Aumit CH-3

Environmental
Science
GE-1301
CHAPTER-3
Earthquake
3.1 Earthquake
 Earthquake are caused by abrupt movement of the Earth’s crust that release stored
energy.
 There are approximately one million earthquakes a year.
 However, only a small percentage of these can be felt by people.
 Their magnitude or their intensity of shaking, referred to as ground motion and the
resulting and the resulting impact on people and society.
3.2 Cause of earthquake
 Outer layer of lithosphere is broken into several large and numerous small plates.
 Earthquake are caused by a sudden dislocation of the segments of crust, by a volcanic

eruption, by fracturing of brittle rocks in the crust or even by man made explosions.
Fig(1); Plates motion
3.3 Nature of earthquake
 The source of the disturbance is called the “ focus ” .
 The point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus called the “ epicenter”.
 The location of an earthquake as reported by the news media is the epicenter.

 Focal depths less than 44 miles (70 km) – shallow.
 Intermediate is focal depths from 44 to 186 miles ( 70- 300 km).
 The focal depths more than 186 miles (300 km) – deep.
 A line joining points of equal density is called isoseismal line.
 Earthquake can detected by delicate instruments called “ seismographs “.
 Seismographs produce seismographic records or seismograms , earthquake
scientists, known as seismologists.

 A major earthquake generally lasts only a few seconds and rarely a few minutes.
 It may be preceded by foreshocks and followed by a series of aftershocks.

Figure(2); Focus of an earthquake
3.4 Earthquake Waves
 Earthquake waves ( seismic waves ) originate at the earthquake focus and travel to
distant places varying speeds.
 There are two types of seismic waves – body wave and surface wave.
 Body wave can be classified into primary (P) wave and secondary (S) wave.
 ‘ P ’ waves are “push and pull waves”.
 It travel at great speeds and reach the surface first. So called primary wave.
 They are fastest waves and travel through solids, liquid or gases.
 ‘ S ’ waves are “ shake waves ”.
 It like the loops in a taut rope shaken at one end.
 They do not travel as fast as P waves and reach the surface later. So called secondary
waves.
 They travel through solids only.
 Increase or decrease the size of seismic waves at a particular site depend on surface soil
conditions and topography.
 Surface waves pass through the crustal layers at the earth’s surface.
 They have the strongest vibrations and cause most of the damage .
 It can be classified into L wave and Rayleigh wave.

 L wave – long wavelengths.
 The motion of particle is horizontal and at right angle to the
direction of propagation.
 Called Love wave after AEH Love an oxford mathematician.
 Rayleigh wave – the motion of particles is in elliptical orbits in the

plane of propagation.
 The waves give a rolling movement to the ground.
Figure(4); Types of seismic waves.
Figure(3); Seismograph instrument.
3.5 Measurement of earthquake intensity and magnitude
 Richter scale - named after Dr. Charles F. Richter of the California Institute of
Technology.
 The scale is logarithmic and determined from seismograph record.
 Earthquake intensity is expressed with numbers.
 Mercalli scale – named after the Italian seismologist Mercalli.
 Which describes 12 (I – XII) divisions of intensity.
 Based on observations concerning the severity of shaking during an earthquake.

Mercalli Scale Characteristic effects Richter Scale
I. Instrumental Detected only by seismographs 3.5

II. Feeble Noticed only by sensitive people To
III. Slight Felt people at rest 4.2
IV. Moderate While walking, including standing vehicles 4.3
To
V. Rather strong Most sleepers are awakened 4.8
VI. Strong All suspended objects swing and falling 4.9 - 5.4
loose objects
VII. Very strong Walls crack, plaster falls 5.5 – 6.1
VIII. Destructive Car drivers seriously disturbed, chimneys 6.2
fall, poorly constructed buildings damaged. To
IX. Ruinous Some houses collapse where ground begins
to crack 6.9
X. Disastrous Ground cracks badly, many buildings 7 – 7.3
destroyed and railway lines bent, landslide
on steep slopes
XI. Very Disastrous Few buildings remain standing, landslides, 7.4 - 8.1
flood
XII. Catastrophic Total destruction, objects thrown into air, 8.1 – 8.9
ground rises
3.6 Earthquake caused by human activities
 Several human activities are known to increase or cause earthquake activity.
 Loading the earth’s crust, as in building a dam and reservoir.
 Disposing of waste (disposal of liquid chemical waste activated fracture zones)
deep into the ground through disposal wells.
 Setting off underground nuclear explosions.

