located inside the

earth's crust.

focus
terms
Friction or drag between the plates as they grind past each
Where the slabs of adjoining plates 'lock' against each oth
strains energy builds up progressively until the fault fractu
(seismic waves) that spread outwards from area of disloca

Energy released A violent shock within the earth, re

i.e. magnitude huge amount s of energy as shockwaves or s
on richter scale.
*severity ground movement
of E.Q. measured 12- pt mercalli scale.

1. Body waves are transmitted upwards f

P-waves:primary or pressure waves cause
through rocks, gases & liquids. It is fastes
2. Surface waves are produced in the ground by transformation of some S-waves: secondary or shear waves trave
body of waves once they reach the surface (these cause most damage to buildings They make the ground to move vertically
and other structures as it makes the ground to move both vertically & horizontally) These waves only travel through solid ma

Distribution of Earthquake
1. Circum-Pacific Earthquake Belt: this includes all the coastal areas around the vast Pacific ocean. This belt extends as an isost
Alaska. Aleutian islands, Japan, Philippines, New Zealand North and South America. This zone accounts for 68% of all the eart
most talked about earthquake areas in this zone include Japan, Chile, California and Mexico. (Pacific ring of fire is an area where a large numb
volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean)

2. Mediterranean-Asia Earthquake belt: This belt begins from Alps mountain system and passes through Turkey, Caucasus ranges, Iran,
Tibet to China. One of its branches passes through Mongolia and Lake Baikal and another branch extends to Myanmar. About 31%
located in this region.

3. Other areas: These include Northerm Africa and Rift Valley areas of Red Sea and Dead Sea. In addition to these the ocean ridg

Prediction & monitoring

Where occur When occur How big will it be (size)
distribution fault Difficult to predict difficult to predict
lines (plate margins) (although there is clue
from previous patterns &
frequencies)

Reliable predictions
1. measurement of small-scale ground surface changes
2. small-scale uplift of subsidence
3. Ground tilt
4. Changes in rock stress
5. Micro-earthquake activity (clusters of small quakes)
6. Anomalies in the earth's magnetic field
7.changes in randon gas concentrations
8. changes in electrical resistivity rocks
 (on surface, directly
above focus)
the point Case studies
where an 1. Mexico
earthquake 2. Japan
origin
epicentre

plates as they grind past each other.

plates 'lock' against each other for a period of years,
ressively until the fault fractures released powerful shock waves
utwards from area of dislocation, known as focus.
cause/how
it occurs?
ent shock within the earth, releasing Seismograph
of energy as shockwaves or seismic waves How measured?
What? The study of earthquake waves is called
EARTHQUAKE seismology.
Effects -Seismographs are the instruments used
to record earthquake waves.
Amount of loss & damage associated with E.Q
depends on factors: How?
1. Popn density; more people means more victims -A weight is freely suspended from a
support that is attached to bedrock
2. Strenght EQ, the stronger the EQ the greater
-When the seismic waves from a distant
the damage. earthquake reach the seismograph, the
3. building material; EQ. proof or not inertia of the weight keeps it stationary
4. Distance from epicentre, the closer the greater while Earth and the support vibrate.
-The movement of Earth in relation to
the damage, less warning time. the stationary weight is recorded on a
5. type of rocks and sediments-loose, unconsolidated rotating drum.
material are liable to liquefy. -The seismograph amplifies and records
6. secondary hazard; mudslides and tsunami-cause the ground motion.
-This recording of information is called a
more damage than EQ itself. seismogram and it provides a lot of
information about the behaviour of the
Body waves are transmitted upwards from the centre of EQ. (P-waves & S- waves) seismic waves.
waves:primary or pressure waves cause back and forward movement compressing & expanding -Seismograms show that two main types
of seismic waves are generated when
ough rocks, gases & liquids. It is fastes waves (6-13 km a second) and reach the surface first) there is a slippage in a fault zone.
waves: secondary or shear waves travelled with a side to side motion. These are surface and body waves
hey make the ground to move vertically.
ese waves only travel through solid material and are slower (3-7km a second) than P-waves.
 Hazard management
(Guatemala)

Earthquake hazards management

1. Although they can predict when a
fault was about to slip, but can't
predict magnitude of EQ.
2.The only way is to minimise effect
in high risk areas.
(a) Building design to withstand EQ
e.g. Steel frames in building able to
elt extends as an isostatically sensitive zone through the coasts of sway & bricks not used because the
for 68% of all the earthquakes on the surface of the earth. The
is an area where a large number of earthquakes and danger when it fall.
(b) behind buildings -open space area
Turkey, Caucasus ranges, Iran, Iraq, Himalayan mountain and for evacuation.
ds to Myanmar. About 31% of the world’s earthquakes are (c ) Hazard mapping of E.Q. zone- high
risk areas allow land use zoning area,
to these the ocean ridges are also active earthquake zones. planning authorities control where
building can take place.
(d) Ground material; solid foundation
How big will it be (size) best area and avoid clay -building
fficult to predict collapse due to liquefaction.
(San Francisco Quake collapse because
build marian district, relaimed land &
Tokyo large area of city are built on
river delta mud or reclaimed lnd)
Best policy (e) Preparedness; private companies
ace changes 1.learn to live & cope & individuals prepare for dangers they
with consequences face (leaflets & advice given)
2. developed aim to reduce effect & E.g. Japan 'Disaster Day' celebrated
thus save lives, building & money every sept 1st, poster & media given
to public to remind what to do in a
quake.(make furniture secure, put out fire
switch off gas supplies & remain calm)
w measured?
quake waves is called

the instruments used

suspended from a
ached to bedrock.
waves from a distant
the seismograph, the
ht keeps it stationary
e support vibrate.
Earth in relation to
ght is recorded on a

amplifies and records

information is called a
provides a lot of
the behaviour of the

w that two main types

re generated when
in a fault zone.
and body waves.
dict when a

mise effect

ing able to

en space area

.Q. zone- high

zoning area,

d foundation

lapse because
aimed land &

e companies
r dangers they

media given

ecure, put out fire

remain calm)