1. Earthquakes

2. What is an earthquake?
a release of energy caused by the sudden movement of tectonics plates
The energy is released as “seismic waves”
Like ripples in a pond

3. Fault – an “active zone” boundary between tectonic plates
Focus – the exact location where tectonic plates suddenly move
Epicenter – the location on the surface of the earth directly above the FOCUS

4. Where? Earthquakes occur at two different plate boundaries
Subduction Zones
Plates colliding into each other
Transform Faults
Plates sliding past each other
Moving plates build up lots of energy over time, move very suddenly and release the built up energy

6. Measuring Earthquakes - Seismograph

7. Measuring Earthquakes

8. Earthquake Comparison
Northridge 1994
January 17, 1994 (lasted for seconds)
6.7 Magnitude on Richter Scale
57 killed, injured
$20 billion in damage

9. Haiti 2010
January 12, 2010
7.0 magnitude on Richter Scale, lasted about 60 seconds
to thought to be dead
$7-$10 billion in damage