Earthquake Creation and Aftermath
When tectonic plates slip past each other, they create faults. A fault is a crack in a bed of rock below the surface. These faults can be hundreds of miles long and have small branches spreading out many miles everywhere. If there were no faults, the Earth’s bedrock would be flat and smooth, meaning there would be no friction to cause the quakes. As time goes on, energy stores up in these faults and all of a sudden a blast of low frequency sound waves spreads out, causing the ground to shake. The surface where it happens is called the fault or fault plane. Where the earthquake originates is called the hypocenter and the spot directly above is called the epicenter. When these waves bounce back from the inner core of the Earth, they create an aftershock with the leftover waves.
What causes earthquakes- Pieces of the crust and mantle are referred to as tectonic plates. These plates make up all of the Earth’s surface. The plates move and get stuck together on their jagged edges. While the rest of the plate continues to move, the edges are stuck together. This force builds up. When the edges unstick, an earthquake is released.
What is the aftermath- Earthquakes can be extremely deadly. In southern Italy in 1909 more than 100,000 people perished in an earthquake that struck the region. Landslides can occur when an earthquake shakes loose soil and dirt. In addition, when plates fault underwater, they create a shift in sea water, creating a giant wave or tsunami. These waves can destroy cities on the coast.
What causes earthquakes- Pieces of the crust and mantle are referred to as tectonic plates. These plates make up all of the Earth’s surface. The plates move and get stuck together on their jagged edges. While the rest of the plate continues to move, the edges are stuck together. This force builds up. When the edges unstick, an earthquake is released.
What is the aftermath- Earthquakes can be extremely deadly. In southern Italy in 1909 more than 100,000 people perished in an earthquake that struck the region. Landslides can occur when an earthquake shakes loose soil and dirt. In addition, when plates fault underwater, they create a shift in sea water, creating a giant wave or tsunami. These waves can destroy cities on the coast.