PATARATA, NICOLE CRUZ 11 – STEM 08

WEATHERWATCH: WHEN COLD MAKES THE EARTH

MOVE

A frost quake, or cryoseism, is a rare event in bitter conditions, and several have
shaken the earth in the US and in Canada recently

Residents of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin were startled by a loud boom with no

visible source last Saturday. Some even reported that windows rattled and their houses
shook. What felt like a miniature earthquake was actually a cryoseism, or frost quake.

Cryoseisms have been documented since the early 19th century. They are
caused by an explosive release of pressure underground, when water which has
drained into cracks in rocks expands as it freezes. Under most circumstances this
expansion causes frost weathering, only widening cracks and gradually breaking up
exposed rocks. During a cryoseism the pressure is released all at once, when a large
section of rock or frozen soil fractures under the strain.

These quakes are rare because they appear to require specific conditions:
saturated ground and a rapid drop in temperature. These allow the water on top to
freeze first, capping the water below so that pressure can build up as it freezes.

While frost quakes affect a small area compared to earthquakes, they can be
intense, causing plaster to fall and moving furniture inside buildings. However, there was
no reported structural damage from the Ozaukee quake.

 Thankfully that no one got injured because of what happened. And based on
the news that I’ve read it’s so rare to have a quakes like this. And this type of
disaster caused by an explosive release of pressure underground, when water
which has drained into cracks in rocks expands as it freezes. Under most
circumstances this expansion causes frost weathering, only widening cracks and
gradually breaking up exposed rocks. We have to be very careful, because we
all don’t know when will it happen again.
 Fri 2 Feb 2018 21.30 GMTLast modified on Fri 2 Feb 201822.00 GMT
 https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/02/weatherwatch-frost-ice-
quake-cryoseism-wisconsin-great-lakes-canada
MARIANO, WINALD JOHN 11 – STEM 08

WEATHERWATCH: WHEN COLD MAKES THE EARTH

MOVE

A frost quake, or cryoseism, is a rare event in bitter conditions, and several have
shaken the earth in the US and in Canada recently

Residents of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin were startled by a loud boom with no

visible source last Saturday. Some even reported that windows rattled and their houses
shook. What felt like a miniature earthquake was actually a cryoseism, or frost quake.

Cryoseisms have been documented since the early 19th century. They are
caused by an explosive release of pressure underground, when water which has
drained into cracks in rocks expands as it freezes. Under most circumstances this
expansion causes frost weathering, only widening cracks and gradually breaking up
exposed rocks. During a cryoseism the pressure is released all at once, when a large
section of rock or frozen soil fractures under the strain.

These quakes are rare because they appear to require specific conditions:
saturated ground and a rapid drop in temperature. These allow the water on top to
freeze first, capping the water below so that pressure can build up as it freezes.

While frost quakes affect a small area compared to earthquakes, they can be
intense, causing plaster to fall and moving furniture inside buildings. However, there was
no reported structural damage from the Ozaukee quake.

 These quakes are rare because they appear to require specific conditions,
saturated ground and a rapid drop in temperature. This kind of disaster is very
hard to resist due to the very low temperature some people might have cold
fever and this can be harmful to humans and have an impact in vehicles
because of the frost in the road.

 Fri 2 Feb 2018 21.30 GMTLast modified on Fri 2 Feb 201822.00 GMT

 https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/02/weatherwatch-frost-ice-
quake-cryoseism-wisconsin-great-lakes-canada