earthquakes q:a 3
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School
Bellevue College *
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Course
107
Subject
Geology
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
2
Uploaded by JudgeIbex4187
Learning about earthquakes and diving into more detail has been very intriguing. Learning more about plate boundaries and the difference between strike-slip faults (horizontal),
and dip-slip faults (vertical). Being able to understand which plate boundaries are more likely to
have earthquakes as well as which types of faults are more common in some areas. I find it all very interesting. The causes of faults is not something that is rapid I would have first thought prior to this class. But rather, it is years and years of stress on these rocks. Displacement is a prime example to how faulting and earthquakes in general work. Learning about how the compression and tension between two plates can cause certain slip faults. These faults take so much time that they are considered active if they have shifted within the last 10,000 years. Earthquakes are caused by this elastic strain (pressure/tension) that builds and builds on
both sides of fault in the rocks. This tension is pulling away from the fault, so once it becomes too much for the rocks they rupture. This causes elastic strain energy to be projected in every direction in the form of seismic waves. These seismic waves either compress or shear the surface of the earth. With shearing waves being the ones that cause the most damage. Earthquake damages can vary, how close a town or city is to the epicenter, whether or not the buildings are engineered to withstand such shaking, and the geographical location. As I have noticed when we made our tectonic plate diagram, it became evident that some locations lie on boundaries of tectonic plates where these faults are more likely to occur. I
noticed that the South Sandwich Islands off the coast of South America lied on a plate boundary. This plate was called the Scotia Plate, which has a rich history of earthquakes. Along with Indonesia, they lie on many islands that are all above plate boundaries with common faults
that occur. As well as the Cascadia subduction zone here in the pacific northwest. My brother was alive during the last earthquake here in Seattle and will occasionally talk about the shaking when it happened. The damage that these earthquakes can do alone is not joke, they can completely wipe out cities and make them look post-apocalyptic. However, if they occur in certain locations, there are many other hazards that they can cause. Such as landslides, fires, tsunamis, disease, and much more. If the ground begins to shake beneath an eroded cliff, the likelihood of that cliff falling/sliding down can be very likely. Same thing with tsunamis, a big enough earthquake that is close to shore could be the cause of a devastating tsunami. Though it is not just the earth pulling these strings, we as humans can have a say in earthquake causes, along with damages as well. Liquid waste disposed in deep wells can change
water pressure levels, along with underground nuclear explosions. But minimizing earthquakes has long been a study and far from something that is possible. For one, we can build/remodel our structures that are more suitable for shaking. Along with updating areas that are at seismic risk. We can study the mapping of these subduction zones and boundaries by trying to figure out what materials are more likely to fracture or displace. Along with trying to predict them, however, the technology we have now does not give us the most accurate assumptions on when earthquakes will occur. Terms that I have learned and got comfortable with are seismic waves, both of the slip faults, epicenter, faults in general, and elastic strain. Some diagrams that I found useful were the Tohoku earthquake sequence (showed a great map of how dangerous some plate boundaries
can be), the Kobe, Japan fires (showed how earthquakes can cause series damage besides the ground shaking), and the ‘Did You Feel It?’ diagram showing the two earthquakes in California and Virginia. I found this very interesting because even though the earthquake in Virginia was M5.8 instead of M6 (California), it was felt across almost the entire east coast. But the M6.0 in California seemed like wit was only felt by residents in California. 1.
What are the possibilities of an earthquake occurring far from a boundary, such as in the
middle of a tectonic plate?
2.
Does the technology that predicts earthquakes in Japan work? 3.
How big would an earthquake need to be to take out the coast of a state like Florida? Or
South Africa? (with a tsunami) 4.
Will some areas never have earthquakes?
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