is to why
if it breaks, its tendency is to go back to its original shape. Large earthquakes release huge amounts of stored up
energy as seismic waves.

DISCOVERING THE CAUSES OF EARTHQUAKES

The seismic waves resembling earthquakes can be generated by the energy released from volcanic eruptions,
extensive landslides, and meteorite impacts. The discovery of marine organism fossils thousands of meters
above sea level indicates significant upward movement of large sections of the Earth's crust. The dynamic nature
of Earth is evidenced by the discovery of marine organism fossils thousands of meters above sea level,
indicating substantial upward movement of large sections of the Earth's crust.

AFTERSHOCKS AND FORESHOCKS

Aftershocks are secondary earthquakes that follow a major seismic event, typically smaller in magnitude but
still capable of causing damage while foreshocks on the other hand is a seismic activity preceding a larger
earthquake, often indicating the potential for a more significant tremor.

FAULTS AND LARGE EARTHQUAKE

The slippage that occurs along faults can be explained by the plate tectonics theory. There are three types of
faults: Normal, Reverse, and Strike-slip. Hanging wall and foot wall are non-vertical faults.

FAULT RUPTURE & PROPAGATION

Through extensive examination of earthquakes worldwide, geologists have gleaned that displacement along
significant faults transpires along distinct fault segments, each exhibiting unique behavioral patterns.

SEISMOLOGY

Seismograph is an instrument that makes a record of seismic waves. Seismograms the records obtained from
seismographs A seismogram is a graph output by a seismograph that records the ground motion at a measuring
station as a function of time. The two main types of waves are called body waves and surface waves.

DETERMINING THE SIZE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

Scientists who study earthquakes use different methods to figure out how big an earthquake is. They look at two
main things: intensity and magnitude. Intensity is based on property damage while magnitude is based on the
amount of energy released.

EARTHQUAKE DESTRUCTION

Over 10,000 earthquakes occur in the Philippines since 1970. These result to geological hazards like:
Liquefaction, Tsunamis, and Earthquake-induced fires.