UNIT 12 EARTHQUAKES Study Guide
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UNIT 11 SEISMIC WAVES & EARTHQUAKES (Ch. 9) Study Guide (Revised 7/18) UNIT 11 HOMEWORK worth 10 points VIDEO HIT HOMEWORK – write two paragraphs with three sentences each (PHYSICAL GEOLOGY 1303) (Revised 7//18) UNIT 11 Video Hits For Unit 11 Video Hits, go to the “DMC HOME” website; in Search box –type “Kramer”, select “Faculty Listing”; click on Walter Vernon Kramer, click on Website“, scroll down and click GEOL 1303; then select “Video Hit Link Number 11”, and click on icon, watch video and see how scary earthquakes can be!. [IF NONE OF THE WEB SITES COME UP, YOUR COMPUTER PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE REBOOTED (RESTARTED) Earthquakes - We saw that most of the world’s most destructive earthquakes occurred along the Pacific Rim - Most of these earthquakes occurred along major plate tectonic zones - Every year, some parts of Texas will experience an earthquake - We shared our earthquake experiences - Earthquake: a shaking or vibration of the Earth caused by the sudden release of energy - Saw a video of an earthquake at a Microsoft office - On March 24, 1997 – a 3.8 earthquake with its epicenter at Alice TX was felt in Corpus Christi. - Another Alice 4.0 earthquake occurred on April 24, 2010 - Gave examples of seismic activity associated with the movies Jurassic Park and Star Wars - Even the sun has “quakes” Destructive Forces - Earthquakes are among the most destructive geologic forces on Earth. - In less than two minutes, an earthquake can kill more than 200,000 people and level hundreds of bridges and thousands of buildings for miles around Tsunami - Japanese word for harbor wave - Some earthquakes can generate tsunamis - These can be highly destructive tidal waves as seen in Japan (2011) and Indonesia (2004) 1 - Most tsunamis are created by an undersea moving tectonic plate - Tsunami waves can move at speeds of 500 mph in the deep oceans Earthquake Model - The model most used to explain most earthquakes is the elastic-rebound theory. - Elastic-rebound theory: (H. F. Reid – 1906) The sudden release of “stored elastic energy” will create earthquake “waves of energy”. - A good example of this theory is the bending and the breaking of a pencil. Earthquake Component Terminology - Fault: a surface along which some part of the Earth (rocks) has been broken and displaced (moved) - Focus: point within the Earth where the initial fault slippage generates earthquake energy. The focus represents the area of released elastic energy. - Seismic waves are vibrations produced by earthquakes that radiate from the (focus) energy source. - Epicenter: a point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus Earthquake components Earthquake Instrumentation - Seismograph: instrument used to measure seismic waves (earthquake waves) - Seismogram: recording of a seismic event or “graph” of an earthquake made by a seismograph - Saw video of a seismograph recording an actual (small) earthquake The ones who never try are the real losers Seismic Waves and Density - The denser an Earth substance (such as air, water, soil, rocks, etc.), the faster that most forms of vibration energy (seismic waves) from an earthquake can travel. - This is why most seismic waves travel through the Earth than the Earth’s surface 2 Seismic Pathways: Body and Surface - Seismic body pathways are “paths” taken by seismic waves in the interior of the Earth. - Seismic surface pathways are “paths” taken by seismic waves on the surface of the Earth. - Seismic wave intensity and speeds are directly affected by the pathways that they travel within the Earth’s interior (body pathways) and on the Earth’s surface (surface pathways). - Body seismic waves travel faster within the Earth (which provides body pathways) than surface seismic waves which travel slower along the Earth’s surface (which provides surface pathways). Two General Classes of Seismic Waves - Because of density and pathway differences, there are two “classes” of seismic waves. Each class could be further subdivided. 1. Seismic Body Waves and pathways are represented by two types of waves: a. Primary Seismic Waves (P-Waves) which move in solids, liquids and gasses b. Secondary Seismic Waves (S-waves) which move only in solids 2. Seismic Surface Waves: Although there are several types of surface waves, we will lump them into one type. c. Surface Seismic Wave (Surface waves) which moves Earth’s surface, somewhat similar to ocean waves Relative Speeds and Arrival Times of the Two Classes of Seismic Waves - P-Wave speed: Primary body waves arrive first because they are the fastest waves. - S-Wave speed: Secondary body waves arrive second, later than P-waves. - Surface seismic wave speed: This wave is slower than P-waves and S-waves. P-Wave Speed and Movement: 1) Primary waves will arrive first from an earthquake because the P-Waves are the fastest of the other seismic waves. 2) P-Waves are formed by alternating pulses of compression and dilation (a rapid push-pull). 3) P-Waves pass through solids, liquids and gasses. 