Professional Documents
Culture Documents
How Can Occur Earthquakes?: How Does A Volcano Erupt?
How Can Occur Earthquakes?: How Does A Volcano Erupt?
How Can Occur Earthquakes?: How Does A Volcano Erupt?
Tectonic earthquakes occur anywhere in the earth where there is sufficient stored elastic strain
energy to drive fracture propagation along a fault plane. The sides of a fault move past each other
smoothly and seismically only if there are no irregularities or asperities along the fault surface that
increase the frictional resistance. Most fault surfaces do have such asperities and this leads to a form
of stick-slip behaviour. Once the fault has locked, continued relative motion between the plates
leads to increasing stress and therefore, stored strain energy in the volume around the fault surface.
This continues until the stress has risen sufficiently to break through the asperity, suddenly allowing
sliding over the locked portion of the fault, releasing the stored energy.[2] This energy is released as
a combination of radiated elastic strain seismic waves, frictional heating of the fault surface, and
cracking of the rock, thus causing an earthquake. This process of gradual build-up of strain and stress
punctuated by occasional sudden earthquake failure is referred to as the elastic-rebound theory. It is
estimated that only 10 percent or less of an earthquake's total energy is radiated as seismic energy.
Most of the earthquake's energy is used to power the earthquake fracture growth or is converted
into heat generated by friction. Therefore, earthquakes lower the Earth's available elastic potential
energy and raise its temperature, though these changes are negligible compared to the conductive
and convective flow of heat out from the Earth's deep interior.[3]
There are plates that are always shifting around in the ground. They move 1cm every day. When the
plates collide, they make a big BOOM which cause the things in the volcano to heat up. Then the
heat pushes everything to the opening in the volcano which causes it to erupt and shoot out.
When two tectonic plates collide at a convergent boundary, the cooler plate is subducted. Flux
melting occurs as the subducting plate is heated. The molten material (magma) rises due to the
increase in the heat creating the volcano's vent. Once the magma reaches a holding chamber
beneath the earth's crust, it lies dormant until enough magma, water, and/or gas is introduced into
the chamber. The magmatic and gaseous pressures exceeding the chamber's holding capacity can
release through small fissures in the Earth's surface or erupt violently. Volcanic arcs are created
hundreds of kilometers from the plate collision site, on the overlying plate.
However, all floods are not alike. Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days. But
flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of
rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud, and other
debris and can sweep away most things in its path. Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river
or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be destructive. Flooding can also occur
when a dam breaks, producing effects similar to flash floods.
Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you live in a low-lying area,
near water or downstream from a dam. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry
streambeds, or low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood. Every state is at risk
from this hazard.
Floods happen when a watercourse overflows. They could be caused by rain, thaws or ice jams.
Heavy Rain When it rains, water falling on the ground penetrates it. But when the ground already
contains a lot of water, the falling rain could not seep through it. The water then starts flowing
toward a watercourse.
When it rains a lot on a region, all water flows toward the river, but this river cannot contain it;
therefore, the river overflows. Thaw When spring arrives, snow and ice start to melt and the water
flows toward the river. If the temperature rises too rapidly, a lot of water is produced in a short
time; the river overflows and a flood happens. Ice Jam In spring, rivers thaw out and big chunks of
ice detach themselves and drift on the river. Sometimes these chunks get jammed against a bridge
or rocks. Consequently, these chunks of ice form a kind of dam.
When water can not flow through this dam, it tries to find an alternate course to reach the river…
and, sometimes, this new course is a field, a road or a house basement.
The Waban-Aki is a hovercraft used by the Canadian Coast Guard for ice breaking operations, which
reduce flood risks. Power shovels are also used to break ice. They are known as "frogs"!
Flood is the most frequent disaster in Québec. All regions having a watercourse flowing through
them could be affected. Is there a watercourse near your house? Ask your parents if your
municipality has a flood emergency plan. What to Do During a Flood With your parents, bring
upstairs all objects of the basement that could be damaged by water. If your family is asked to
evacuate, do so immediately! The water level can rise faster than you think. Do not forget your
emergency kit. Did You Know...?
In all Canadian history, the worst flood happened in the Saguenay region in 1996. In two days, the
quantity of water that felt was the same as the quantity flowing through the Niagara falls in four
weeks! This flood was called the deluge.