DAGON UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY

EARTHQUAKES

Assignment Paper

Submitted by

MG KHANT HEIN HTET (3H Geol. 3)

June, 2024
 EARTHQUAKES

Introduction

Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, which
creates seismic waves. This release of energy usually occurs along faults—large fractures in
the Earth's crust where tectonic plates meet. The movement of these plates creates enormous
stress that builds up over time. When the stress exceeds the strength of the rocks holding the
plates together, it causes a sudden slip or break along the fault, resulting in an earthquake.

The point within the Earth where the earthquake starts is called the focus or hypocenter.
The point directly above the focus on the Earth's surface is called the epicenter. From the
epicenter, seismic waves spread out in all directions. These waves are what we feel as ground
shaking during an earthquake.

Earthquakes can also be triggered by volcanic activity, landslides, human activities such
as mining or reservoir-induced seismicity, and occasionally by meteorite impacts. The study of
earthquakes is known as seismology, and it helps us understand the causes, effects, and
mitigation strategies for these natural events.

Figure 1. Basic principle to earthquake formation. The earthquake rupture will occur at the
hypocenter beneath the Earth’s surface. The shift in both plates creates a series of vibrations
that generate seismic waves resulting in an earthquake.
Earthquakes are measured using several scales that quantify different aspects of seismic
activity:

1. Magnitude Scales: The most common scale is the Richter scale (or more accurately,
the moment magnitude scale, Mw), which measures the energy released at the
earthquake's source. The first practical scale for measuring earthquakes was developed
by geologist Charles Richter at the California Institute of Technology in the 1930s, and
the scale that most scientists use today still bears his name. Magnitude is a logarithmic
measure; each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in
measured amplitude and roughly 31.6 times more energy release. For example, a
magnitude 6 earthquake releases approximately 31.6 times more energy than a
magnitude 5 earthquake.

Figure 2. The Earthquake Magnitude Scale

2. Intensity Scales: Intensity scales, such as the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale,
describe the effects of an earthquake at different locations on the Earth's surface. It
ranges from I (not felt) to XII (total destruction), providing a qualitative description of
the shaking and damage experienced by people, buildings, and infrastructure.
 Figure 3. The Modified Mercalli Scale
3. Seismic Waves: Seismographs record seismic waves generated by earthquakes. These
waves include primary waves (P-waves), secondary waves (S-waves), and surface
waves. P-waves are the fastest and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases. S-waves
are slower and can only travel through solids. Surface waves are the slowest and cause
the most damage.
These measurements help seismologists and emergency responders assess earthquake
impacts, understand fault dynamics, and improve earthquake preparedness and
mitigation strategies.

Figure 4. Showing the Seismic Waves ( P-wave and S-wave)