3 Life is tough – it is even tougher if you are stupid – John Wayne S-Wave speed and movement: 1) Secondary waves will be the second wave of energy to arrive at a location. 2) S-Waves vibrate perpendicular to the direction of travel (a shearing motion) 3) S-Waves do not travel through liquids and gasses – only solids. 4) Near the earthquake, the S-Waves are larger and more dangerous than P-waves. Surface Seismic Wave speed and movement: 1) Surface Seismic Waves are restricted to traveling along Earth’s surface. 2) Surface Seismic Waves are travel slower than P-waves and S-waves. 3) Surface Seismic Waves have an orbital motion, similar to ocean waves that would be traveling through rocks instead of water. Modeling - Modeled P-wave with a slinky - Modeled S-wave with a rope “standing wave” - Modeled surface wave by waving rope up and down Actual Earthquake Focus Depth Calculation - An earthquake focus depth (point of slippage) can be calculated by comparing the arrival times of the three seismic waves (first P-wave, first S-wave and first surface wave. Focus depth Earthquake Focus and Related Depths - Shallow focus earthquakes (90% of all earthquakes): Shallow focus depths range from the surface to 70 km depth (0 - 42 miles deep). Divergent zones, convergent zones and transform fault zones are the origin for most of these earthquakes. Other sources would include explosions and “collapsing forces”. - Intermediate focus earthquakes: focus ranges from 70-300 km depth (42 – 180 miles deep). These are found mostly deeper within subduction zone (faults). - Deep focus earthquakes (less than 3%): focus ranges 300-700 km deep (180 – 420 miles deep). These occur within deep subduction zones (faults). - Beyond this 700 km. depth, the rocks would be very hot and basically become too soft or plastic to break or compress. 4 Locating an Earthquake Epicenter - An earthquake epicenter is located by calculating a distance by comparing P-wave and S-wave arrival times at a seismograph station. - The epicenter distance calculated by this method would represent the length of a radius of a circle, drawn from this seismic station. Radius from stations - To find the actual epicenter requires drawing a circle (using the radius) from at least three different seismograph stations. - The earthquake epicenter would be located at the intersection of at least three circles. Locating the epicenter of an earthquake - The further away the seismic station from the epicenter, the longer the wait for the arrival times Earthquake Types Classified by Energy Sources: 1) Tectonic Earthquakes (most earthquakes) are those quakes caused by the sudden release of energy stored within the rocks along a fault and/or plate boundaries (divergent, transform and convergent zones). 2) Volcanic (igneous) Earthquakes associated with magmas and volcanoes. 3) Explosion Earthquakes that are caused by explosives, bombs and meteorites. 4) Collapse Earthquakes are caused by collapsing caves (karst topography) and underground mines. - Although the first two classes of earthquakes are more common, any type can cause a large local seismic event 5 Tectonic Energy Earthquakes Earthquake zones 1) US Tectonic Earthquakes (most earthquakes): - The Western US earthquake zones are associated with present-day tectonic features. - The Eastern US earthquake zones are associated with “intra-plate” earthquakes; those that occur along ancient or fail plate boundaries. Volcanic Energy Earthquakes 2) Volcanic (igneous) Earthquakes are caused by the upward movement of magma. - As the magma rises toward the Earth’s surface, the molten rock fractures rock masses and causes continuous tremors that can last to several hours or days. seismic from a volcano - Earthquakes are also associated with “exploding volcanoes.” Most tectonic and “igneous” earthquakes occur along present or ancient plate boundaries - Seismic activity helps define the boundaries of tectonic plates and their processes. - The Pacific Ocean rim accounts for about 80% of our planet’s earthquakes. I never let schooling interfere with my education – Mark Twain 6 Earthquakes - Earth tremors: minor earthquakes - Foreshocks: small tremors that precede the main earthquake - Aftershocks are earthquakes that follow the largest (main) shock of an earthquake sequence. They are smaller than the main shock of energy. - Aftershocks can continue over a period of weeks, months, or years. - In general, the larger the main shock, the larger and more numerous will be the aftershocks, and the longer the aftershocks will continue. Damage to Structures by Earthquakes 1. Depends upon distance of structures from epicenter of the earthquake 2. Depends upon design of buildings and structures (“earthquake-proof”) 3. Depends upon type of surface material (sand or bedrock) that structure is built upon Types of Earthquake Damage 1) Movement and building collapses - Depth to bedrock affects the amount of damage that an area will suffer. - Structures built on bedrock usually suffer considerably less damage than structures built on sand or clay.