Earthquakes are yet another form of activity that forms due to the basis of plate tectonics. These forms of natural disasters can be extremely devastating to people as well as property. Earthquakes are a great and sudden trembling and shaking of the ground. The earliest earthquake occurred in China in 1177 B.C. (Harris, 2001)
During the 1800s scientists began to piece together information as to why the earth shook. This research led to the correlation of plate tectonics and earthquakes. This activity occurs when tension from within the earth build up along fault lines. These faults occur when the Earth’s crust and the rocks move in various directions. When this occurs the rock masses snap thereby causing an earthquake. Often
times when one earthquake occurs several more follow thereafter this is caused because when one earthquake occurs kinetic energy is released, once this is released other faults close by begin to feel the pressure and therefore begin shaking as well. These additional shocks are called “aftershocks” or “foreshocks”. (Harris, 2001)
“It is a popular misconception that someday a powerful earthquake-the “big one”- will strike Southern California and it will fall into
the Pacific Ocean. In reality, southern California is not moving west. In fact, the southern half of California, which is part of the Pacific plate, is actually moving northward at a rate of 4 to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) a year. At this rate, in about 15 million years, Los Angeles could become a suburb of San Francisco.” (Southwestern Advantage, 2011)
During the 1800s scientists began to piece together information as to why the earth shook. This research led to the correlation of plate tectonics and earthquakes. This activity occurs when tension from within the earth build up along fault lines. These faults occur when the Earth’s crust and the rocks move in various directions. When this occurs the rock masses snap thereby causing an earthquake. Often
times when one earthquake occurs several more follow thereafter this is caused because when one earthquake occurs kinetic energy is released, once this is released other faults close by begin to feel the pressure and therefore begin shaking as well. These additional shocks are called “aftershocks” or “foreshocks”. (Harris, 2001)
“It is a popular misconception that someday a powerful earthquake-the “big one”- will strike Southern California and it will fall into
the Pacific Ocean. In reality, southern California is not moving west. In fact, the southern half of California, which is part of the Pacific plate, is actually moving northward at a rate of 4 to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) a year. At this rate, in about 15 million years, Los Angeles could become a suburb of San Francisco.” (Southwestern Advantage, 2011)