Earthquake

• The Mid-World Mountain Belt


  • It consists of the extinct and dormant volcanoes that lie along the Mediterranean Sea
• Multiple Choice Questions (Quick Revision)
• Volcanoes


  • Ima
  • Kilimanjaro
  • Venerius
• Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano
• Earthquake


  The sudden shaking of the Earth caused by internal processes of the Earth
• Earthquake


  • It originates from the interior of the Earth and the point of origin is called the focus
  • The point on the surface of the Earth, exactly above the focus, is called the epicentre
  • The earthquakes send shock waves all around and cause widespread destruction to life and property
• Seismic waves


  The vibrations of an earthquake that spread out as concentric waves from the focus
• Intensity of the earthquake


  Maximum near its epicentre
• Surface of the Earth can shake


  Due to movements of the lithospheric plates, volcanic eruptions or even bomb explosions
• Fault


  • Part of the Earth's crust that has moved
• Primary waves


  • The fastest earthquake waves, also called P-waves, generally travel at 5-8 kilometres per second
• Secondary waves


  • Arrive after the primary waves, also termed S-waves, with a lower rate of wave propagation than primary waves
• Surface waves


  • Travel along the surface of the Earth, they are the slowest and most damaging waves
• Seismology


  The science that deals with earthquakes
• Seismologists


  Experts who study the pattern of the earthquakes
• Richter scale


  A scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes
• According to an estimate, one million small earthquakes are recorded every year
• The Himalayan region in India has experienced many major earthquakes
• The Deccan plateau in India is considered relatively safe from major earthquakes, but has experienced some earthquakes of lesser intensity
• Seismograph


  The instrument which measures the intensity of the earthquake waves
• The Richter scale was designed by seismologist Charles Richter in 1935
• The Richter scale ranges from 0 to 9, where each increase of 1 on the scale indicates a tenfold increase in the magnitude of the earthquake
• Major earthquake-prone regions of the world

  • Pacific Ring of Fire
  • Mid-Continental Seismic Belt
  • Mid-Atlantic Ridge Belt