Earthquake Effects
Short periods of intense ground motion
Can damage human structures
“Earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings kill people”
A few factors determine the amount and intensity of damage done
Key factor of intensity of damage is the earthquake’s magnitude
Length is also important (larger earthquakes tend to be longer)
How buildings are structured and constructed
Surface materials on which structures are built
Structures on loose/sedimentary materials usually experience more intense shaking
Structures on solid rock are generally more stable
Some structures can be engineered specifically to mitigate earthquake damage
Other processes related to the shaking
Mountainous areas → landslides (loose rocks/soil break free)
Wet, low-lying areas → liquefaction (wet soils liquify)
Especially common in areas of sandy soils
Ground cracking
Fire
Shaking may break gas lines, which catch fire
Eg. 1906 San Francisco earthquake → wooden buildings survived quake but not fire
Tsunamis
Fault movements displace water above the fault
Waves radiate from epicenter
Not overly noticeable in middle of ocean, but can wreck coastal areas
Short periods of intense ground motion
Can damage human structures
“Earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings kill people”
A few factors determine the amount and intensity of damage done
Key factor of intensity of damage is the earthquake’s magnitude
Length is also important (larger earthquakes tend to be longer)
How buildings are structured and constructed
Surface materials on which structures are built
Structures on loose/sedimentary materials usually experience more intense shaking
Structures on solid rock are generally more stable
Some structures can be engineered specifically to mitigate earthquake damage
Other processes related to the shaking
Mountainous areas → landslides (loose rocks/soil break free)
Wet, low-lying areas → liquefaction (wet soils liquify)
Especially common in areas of sandy soils
Ground cracking
Fire
Shaking may break gas lines, which catch fire
Eg. 1906 San Francisco earthquake → wooden buildings survived quake but not fire
Tsunamis
Fault movements displace water above the fault
Waves radiate from epicenter
Not overly noticeable in middle of ocean, but can wreck coastal areas