MALING, CLEO MURIEL P.

22-06007
BSCE-2203 March 22, 2024

Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior

What is Earthquake? A sudden, strong shaking of the ground brought on by volcanic
activity or movements in the earth's crust, which can occasionally cause massive destruction.
Because crust is brittle and does not flow like asthenosphere, when it breaks, it tends to return
to its original shape. Massive earthquakes cause seismic waves, which are enormous amounts
of stored energy.
Causes of Earthquake:
• Energy from large-scale landslides, volcanic eruptions, and meteorite impacts produce
earthquake-like seismic waves.
• Fossils of marine life found thousands of meters above sea level indicate significant upward
movement of Earth's crust.

Aftershocks & Foreshocks. Aftershocks are secondary earthquakes, smaller but damaging,
following a major event, while foreshocks indicate a larger earthquake's potential for a more
significant tremor.
Faults & Large Earthquakes. 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. Geologists have discovered that displacement along
significant faults occurs along distinct fault segments, each exhibiting unique behavioral
patterns.
Seismology. A seismograph is a tool that records seismic waves, producing seismograms,
which are graphs that show ground motion at a measuring station over time, primarily
focusing on body and surface waves.
Size of an Earthquake. Scientists determine earthquake size using intensity and magnitude,
focusing on property damage and energy release, respectively.