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Learning About Earthquakes
Introduction:
Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon. The top plates of the earth are in constant motion, but generally move so slowly as to be imperceptible to humans. Occasionally, however, these plates, which have jagged edges, catch on each other. When they become unstuck, the built-up energy is released and is experienced as an earthquake, which can range from so mild that it is noticed only by scientific instruments to so devastating that it causes severe and widespread damage. When large earthquakes occur, the results can be catastrophic, with terrible loss of human lives and untold economic cost.
According to the United States Geological Survey each year there are more than 10,000 earth quakes and in many years the number reaches above 30,000. That's a lot of movement! The good news is that most of those earthquakes measure 4.9 or less in magnitude and aren't really felt by humans.
Follow these links and resources that will offer you a variety of opportunities to learn more about earthquakes. I hope you will find them useful.
The Internet Web sites:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/facts.php
This web site is provided by the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program which contains larger collection of factual information about Earthquakes.
This article contains a personal experience of a writer during the Nepal Earthquake, how the earthquake and aftershocks destroyed the city of Kathmandu, how people lived in fear and the whole communication system was broken down.
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/hazards/earthquakes/home.html
This website on British Geological Survey explains Earthquake and Seismology very precisely.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-an-earthquake-definition-history.html
This study website for students contains an interesting video with detailed definition and components related to Earthquakes.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml
EnchantedLearning.com is a user supported website which blends the ideas of Earth’s Plates and Continental Drift with practical images and visual aids.
http://earthsci.org/processes/geopro/seismic/seismic.html
This website contains information from the lecture notes of Prof. Stephen A. Nelson Tulane University about Earthquakes, Seismic Waves, Richter Scale and preparation during the disaster.
http://www.geography-site.co.uk/pages/physical/earth/cause.html
This Geography Site helps you find the terminologies of Epicenter, types of Shockwaves, Tectonic and Volcanic Earthquakes encompassing all the ideas together.
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/PLATETEC/RotationQk2004.HTM
This is an online article by Steven Dutch, Professor of Natural and Applied Sciences in the University of Wisconsin who answered numerous inquiries about earthquakes affecting the rotation of the earth.
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/earth/85.cfm
This is an exceptional interactive website from the University of Illinois Extension that focuses on volcanoes, earthquakes and glaciers. It provides audio support for the text, and is very accessible to English Language Learners. There are number of neat online activities on the site.
http://www.fema.gov/kids/quake.htm
A FEMA site for kids which explains earthquakes and provides information as to what they can do if they experience one. Sections: Shake with the Quake Story; The Northridge Earthquake; Fact or Fiction; Historic Earthquakes; Map of Earthquake Risk States and Disaster Intensity Scales. Also includes a Photos section.