A Discussion On Earthquakes :: essays research papers

A Discussion On EarthquakesPerhaps Mother temper offers no greater force than that of the earthquake.Across the span of time, earthquakes have been save for their incredibledestructive forces, and their abilities to awe mankind with their unparalleledforce. Earthquakes can often strike without any notice, leveling large citiesand killing scores of righteous people. Not only can earthquakes bring harm tosociety by these methods of destruction, but they can also causality millionsof dollars worth of damage to the areas they destroy, make economic chaos.An earthquake is a natural phenomenon, occurring throughout the history of theworld. Descriptions as old as recorded history show the significant effectearthquakes have had on peoples lives. Long before there were scientifictheories for the hasten of earthquakes, people around the world created folkloreto explain them. Until recent times, science has not had a completeunderstanding of how earthquakes are caused, and what can b e do to predictwhen they will strike. This essay will discuss how earthquakes are form andoccur, how scientists can much accurately predict the arrival of earthquakes.     Before contemplating how earthquakes capacity possibly be prevented, it isessential that the process and formation of and earthquake be understood.Earthquakes are caused when the earths crustal plates move, rub, or pushagainst from each one other. The earths crust (the outer grade of the earth) is made upof seven major plates and approximately thirteen small ones. The name plateis used to describe these portions of the earths crust because they areliterally plates or sections, composed of dirt and rock. These plates floaton molten lava, called magma. Since the plates are floating on magma, they canslowly move. The place where friction occurs amid plates is called a fault.A fault is a crack in a plate or a place where both or more plates meet. Anexample of a fault where two plates meet i s the San Andreas fault in California,where the Pacific and North American plates meet. The plates are about 30miles mysterious under land and can be one to five miles compact beneath the ocean.The plates move because of convection currents. Magma has currents like theocean does, that move in a circular motion beneath the plates. When two platesare pushing against each other, they are constantly building up tension on thefault. When two plates finally slip, they release a great amount of energy inthe form of shock waves. These shock waves cause vibrations, which in turncause the ground around the fault line to move and shake.