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Earthquakes: Dr. R. B. Schultz
Earthquakes: Dr. R. B. Schultz
Dr. R. B. Schultz
Global Earthquake Locations
Earthquakes
Secondary
or “S”
Wave
LOVE WAVES
RAYLEIGH
WAVES
Focus and Epicenter of Earthquake
Surface Waves
P Waves &
S Waves
FAULT - when two groundmasses move with respect to
one another, elastic strain energy due to tectonic
process is stored and then released through the rupture
of the interface zone resulting to fracture of Earth’s crust
FAULTS CLASSIFIED
ON THE BASIS OF
THEIR GEOMETRY
AND DIRECTION OF
SLIP.
TYPES OF FAULT
Now we know distance waves traveled, but we don't know the direction from
which they came.
We must repeat the activity for each of at least three (3) stations to
triangulate a point (epicenter of quake).
Plot a circle around seismograph location; radius of circle is the distance to the
quake.
Richter Magnitude
• Measure amplitude of largest S wave on seismograph record.
• Take into account distance between seismograph & epicenter.
Richter Scale
• Logarithmic numerical (NOT a physical) scale
• Increasing one whole unit on Richter Scale represents 10 times greater
magnitude.
• Going up one whole unit on Richter Scale represents about a 30 times
greater release of energy.
Intensity
• Intensity refers to the amount of damage done in an earthquake
• Mercalli Scale is used to express damage
Hazards associated with Quakes
• Shaking:
Frequency of shaking differs for different seismic waves.
High frequency body waves shake low buildings more.
Low frequency surface waves shake high buildings more.
Intensity of shaking also depends on type of subsurface material.
Unconsolidated materials amplify shaking more than rocks do.
Fine-grained, sensitive materials can lose strength when shaken. They lose
strength by liquefaction.
Buildings respond differently to shaking depending on construction styles,
materials
Wood -- more flexible, holds up well
Earthen materials -- very vulnerable to shaking.
• Ground displacement:
Ground surface may shift during an earthquake (esp. if focus is shallow).
Vertical displacements of surface produce fault scarps.
• Tsunamis (NOT tidal waves)
Tsunamis are huge waves generated by earthquakes undersea or below
coastal areas.
If earthquake displaces sea surface, wave is generated that can grow as it
moves over sea surface.
• Fires
Usually occurs from shifting of subsurface utilities (gas lines)
Tsunami Movement
Tsunami Movement: ~600 mph in deep water
~250 mph in medium depth water
~35 mph in shallow water
Earthquake Prediction (?)
Parkfield, CA
“Earthquake Capital of the World”
World’s Largest Earthquake: 1964 Anchorage, Alaska
Registered 8.6 on Richter Scale
Key Terminology
Earthquake Locator
Earthquake Locator is an interface developed as an illustration of what is possible using the World Wide Web and the Internet.
Earthquake Tutorial
Earthquake tutorial from Texas A & M University.
EQNET
A one-stop site for multiple sources of earthquake information including geology, earthquake engineering, seismology, earthquake images,
archives containing information about recent earhquakes, etc.
Tsunami
An interactive, online, tsunami-information resource.
Tsunami Information
Tsunami information from the National Earthquake Information Center of the USGS.
Virtual Earthquake
Virtual Earthquake is an interactive computer program designed to introduce you to the concepts of how an earthquake epicenter is located
and how the Richter magnitude of an earthquake is determined.