EARTHQUAKES

Prepared by: Pauline Yves D. Iya, MD

SPECIFIC LEARNING
OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, the
learners will be able to:
● Discuss what is an earthquake and
under what circumstance do
earthquakes occur?
● Determine which type of seismic
wave causes the greatest
destruction to infrastructures and
how this can be prevented
EARTHQUAKE
RELATIVE
DATING
• Ground shaking caused by sudden and
rapid movement of one block of tectonic
plate past another along faults
Fractures in the
Earth’s crust
Did you know?
Thousands of earthquakes
occur around the world
everyday, but only about 15
strong earthquakes are
recorded each year.
Insert video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQgkL76cNZc
 • The point on the Earth’s surface
Epicenter directly above the hypocenter

• AKA Focus
Hypocenter • Location where the slippage begins
• The source of seismic waves
Aftershocks
RELATIVE
DATING

• Numerous earthquakes of lesser magnitude

following strong earthquakes

• Although weaker, often triggers the destruction of

already weakened structures
Foreshocks
RELATIVE
DATING

• often, but not always, precede the major

earthquakes by days or several years

• Used to predict forthcoming earthquakes with only

limited success
THREE BASIC TYPES OF FAULTS:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5fS__4MA44
•
THREE BASIC TYPES OF FAULTS:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5fS__4MA44
•
 SEISMOLO
GY • Study of earthquakes

• SEISMOLOGISTS – scientists who are experts in

the study of earthquake

• SEISMOGRAPHS or SEISMOMETERS –
instruments that record earthquake waves
Ancient Chinese Seismograph
SEISMIC
WAVES
Two main types:

1. Surface waves – travels in rock layers just below

Earth’s surface

2. Body waves – travel through Earth’s interior

Insert video

ht
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9Ifk0Bde4Q tps://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9Ifk0Bde4Q

Time 0.41
 SEISMIC
WAVES
BODY WAVES
- travel through Earth’s interior -
SURFACE WAVES
travels in rock layers just below Earth’s
surface (solid medium)
Primary (P) Secondary (S) Love waves Rayleigh waves
waves waves
“push & pull” waves “shake” particles at Moves ground from Causes ground to
right angles to the side to side shake in an elliptical
Compress and direction of travel manner
stretch rocks in the Moves faster
direction the wave Observed in ocean
travels Most damaging type waves
of surface waves
Spread out the most,
long duration
Typical Seismogram
How do scientists locate the epicenter?
TRIANGULATION
The different measures of earthquake strength:

• Measures the amount of ground

Intensity shaking a place experiences due to an
earthquake

• Estimate of an actual amount of energy

Magnitude released during an earthquake
 Intensity MODIFIED MERCALLI
INTENSITY SCALE

• Developed by Giuseppe
Mercalli

• California buildings were

used as standard
 Magnitude Richter Magnitude Scale

• Developed by Charles
Richter

• First magnitude scale to

use seismic records
TSUNAMI
Japanese term meaning “harbor wave”
a series of extremely long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean,
usually the result of an earthquake below or near the ocean floor.
 Earthquake & Plate
Boundaries

Divergent oceanic ridge system Transform faults

Produces another belt of Can produce large earthquakes

earthquake activity generating
frequent quakes of small magnitude
 Basis for predicting
earthquakes:

Statistical data Based on frequency of earlier recorded quakes

Seismic gaps Monitoring stations along plate boundaries

Seismic gaps – most likely places for quakes to occur
- regions that have been quiet, indicating stress build up
 Earthquake precursors
• Seismicity
• Subsidence & Uplift
• Wave speeds
• Water levels in wells
• Geoelectricity
• Strains
• Radon content of water
• Animal behavior
References:
• Levesley, M., Johnson, P., Brand, I., & Kearsey, S. (2014). Exploring Science
Working Scientifically. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

• Cadiz, A.P., & Pascual, C.B., (2021). Fundamentals of Earth and Life
Science. Mindshapers Co. INC.