Earthquakes
An earthquake is a completely unpredictable event that can occur at any time. An earthquake is a vibration of the ground caused by rocks underneath the earths surface crumbling due to the stress they are under. Earthquakes can last from several seconds to many minutes. When undergoing an earthquake the earth beneath us shakes- how much is shakes is dependant on the severity of the earthquake. Sometimes buildings, houses and the landscapes around us end up destroyed but other times people hardly even notice the smal shakes within the earth. The Magnitude of an earthquake is measured and recorded using a device called a seismograph, which uses the Richter Scale, which is just a general scale created using complex mathematics to calculate the magnitude of an earthquake.
How harsh an earthquake is or the destruction of an earthquake is rated using the Modified Mercalli (MM) intensity scale which is shown on the left. The scale ranges from I (microscopic that can go unnoticed) up to XII (total destruction).
Earthquakes can also lead to many other traumatic disasters; if an earthquake occurs underwater and is strong enough it can cause a tsunami, also if an earthquake has the magnitude 4.0 or greater may trigger landslides which can cause the death or injury of many. The larger the magnitude of the earthquake, the bigger the area over which landslides may occur.
How harsh an earthquake is or the destruction of an earthquake is rated using the Modified Mercalli (MM) intensity scale which is shown on the left. The scale ranges from I (microscopic that can go unnoticed) up to XII (total destruction).
Earthquakes can also lead to many other traumatic disasters; if an earthquake occurs underwater and is strong enough it can cause a tsunami, also if an earthquake has the magnitude 4.0 or greater may trigger landslides which can cause the death or injury of many. The larger the magnitude of the earthquake, the bigger the area over which landslides may occur.
Other Interesting Points!!
-Moonquakes - Yes there is such a thing as a moonquake as the name suggests a Moonquake is simply an earthquake but on the moon.
-There is at least one earthquake that occurs somewhere in the world each day. Earthquakes are often followed by aftershocks. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow the first tremor.-The most harmful earthquake ever recorded was in China in 1557. This quake resulted in over 800,000 deaths.
-In Australia an earthquake of larger magnitude, around 5.5, occurs on average every 15 months.
-The 1989 Newcastle Earthquake was Australia's most damaging earthquake with 13 deaths and caused damage worth 1,124 one thousand, one hundred and twenty-four million dollars.
-There are about 500,000 earthquakes a year around the world. Only about 100,000 of those can be felt by humans, and just 100 or so cause damage each year.
-Each year the southern California area alone experiences about 10,000 earthquakes, however most of them cannot be felt by people.
-The largest earthquake that has ever been recorded had a magnitude 9.5.
-There is at least one earthquake that occurs somewhere in the world each day. Earthquakes are often followed by aftershocks. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow the first tremor.-The most harmful earthquake ever recorded was in China in 1557. This quake resulted in over 800,000 deaths.
-In Australia an earthquake of larger magnitude, around 5.5, occurs on average every 15 months.
-The 1989 Newcastle Earthquake was Australia's most damaging earthquake with 13 deaths and caused damage worth 1,124 one thousand, one hundred and twenty-four million dollars.
-There are about 500,000 earthquakes a year around the world. Only about 100,000 of those can be felt by humans, and just 100 or so cause damage each year.
-Each year the southern California area alone experiences about 10,000 earthquakes, however most of them cannot be felt by people.
-The largest earthquake that has ever been recorded had a magnitude 9.5.