Earthquakes
. An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor, or temblor) is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves.
.earthquakes happen when tectonic plates collide and slide over each other
.earthquakes cause more damage than any other natural disasters
.the movement of continental drift is constantly squeezing and stretching the rocks deep bellow Australia
.the scale is based on the damage inflicted by the seismic waves. The modified mercalli scale of measuring earthquakes goes from on to twelve (in roman numerals)
.scientist estimate that about a million earthquakes take place per year, fortunately most of them only cause small tremors
.Epicentre -the epicentre is the point on the earth’s surface that is directly above the focus and will suffer the most damage
. On average, a magnitude 8 quake strikes somewhere every year and some 10,000 people die in earthquakes annually.
. A seismometer or seismograph is used to detect an earthquake
Preparation
.An aftershock is an earthquake that occurs after a previous earthquake.
. In order to determine the likelihood of future seismic activity, geologists and other scientists examine the rock of an area to determine if the rock appears to be "strained".
. Measurements of the amount of pressure which collocates on the fault line each year, time passed since the last major temblor, and the energy and power of the last earthquake are made
How can it affect people?
. Earthquakes can affect humans in many ways. There are primary effects (Building collapse, fire, landslides, devastation). Building collapse will kill people also shattering glass from tall buildings will kill to. And there are secondary effects (Starvation, disease, no fresh water supplies).