Fig(5); Large dam construction caused earthquakes .
Fig(6); Large dam construction caused earthquakes.
3.7 Earthquake Prediction
-Micro earthquakes occurred several months before the major shocks.
-The amount of radioactive gas radon that is dissolved in the water of deep
wells may apparently increase significantly before an earthquake ( 1995 , Japan ,
Kobe , M – 7.2 ).
-Animals behavior is often reported prior to large earthquakes
-( e.g; unusual barking of dogs, chickens that refuse to lay eggs, snakes that crawl
out of the ground in winter and freeze and horses or cattle that run in circles, rats
emerging from the ground and acting as if drugged or dazed )
- Long range prediction (100,000 – 100 ) years.
- Medium range prediction ( a few years to a few months ).
- Short range prediction ( a few day or hours ).
Earthquake Hazard Reduction
Earthquake hazard reduction program include ;
1) recognition of active fault zones
2) earth materials sensitive to shaking
3) continued research to better predict
4) possibly control earthquakes and
5) development and improvement of possible adjustments to

Fig(7); Many anthills built before earthquake
Fig(9); Building destroyed by earthquake (China)
Fig(10); Road destroyed by earthquake (Indonesia )
POINTS TO REMEMBER
 People can felt a small percentage of earthquake.

 Earthquake can caused by sudden movement of crust, by a volcanic eruption, by
fracturing of brittle rocks or even by man made explosions.
 The source of the disturbance is called the “ focus ” .
 The point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus called the “ epicenter”.
 Earthquake measuring instrument is called “ seismographs “
 A major earthquake lasts only a few seconds and rarely a few minutes.
 There are two types of seismic waves – body wave and surface wave.
 Primary waves are fastest waves and travel through solids, liquid or gases.
 Secondary waves travel through solids only.
 Seismic waves can measured by Richter scale and Mercalli scale.
 Human activities can cause earthquake activity
 Earthquakes may be preceded by foreshocks and followed by a series of aftershocks.
Fill in the blanks.
1) “-------” is the source of seismic waves disturbance.

2) The location of an earthquake as reported by the news media is the ------- .
3) Secondary waves travel through ------- only.
4) ------- scale is based on felt intensity of vibration and damage to structures.
5) A major earthquakes may be preceded by -------.
Short answer questions.

1. What is earthquake?
2. Which device can measure the seismic wave?
3. What type of seismic wave can travel through solids, liquid or gases?
4. Which scale expressed in value of earthquake intensity by numbers?
5. Which human actions can cause the earthquake?

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Environmental

 However, only a small percentage of these can be felt by people.

3.2 Cause of earthquake

 Earthquake are caused by a sudden dislocation of the segments of crust, by a volcanic

 The location of an earthquake as reported by the news media is the epicenter.

 Intermediate is focal depths from 44 to 186 miles ( 70- 300 km).

 A line joining points of equal density is called isoseismal line.

 Earthquake can detected by delicate instruments called “ seismographs “.

 Seismographs produce seismographic records or seismograms , earthquake

scientists, known as seismologists.

 It may be preceded by foreshocks and followed by a series of aftershocks.

 ‘ P ’ waves are “push and pull waves”.

 ‘ S ’ waves are “ shake waves ”.

 It like the loops in a taut rope shaken at one end.

 It can be classified into L wave and Rayleigh wave.

 Rayleigh wave – the motion of particles is in elliptical orbits in the

 Earthquake intensity is expressed with numbers.

 Mercalli scale – named after the Italian seismologist Mercalli.

 Which describes 12 (I – XII) divisions of intensity.

 Based on observations concerning the severity of shaking during an earthquake.

I. Instrumental Detected only by seismographs 3.5

 Several human activities are known to increase or cause earthquake activity.

 Loading the earth’s crust, as in building a dam and reservoir.

 Disposing of waste (disposal of liquid chemical waste activated fracture zones)

deep into the ground through disposal wells.

 Setting off underground nuclear explosions.

Earthquake hazard reduction program include ;

1) recognition of active fault zones

2) earth materials sensitive to shaking

3) continued research to better predict

4) possibly control earthquakes and

5) development and improvement of possible adjustments to

 People can felt a small percentage of earthquake.

1) “-------” is the source of seismic waves disturbance.

Short answer questions.

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