NOTES

EARTHQUAKE
the shaking or trembling caused by the sudden release of energy
also known as quake or tremor
FAULTS
a break or fracture in the earths crust where earthquake are mostly likely to
occur repeatedly
ELASTIC REBOUND THEORY
The elastic rebound theory is an explanation for how energy is spread
during earthquakes. As rocks on opposite sides of a fault are subjected to force
and shift, they accumulate energy and slowly deform until their internal strength
is exceeded. At that time, a sudden movement occurs along the fault, releasing
the accumulated energy, and the rocks snap back to their original undeformed
shape.
In geology, the elastic rebound theory was the first theory to satisfactorily
explain earthquakes. Previously it was thought that ruptures of the surface were
the result of strong ground shaking rather than the converse suggested by this
theory.
Ancient cultural explanations of earthquakes were often along the lines of the
mythical Japanese Namazu: A giant catfish with the islands of Japan on his back.
A demigod, or daimyojin, holds a heavy stone over his head to keep him from
moving. Once in a while the daimyojin is distracted so Namazu moves and the
Earth trembles.
TYPES OF FAULTS

the direction movement along the fault plane determines the fault type

Different types of Faults

A close look at faults helps geologists to understand how the tectonic plates have
moved relative to one another.
Types of movement of crustal blocks that can occur along faults during an earthquake:

1. Where the crust is being pulled apart, normal faulting occurs, in which the
overlying (hanging-wall) block moves down with respect to the lower (foot wall) block.
2. Where the crust is being compressed, reverse faulting occurs, in which the
hanging-wall block moves up and over the footwall block reverse slip on a gently
inclined plane is referred to as thrust faulting.
3. Crustal blocks may also move sideways past each other, usually along nearlyvertical faults. This strike-slip movement is described as sinistral when the far side
moves to the left, and dextral, when the far side moves to the right.
4. An oblique slip involves various combinations of these basic movements, as in the
1855 Wairarapa Fault rupture, which included both reverse and dextral movement.
(COM pg. 100).
Faults can be as short as a few metres and as long as 1000km. The fault rupture from
an earthquake isnt always a straight or continuous line. Sometimes there can be
short offsets between parts of the fault, and even major faults can have large bends in
them.
seismic waves

are vibrations that travel through the earth carrying the energy.

focus

where the slip happens below the ground

epicenter

where the shaking is first felt above ground directly above the focus

Types of Seismic Waves

Body Waves
o Primary waves
o Secondary waves
Surface Waves
o Love Waves
o Ray Leigh waves
Body waves can travel through Earths inner layer (core, mantle, crust)

BODY WAVES (P-WAVES) )(PRIMARY WAVES)

fastest form of wave

sometimes called compression waves
can move through both solid and liquid for (s-waves) (secondary)
can travel solids only

SURFACE WAVES RAYLEIGH WAVES

can only travel through the surface layers
surface wave easily the ground to shake in an elliptical motion
LOVE WAVES
produce entirely horizontal motion
moves the ground side-to-side
MAGNITUDE
the amount of energy released during an earthquake.
raleted to energy release
exponential
no upper or lower bounds
largest quakes about magnitude 87
INTENSITY
how strong the earthquake feels to observer
distance
geology
o type of building
observer
Mercalli Scale to I XII
o PEIS (Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale)
TSUNAMIS
A sea wave that can cause catastrophic
Causes:
Undersea earthquake
Undersea landslide
Eruption of undersea volcanoes
Force of asteroid crashing into the ocean
EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
Create a family plan
Know the safety spot in each room
Know the danger spots
Keep a list of emergency phone numbers
Develop a survival kit for work, car and home