EARTHQUAKES AND

PLATE TECTONICS
CHAPTER 6 SECTION 1
 ELASTIC REBOUND
THEORY
Rocks on each side of a fault are moving.
Fault is locked, rocks stop moving.
Rocks on each side of a fault are stressed.
Rocks fracture and separate at weakest point.
Rocks return to original shape.
Elastic Rebound Theory
 AFTERSHOCKS
Original earthquake releases energy in
the form of vibrations called seismic
waves.
These vibrations may increase stress in
other rocks along the fault.
The increased stress on these rocks may
cause them to fracture and spring back.
The series of smaller tremors are called
aftershocks.
 FOCUS
Area along a fault where the slippage first
occurs
Focus is beneath the earths surface
The epicenter is directly above
The depth of the focus varies
FOCUS DEPTH - 1975-95
 FOCUS DEPTH OF
EARTHQUAKES IN
WASHINGTON 1977-1996
 EPICENTER

A pointon the earths

surface directly above the
focus
MAJOR EARTHQUAKE ZONES
Pacific Ring of Fire
Mid-ocean ridges
Eurasian-Melanesian Mountain Belt
MAJOR EARTHQUAKES
AREAS
PUGET SOUND FAULT
ZONES
Magnitude
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
Kobe Earthquake
LIQUEFACTION
Kobe
RECORDING EARTHQUAKES

CHAPTER 6, SECTION 2
 TYPES OF SEISMIC WAVES
P waves

S waves

L waves
 P WAVES
Fastest wave
First recorded on seismograph
Travel through solid and liquid
Cause rock particles to move together and
apart along the direction of the waves.
 S WAVES
Second wave to reach seismograph
Travels through solids only
Cause rock particles to move at right
angles to the direction the wave is
traveling
 L WAVES
Slowest moving of the three waves
Also called surface or long waves
Last to be recorded by the seismograph
Travel over the earths surface similar to
ocean waves
Cause the greatest damage
 SEISMOGRAPH

A device used to measure

seismic waves
LOCATING THE
EPICENTER
 EARTHQUAKE SCALES

RICHTER

MERCALLI
 RICHTER SCALE
Scale that ranges from 1-10
Each whole number increases the
magnitude of the energy 31.7 times

Largest recorded magnitude - 9.5

Above 7 - Major earthquake
Between 6 and 7 - Moderate earthquake
Between 2.5 and 6 - Minor earthquake
Less than 2.5 - Microearthquake
 MERCALLI SCALE
Measures the intensity of the damaged
caused by the earthquake

Scale of I - XII (1-12)

I. Not felt except by a very few
II. Felt by a very few persons
on
the upper floors of buildings
III. Felt indoors
IV. Hanging objects swing
V. Felt outdoors
VI. Felt by all, many scared and
run outdoors
VII. Difficult to stand
VIII. Damage slight in
specially
designed structures
IX. Damage considerable in
specially designed
structures
X. Ground cracked, rail bent
XI. Bridges destroyed,
broad fissures in ground
XII. Damage total
Pacific Northwest Earthquake
Information
REQUEST FOR EARTHQUAKE INFORM
ATION
 EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

BEFORE - Be prepared
DURING - Stay calm
AFTER - Stay cautious
 ASSIGNMENT
WORKSHEET 6.3
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