Earthquakes

What is an earthquake?

• They are the results of sudden releases of energy in the Earth’s crust, which creates seismic waves.

• An earthquake with magnitude 3 or less can be felt lightly or not at all

• An earthquake with magnitude of 7 or more can cause serious damage

What happens during an earthquake?

When earthquakes are on land, the ground shakes and displaces.

If the center of an earthquake is located offshore, the seabed might be displaced enough to cause a tsunami.

Earthquakes can also trigger landslides and occasionally volcanic activity.

Causes

The earthquakes we think of are usually caused by the rupture of geological faults and the settlement of uneven seismic plates

However volcanic activities can also cause earthquakes, as well as landslides, mine blasts and nuclear tests .

Effects of earthquakes

Damages buildings and other structures

Can damage bridges, dams, nuclear power stations

Can cause wildfires, tsunamis start volcanic activity, very steep landslides

Causes fires, damages electrical power lines and gas lines

Can cause floods if dams are damaged

Can cause injuries and loss of life,

Road and bridge damages,

Property damages

Keeping in mind the after math, it could bring diseases, lack of basic necessities and higher insurance charge.

Earthquakes in mythology and religion:

In Norse mythology, earthquakes were explained as the violent struggling of the god Loki.

When Loki, god of mischief and strife, murdered Baldr, god of beauty and light, he was punished by being bound in a cave with a poisonous serpent placed above his head dripping venom.

Loki's wife Sigyn stood by him with a bowl to catch the poison, but whenever she had to empty the bowl the poison dripped on Loki's face, forcing him to jerk his head away and thrash against his bonds, which caused the earth to tremble.

In Greek mythology, Poseidon was the cause and god of earthquakes. When he was in a bad mood, he struck the ground with a trident, causing earthquakes and other calamities. He also used earthquakes to punish and inflict fear upon people as revenge.

In Japanese mythology, Namazu, a giant catfish, causes the earthquakes. Namazu lives in the mud beneath the earth, and is guarded by the god Kashima who restrains the fish with a stone. When Kashima lets his guard fall, Namazu thrashes about, causing violent earthquakes.

The Deadliest Earthquake

Location: Shaanxi China

Date: January 23rd 1556

Death Toll: 830,000

Magnitude: Unknown

Notes: Damage occured as far as 270 miles northeast of the epicenter.

The ”Worst” Earthquake

Location: Nankaido, Japan

Date: September 20th, 1498

Death Toll: 31,000

Magnitude: 8.6

Notes: Triggered multiple tsunamis

Most Well Known Earthquake

Location: San Fransisco, America

Date: April 18th, 1906

Death Toll: 3,000

Magnitude: 7.8

Notes: One of the worst natural

disasters in the history of the United States.

Bibliography

http://list25.com/25-worst-earthquakes-in-history/

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42029974/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/top-deadliest-earthquakes-history/#.UjITmMY9KUF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_San_Francisco_earthquake