EARTHQUAKE

(A NATURAL CALAMITY)
 What is Disaster?
A disaster whether natural or human induced, is an event
which results in widespread human loss. It is accompanied
by loss of livelihood, property causing suffering and loss in a
definite area.

Slow onset Disaster: Drought, Environmental

Degradation, pest infestation, famine.

Rapid onset Disaster: Earthquake, Cyclone,

floods, Volcanic Eruption.
 Disaster Management

Disaster Management covers the range of activities

designed to maintain control over disasters/emergency
situations and to provide a framework for helping
people to avoid, reduce the effects of, or recover from
impact of disaster.
 What are Earthquakes?
The shaking or trembling caused by the sudden
release of energy
Usually associated with faulting or breaking of
rocks
Continuing adjustment of position results in
aftershocks
 CAUSES
When the plates try to slide past each other. The boundaries
(rough edges) of the plates get interlocked due to friction. The
rest of the plates keeps moving. This cause a tension to build up
in the plates. When the force of moving plates overcomes the
friction of the edges, all the stored energy gets released. The
earth shakes at this point . The vibrations at the point of the
release of energy gives rise to seismic waves.
 Measuring and locating
earthquakes
Earthquakes can be recorded by seismometers up to great
distances, because seismic waves travel through the whole
Earth's interior. The absolute magnitude of a quake is
conventionally reported by numbers on the Moment magnitude
scale (formerly Richter scale, magnitude 7 causing serious
damage over large areas), whereas in 1994 Northridge, CA
earthquake, magnitude 6.7 is reported using the modified
Mercalli intensity scale
 Location & Frequency
It is estimated that around 500,000 earthquakes occur
each year, detectable with current instrumentation. About
100,000 of these can be felt. Minor earthquakes occur
nearly constantly around the world in places like
California and Alaska in the U.S., as well as in Mexico,
Guatemala, Chile, Peru, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, the
Azores in Portugal, Turkey, New Zealand, Greece, Italy,
and Japan, but earthquakes can occur almost anywhere,
including New York City, London, and Australia.
Most of the world's earthquakes (90%, and 81% of the
largest) take place in the 40,000 km long, horseshoe-
shaped zone called the circum-Pacific seismic belt, known
as the Pacific Ring of Fire, which for the most part bounds
the Pacific Plate. Massive earthquakes tend to occur along
other plate boundaries, too, such as along the Himalayan
Mountains.
Where Do Earthquakes Occur and How Often?
~80% of all earthquakes occur in the circum-Pacific belt
 most of these result from convergent margin activity
 ~15% occur in the Mediterranean-Asiatic belt
 remaining 5% occur in the interiors of plates and on spreading ridge
centers
 more than 150,000 quakes strong enough to be felt are recorded each year
 Damage in Oakland, CA,
Shaking and ground rupture are 1989
the main effects created by
earthquakes, principally
resulting in more or less
severe damage to buildings
and other rigid structures.
Earthquakes can cause fires
by damaging electrical power
or gas lines.
If the earthquake happen to be
beneath ocean floor, they can
lead to tsunami
What are the Destructive Effects of Earthquakes?
 Ground Shaking
 amplitude, duration, and damage increases in poorly
consolidated rocks
 Latest Earthquake
RAJKOT: At least four earthquake aftershocks occurred on Friday
morning in Kutch region, two days after an earthquake measuring 5 on
Richter scale jolted several parts of Gujarat on early June 20 morning.
All the four aftershocks occurred on Friday were of the low intensity
measuring below 3 on Richter scale.
 Earlier, on Thursday, 10 earthquake aftershocks occurred in Saurashtra
and Kutch region. According to Institute of Seismological Research
(ISR), Gandhinagar, the four aftershocks were mainly occurred near
Dholavira and Rapar of Kutch region.
Can Earthquakes be Predicted?
Earthquake Prediction Programs
 include laboratory and field studies of rocks before, during,
and after earthquakes
 monitor activity along major faults
 produce risk assessments
 Safety Precautions during
earthquake
If you are indoors,
1)Drop,cover and hold on. Get under a table or bench, hold on to one
of the legs and close your eyes.

2)If there is no table or desk, sit against a wall from things that might
fall on you and away from windows, bookcases or tall, heavy
furniture.

3)Wait in your safety spot until the shaking stops and then check to
see if you are hurt. Check others around you too. Move carefully
and look out for fallen things.

If you are outdoor,

1)Find a clear spot, away from buildings, trees etc.
2) Do not come out if in a moving vehicle
 Safety Precautions after
earthquake
1) Stay calm for a while
2) Help the injured ones.
3) Stay away from damaged areas
4) Use telephones only in emergency
5) Beware of possible Tsunami, if you live in coastal
area
 Mitigation Measures
 Engineered structures should be designed and
built to withstand ground shaking.
 Architectural and engineering inputs need to be
put together to improve building design and
construction practice.
 Soil type must be analyzed before construction
and structures must not be built on soft soil.
Thank
You!