Module 1:

Faults & Earthquakes

LEARNING COMPET ENC IES:
S8ES-II15–

S8ES-IIA-15 -DIFFERENT IAT E T HE

1.) EPIC ENT ER OF AN EARTHQUA KE FROM ITS FOCUS;
2.) INT ENSIT Y OF AN EARTHQUAKE FROM ITS MAGNIT UDE
Earthquakes
How faults generate an earthquake?
 Energy from inside the Earth exert a force on the rocks
along faults.
 But the rocks do not move right away because of friction.
 The roughness of the rocks keep them from slipping past
each other.
 When the limit is reached, the rocks suddenly slip,
causing earthquake.
Focus & Epicenter
Where does an earthquake start?
Focus & Epicenter
 The upper part of the model represents the surface of the Earth.
 The trace of the fault on the surface of the Earth is called the
fault line.
 The flat surface between the two pieces is called the fault plane.
This is where fault slip or fault movement happens.
 The place where the fault begins to slip is called the focus
(hypocenter). Thus, the focus is the origin of the earthquake.
 The spot directly above the focus on the surface of the Earth is
called the epicenter.
 Fault Scarp is the slope created by motion along a fault.
How would the surroundings be
affected by an earthquake?
SEISMIC WAVES:
• As an earthquake occurs, seismic waves move out in all
directions from the focus.
• The energy released during an earthquake is carried by
vibrations called SEISMIC WAVES.
• As the rocks break and move, potential energy is
transformed into kinetic energy in the form of seismic
waves.
Measuring Earthquakes
Measuring earthquakes
• RICHTER SCALE
-- rates earthquakes based on measurement of the times
and amplitudes of seismic waves by certain seismograph.
• MOMENT MAGNITUDE SCALE
-- gives measure of the amount of energy released by an
earthquake.
• MODIFIED MERCALLI SCALE
-- rates the effects of earthquakes, which ranges from 1- 12, is
based on observations of the intensity of ground shaking and
damage in the areas affected by an earthquake.
How strong is the earthquake?
 An earthquake maybe described in two ways:
• Intensity
• Magnitude
 PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology – uses the PEIS (PHIVOLCS Earthquake
Intensity Scale) to describe the intensity of
earthquakes in the Philippines.
 Intensity I to X.
How strong is the earthquake?
PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS)
• Intensity I – Scarcely Perceptible
• Intensity II – Slightly Felt
• Intensity III – Weak
• Intensity IV – Moderately Strong
• Intensity V – Strong
• Intensity VI – Very Strong
• Intensity VII – Destructive
• Intensity VIII – Very Destructive
• Intensity IX – Devastating
• Intensity X – Completely Devastating
 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity
Scale (PEIS)
I Scarcely perceptible
• Delicately balanced objects are disturbed slightly.
• Still water in containers oscillates slowly.
II Slightly felt
• Felt by few individuals at rest indoors.
• Hanging objects swing slightly.
• Still water in containers oscillates noticeably.
 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity
Scale (PEIS)
III Weak
• Felt by many people indoors, especially in upper floors.
• Hanging objects swing moderately.
• Still water in containers oscillates moderately.
• Feels like a light truck passing by.
IV Moderately strong
• Felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors.
• Hanging objects swing considerably.
• Motorcars may rock slightly.
• Liquids in containers are slightly disturbed.
• Water in containers oscillates strongly.
• A rumbling sound may sometimes be heard.
• Feels like a heavy truck passing by.
 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity
Scale (PEIS)
V Strong
• Felt by most people indoors and outdoors.
• A strong shaking and rocking is felt throughout building.
• Hanging objects swing violently.
• Small, light, and unstable objects may fall or overturn.
• Liquids spill from filled open containers.
• Vehicles rock noticeably.
• Leaves and twigs of trees shake.
 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity
Scale (PEIS)
VI Very Strong
• Furniture and other heavy objects are displaced.
• Wall plaster may crack.
• People may lose balance.
• Small church bells may ring.
• If on the road, it may feel like driving with flat tires.
• Very old or poorly built houses and man-made structures are slightly
damaged though well-built structures are not affected.
• Limited rockfalls and rolling boulders occur in hilly to mountainous areas
and escarpments.
• Trees shake .
 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity
Scale (PEIS)
VIIDestructive
• Heavy objects and furniture overturn or topple.
• Difficulty standing on upper floors.
• Old or poorly-built structures suffer considerable damage.
• Some well-built structures are slightly damaged.
• Some cracks may appear on dikes, fishponds, road surface, or
concrete hollow block walls.
• Limited liquefaction, lateral spreading and landslides are
observed.
• Trees shake noticeably.
 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity
Scale (PEIS)
VIII Very Destructive
• People will find it difficult to even stand outdoors.
• Many well-built buildings are considerably damaged.
• Concrete dikes and the foundations of bridges are destroyed by ground settling or
toppling.
• Railway tracks are bent or broken.
• Utility posts, towers, and monuments may tilt or topple.
• Water and sewer pipes may be bent, twisted, or broken.
• Liquefaction and lateral spreading cause manmade structures to sink, tilt, or topple.
• Numerous landslides and rockfalls occur in mountainous and hilly areas.
• Boulders are thrown out from their positions particularly near the epicenter.
• Fissures and faults rupture.
• Trees shake violently.
• Water splashes over dikes or the banks of rivers.
 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity
Scale (PEIS)
IX Devastating
• People are forced to the ground.
• Most buildings are totally damaged.
• Bridges and elevated concrete structures are toppled or destroyed.
• Numerous utility posts, towers, and monuments are tilted, toppled, or broken.
• Sewer pipes are bent, twisted or broken.
• Landslides and liquefaction with lateral spreadings and sandboils are
widespread.
• The ground is distorted into undulations.
• Trees are shaken very violently with some toppled or broken.
• Boulders are commonly thrown out.
• River water splashes violently or slops over dikes and banks.
 PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity
Scale (PEIS)
X Completely Devastating
• Many trees are toppled, broken, and uprooted.
• Practically all man-made structures are destroyed.
• Massive landslides and liquefaction, large-scale
subsidence and the uplifting of land forms and many
ground fissures are observed.
• Changes in river courses and destructive seiches in large
lakes occur.
How strong is the earthquake?
Intensity:
 Give us the idea of how strong or weak the shaking is.
 Determined by observing the effects of the earthquake
in different places.
 Houses, buildings, and other structures are inspected.
 People are interviewed about what they saw (the
cabinet fell over), how they felt (I was frightened), or
what they did (I ran out of the house).
How strong is the earthquake?
Magnitude:
 The released energy can be calculated
 The greater the magnitude, the stronger the
earthquake.
How strong is the earthquake?