Continental/oceanic crust / earthquakes

Continental/oceanic crust

Oceanic crust

• found beneath oceans

thinner than continental / more dense

10 km deep

continental crust

found under land - forming continent

thicker than oceanic

• 25-30 km thick

• CC not as dense as oceanic crust

tectonic plate

• l = crust + top part of mantle

• lithosphere = made up of huge pieces called tectonic platees

• fit together like a jigsaw

• most of earth is covered by 7 major plates

impacts of earthquakes

Wide spread infrustruture damage - loss of service and access

• roads + bridges + airports +

• water + gas + electricity= damaged / inaccessable

Human impact

• injury / death of ppl

• After disaster - chlorea ➡ ongoing outbreaks years later

Impacted economic + development

loss of job + workplace / number in workforce

Earthquakes

Where tectonic plates meet

• over time pressure builds up ➡pressure release

• when pressure release➡energy release(shockwaves)

• most earthquakes = human causes - high pressures inc. large dam, underground nuclear explosion

Haiti earthquake 2010 impacts

Caused by enriquillo plantain

tansform boundary b/t caribbean + north american plates to cause destructive earthquakes

• many buildings collapsed = many killed pr trapped from lack of building codes

Loss of critical infrustructrue

• loss of electricity + communication lines + roads clocked = reduce ability to offer aid to all areas

1 mill left homeless

hospitals = unusable - days waiting for treatment

increasing crimes - looting + escaped prisoners

Hospitals unusable

infected signifcant amoutn of ppl / water contaminated

short term impacts earthquake

many buildings collpased = lack of building codes - many trapped or killed

• loss acess to services like hospitals

• ❌ electricity + communication lines

• water gas electricity = damaged + inaccessable

design earthquake proof buildings

Flexibal foundation = pads + reinforced concrete/ sand cushions = stable

• pendulum swings opposite earth movement - earthquake movement = dissipate energy

• shock absorbers - absorb seismic energy

• base isolation = seperate base of building from ground using spring - building feel less shaking

• cross bracing = transfer earthquake force to foundation

• prevent building collapsing