CLE ESP

• Earthquake


  Sudden shift in the position of rock masses
• Earthquake occurrence


  1. Rock masses shift into new positions

  2. Energy stored in rock masses is transmitted onto the surface as seismic waves

  3. Seismic waves translate into an earthquake
• Earth


  • Composed of different plates
  • Plates slide past each other along faults
• Fault


  Fracture of earth's crust
• Focus/Hypocenter


  Weakest part of a fault where the slippage of rock occurs
• Epicenter


  Area directly above the focus
• Earthquake mechanism

  1. Rock masses slide and slip against each other

  2. Stored energy is released

  3. Energy moves outward in all directions as seismic waves
• Kinds of earthquakes:
• Tectonic earthquake

  When two tectonic plates move suddenly against each other, an earthquake occurs. This type of earthquake is referred to as tectonic earthquake. The shaking of the earth's crust usually happens along faults. The plates on each side of a fault slide past each other with a tremendous amount of force. This movement will then trigger earthquakes as its effect.