EARTHQUAKES

Melcs
 Describe and relate the distribution
of active volcanoes, earthquake
epicenters, and major mountain
belts to Plate Tectonic Theory
What is an Earthquake?
 An earthquake refers to the shaking of the earth’s
surface caused by a sudden release of energy
within the earth’s crust. This release of energy
generates seismic waves, commonly known as S
waves. The intensity and characteristics of an
earthquake are determined by the seismic
activities occurring in a specific region.
During an earthquake, energy
travels through Earth in the form
of seismic wave.
 The point within Earth where the rocks
break and where seismic energy is first
released is the focus or hypocenter. It is
found within the fault plane. The point
on the crust of Earth directly above the
focus is the epicenter.
The focus of an earthquake is found at
different depths and is classified as
shallow (10 to 100 km), intermediate (70
to 300 km), or deep (300 km or deeper).
Earthquakes from shallow epicenters
originate from a much closer distance to
Earth's crust.
They cause the most damage since energy
is more concentrated and seismic waves
travel faster through a shorter distance in
all directions to the surface. The
earthquakes are strongest at the epicenter
that an any other point on Earth’s surface,
since it is directly above the source of the
rupture.
 Underwater earthquakes associated
with oceanic-continental subduction
subduction cause a vertical
movement of the sea floor. Those
greater than magnitude 7 and whose
focus is less than 30 km produce a
significant movement that generates
large ocean waves called tsunami.
Subduction occurs when an oceanic plate
runs into a continental plate and slides
beneath it.
 How are earthquake focus and
epicenter related?
Seismic waves are significant in studying
earthquakes. Primary and secondary waves help
scientists locate the epicenter of an earthquake.
During an earthquake, the seismic waves reach
Earth's surface at different times because P waves
travel faster than S waves. The difference in their
arrival time (recorded by seismograph) can be used
to help determine the distance of the epicenter. The
longer the time interval is, the farther is the
earthquake epicenter to a seismographic station.
To understand P waves, we have to first look into
the basics of seismology and seismic waves. The
waves of energy that travel through the earth and
cause earthquakes and related phenomena are
seismic waves. There are two types of
seismic waves :
1. Body waves
2. Surface waves
 Body waves are the waves that can travel through
the layers of the earth. They are the fastest waves
and as a result, the first waves that seismographs can
record. Body waves can move through all states of
matter including rocks and molten lava. Surface
waves can only travel on the surface of the earth.
Their frequency is lower than body waves.
Body Waves
Body waves can be further sub-categorized into
1. P waves (Primary waves)
2. S waves (Secondary waves)
 P Waves

 P waves, or Primary waves, are the first waves to arrive at a

seismograph. P waves are the fastest seismic waves and can
move through solid, liquid, or gas. They leave behind a trail
of compressions and rarefactions on the medium they move
through. P waves are also called pressure waves for this
reason. Certain animals, such as dogs, can feel the P waves
much before an earthquake hits the crust (surface waves
arrive). Humans can only feel the ramifications it has on the
crust.
S Waves

S waves, or secondary waves, are the second

waves to arrive during an earthquake. They
are much slower than P waves and can travel
only through solids. It is after studying the
trajectory of S waves through the layers of
earth, scientists were able to conclude that the
earth’s outer core is liquid.
An Earthquake That Shook the
Entire World
Referred to as the Great Chilean Earthquake, a 9.5-
megathrust earthquake hit Chile on May 22, 1960. It was the
strongest earthquake recorded in the twentieth century. Within
minutes of the earthquake, tsunamis with waves up to 11.5 m
high rampaged the Chilean coastline and moved westward
from Chile through the expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Within
15 hours, tsunamis reached Hawaii. Within 22 hours, the
waves hit Japan. The earthquake was tectonic in origin, which
was caused by the subduction movement of the Nazca Plate
beneath the South American Plate. The shifting of the
seafloor generated the tsunami.
What Causes an
Earthquake?
What to do During an
Earthquake?
What are the Effects of an
Earthquake?
 What is an earthquake?

 What causes an earthquake?

 What should I do during an earthquake?

 What should I do before an earthquake?

 What are the effects of an earthquake?

 What is the difference between a

seismograph and the Richter scale?