Earthquake

Earthquakes
Today’s Lecture
- Introduction to earthquakes
What is an Earthquake?
Types of faults.
Where do Earthquakes occur?
Plate tectonic context
-Types of earthquake waves

Body waves
P-waves
S-waves
Surface waves
Rayleigh waves
Love waves
Definitions
Fault - Fracture in the Earth where slip occurs
Earthquake - Energy released by slip along a fault
Earthquake focus - Location of initial break
What is an earthquake?
Elastic rebound theory
- Describes the origin of earthquakes.
- Blocks of rock try to move in opposing

directions along a fault.
- Friction prevents slippage and stress builds.
- Stress is stored in rocks as elastic energy.
- When strength of rock exceeded, rock

ruptures and slips, releasing the
stored elastic energy.
Strength of rock exceeded
Build up of stress. Rock ruptures with slip along fault.
Elastic deformation. Elastic energy released.
Fig. 10.01
W. W. Norton
Fig. 10.10
W. W. Norton
Stress builds up along faults because blocks
are locked together by friction along fault plane.
Fig. 10.09
W. W. Norton
Definitions
Stress - Force applied to a material.

Strain - Deformation of a material under stress.
Elastic strain - When stress released, material returns to

original shape.
Ductile (plastic) strain - When stress released, material

does not return to original shape.
Brittle behavior - Rupture of materials occurs when elastic

limit exceeded.
Earthquake!
p.276-277b
Original artwork by Gary Hincks
Elastic energy released travels as

a series of spherical waves
through the Earth radiating
away from the break (focus).
More definitions:
Fault plane: Surface of slippage.
Earthquake focus: Point of initial breakage.
Epicenter: Site at surface immediately above focus.
W. W. Norton
Types of Faults
Gaps in earthquake activity define
areas where stress is accumulating.
Fig. 10.36c
W. W. Norton
Seismic gaps:
Mark likely places for future large earthquakes!
n)
Fig. 10.04
EXTENSIONAL STRESS COMPRESSIONAL STRESS
W. W. Norton shear)
COMPRESSIONAL STRESS SHEAR STRESS

EARTHQUAKES GENERATE
TWO TYPES OF INTERNAL
OR “BODY” WAVES
 P-waves
- Travel faster.
- Move through both solids and liquids.
 S-waves: Shear waves
- Travel slower.
- Only travel through solids.
Information carried by these waves is used to:
-Locate the focus of the earthquake.
-Calculate the earthquake magnitude.
- “See” into the Earth’s interior.
P-waves:
- Compression
waves. Fig. 10.13ab
- Travel fastest.
W. W. Norton
- Move through
both solids
and liquids.
S-waves:
-Shear waves.
-Travel slower.
W. W. Norton
- Only travel
through
solids.
Types of Earthquake Waves
“Body waves” travel in the Earth’s interior
P-waves (“P” for primary)

Expansion/compression:
push/pull motion
S-waves (“S” for secondary)

Shear:
side-to-side motion
“Surface Waves” travel at the Earth’s surface

Surface Waves
-Cause the most damage.

- There is two types:
* Rayleigh waves:
Forward, rolling motion.
* Love waves:
Side-to-side (lateral) motion
- Both are shear waves.
In summary: Types of seismic waves
Motion produced by the

different wave types
P-wave
S-wave
Surface-wave
Earthquake Intensity and Magnitude
 Mercalli Intensity Scale

Qualitative scale to convey intensity of ground
Shaking & damage at a specific location
Depends on distance to earthquake.
& strength of earthquake.
 Magnitude
An absolute measure of the energy released in
an earthquake
Depends on the amount of elastic energy
stored in the rocks prior to the earthquake
and the intensity of faulting to release
that energy.
Locating an Earthquake…
1. Measure time between P and S wave on seismogram.

2. Use travel-time graph to get distance to epicenter.
3. Draw circle on a map with radius of that distance.
4. Three or more circles should intersect at EQ!
Earthquake Destruction
• Important contributing factors:
1. Intensity & duration of shaking
2. Soil type (unconsolidated sediments
or hard bedrock?)
3. Building design
 Other undesirable effects:
1) Landslides
2) Liquifaction of sediments
3) Fires (rupture of gas lines)
4) Tsunamis (seismic sea waves)
Earthquake Destruction

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Earthquakes

-Types of earthquake waves

- Blocks of rock try to move in opposing

- Friction prevents slippage and stress builds.

- Stress is stored in rocks as elastic energy.

- When strength of rock exceeded, rock

Stress - Force applied to a material.

Elastic strain - When stress released, material returns to

Ductile (plastic) strain - When stress released, material

Brittle behavior - Rupture of materials occurs when elastic

Original artwork by Gary Hincks

Elastic energy released travels as

COMPRESSIONAL STRESS SHEAR STRESS

“Body waves” travel in the Earth’s interior

P-waves (“P” for primary)

S-waves (“S” for secondary)

“Surface Waves” travel at the Earth’s surface

-Cause the most damage.

Motion produced by the

 Mercalli Intensity Scale

1. Measure time between P and S wave on seismogram.

 Other undesirable effects:

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