1. Earthquakes.

An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting

from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves.
Earthquakes can range in size, from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt, to
those violent enough to propel objects and people into the air and wreak destruction
across entire cities.

2. Tectonic earthquakes. The tectonic plates that make up the earth's crust are
moving constantly. As the edges of these plates slide against each other in fault
zones, friction can slow them down, leading to the buildup of pressure over long
periods of time. When the force of movement finally overcomes the friction, sections
of the crust suddenly break or become displaced, releasing the pent-up pressure in the
form of seismic waves. This is a naturally occurring earthquake.

3. Volcanic earthquakes. Compared to tectonic earthquakes, volcanic

earthquakes are less prevalent. They typically take place before or after an eruption.
During it, magma blocks the vents during volcanic activity. This means that high
pressure fails to be released. The buildup of pressure becomes unbearable and
releases itself with a massive explosion. The massive explosion results in a ruthless
earthquake.

4. Explosion earthquakes. Explosion earthquakes are caused by nuclear

explosions. They are, essentially, man triggered kind of earthquakes and represent the
biggest impact of modern-day nuclear war. During the 1930s nuclear tests conducted
by the United States, numerous small towns and villages were devastated as a result
of this grave act.

5. Collapse earthquakes. These kinds of earthquakes are generally smaller and

most commonly occur near underground mines. They are sometimes referred to as
mine bursts. Collapse earthquakes are instigated by the pressure generated within the
rocks. This kind of earthquake leads to the collapse of the roof of the mine instigating
more tremors. Collapse earthquakes are prevalent in small towns where underground
mines are located.
 6. Impacts of earthquakes. Earthquakes can result in the ground shaking, soil
liquefaction, landslides, fissures, avalanches, fires and tsunamis. The extent of
destruction and harm caused by an earthquake depends on magnitude, intensity and
duration, the local geology, the time of day that it occurs, building and industrial
plant design and materials.

7. Where do earthquakes occur? Earthquakes can strike any location at any time,
but history shows they occur in the same general patterns year after year. The world's
greatest earthquake belt, the circum-Pacific seismic belt, is found along the rim of the
Pacific Ocean, where about 81 percent of our planet's largest earthquakes occur. It
has earned the nickname "Ring of Fire". The belt exists along boundaries of tectonic
plates, where plates of mostly oceanic crust are sinking beneath another plate.

8. How are earthquakes measured? Earthquakes are measured by the amount of

force or energy they produced. This is done through the Richter scale. This tool was
developed by Charles F. Richter in the California Institute of Technology. The
magnitude of an earthquake gives an idea of the effect of an earthquake. Earthquakes
occurring above 7 on the Richter scale are known to have such devastating effect and
can cause severe damage to life and property.

9. Seismograph. A seismograph is an instrument used to detect and record

earthquakes. It consists of a mass attached to a fixed base. During an earthquake, the
base moves and the mass does not. The motion of the base with respect to the mass is
commonly transformed into an electrical voltage. The electrical voltage is recorded
on paper, magnetic tape, or another recording medium. This record is proportional to
the motion of the seismometer mass relative to the earth, but it can be mathematically
converted to a record of the absolute motion of the ground.

10. Shaanxi province earthquake of 1556. Shaanxi province earthquake of 1556 is

believed to be the deadliest earthquake ever recorded. The earthquake killed or
injured an estimated 830,000 people. This massive death toll is thought to have
reduced the population of the two provinces by about 60 percent. Many of the
casualties in the quake were people who had been crushed by falling buildings. Thus,
in the aftermath of the 1556 quake, many of the stone buildings that had been leveled
were replaced with buildings made of softer, more earthquake-resistant materials,
such as bamboo and wood.

11. Tangshan earthquake of 1976. There had been some warning signs of
impending earthquake. In a village outside of Tangshan, well water had reportedly
risen and fallen three times the day before the earthquake. The very large earthquake,
striking an area where it was totally unexpected, obliterated the city of Tangshan and
killed more than 240,000 people—making it the deadliest earthquake of the 20th
century. Many experts have since suggested that the official loss of life was
underestimated, that it is likely that closer to 700,000 people died.

12. Haiti earthquake of 2010. The earthquake severely affected Haiti and the
Dominican Republic. The initial shock registered a magnitude of 7.0 and was soon
followed by two aftershocks of magnitudes 5.9 and 5.5. An exact death toll proved
elusive in the ensuing chaos. The Haitian government’s official count was more than
300,000, but other estimates were considerably smaller. Hundreds of thousands of
survivors were displaced.

13. Can seismologists predict earthquakes? It is not possible to predict exactly

when and where an earthquake will occur, nor how large it will be. However,
seismologists can estimate where earthquakes may be likely to strike by calculating
probabilities and forecasts. Earthquake probabilities describe the chances of an
earthquake of a certain magnitude occurring within a region over a span of years.
Scientists can obtain additional, information by digging trenches to examine the
geological record for earthquake ruptures that occurred in ancient history.

14. How to prepare for an earthquake? Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently,

and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and planning in
advance can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake.
Repairing and reinforcing building foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures
to the ceiling, securing furniture and other objects to walls and floors, and following
local seismic building standards will help reduce the impact of earthquakes.