Earthquake: Earthquake Causes and Effects

Earthquake: Earthquake Causes and Effects

An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth. It’s all about tectonic plates which make waves and energy that travel all over the earth’s surface. While the wave travels, the tectonic plates lose the power wave continuously. In a word, we can say Earthquake occurs because of the tectonic movements in the Earth's crust.

The reason for Earthquakes

Earthquakes usually happen when two or more tectonic plates collapse or move. It happens because underground tectonic plates always move but the movement is very slow. And when two plates collapse in this process the active sides release energy. And this energy makes a wave that makes the ground shaking.

The effect of Earthquake

There are many effects of Earthquake, most of them are:

• Shaking Ground: The main reason behind the earthquake is the shaking of the ground. It causes many damages to the buildings and other man-made concrete structures. Sometimes the buildings and structures collapse down because of the hard shaking of the ground.
• Tsunamis: Tsunamis are a huge wave of ocean water. It is the result of earthquakes under the oceans. It is a natural disaster that is very dangerous. Many people die because of tsunamis. We see frequent tsunamis in Japan. 
• Surface Rupture: Surface Rupture is a common effect of the earthquake. It occurs at the time when earthquake breaks the Earth’s surface.

Type of earthquake

Four types of earthquakes we can see usually. They are:

• Collapse: A collapse earthquake is small earthquakes in underground caverns and mines that are caused by seismic waves produced from the explosion of rock on the surface. 
• Explosion: An explosion earthquake is happened because of the detonation of a nuclear or chemical device.
• Volcanic: A volcanic earthquake is a result of an underground tectonic plat force. Lava came outside because of the pressure of the underground. 
• Tectonic: A tectonic earthquake is one that occurs when the earth's crust breaks due to geological forces on rocks and adjoining plates that cause physical and chemical changes.

What to do during an earthquake

Earthquake is a natural disaster and we cannot stop it. Earthquake is one of the most dangerous natural disasters ever because we cannot predict them. Although we know about every natural disaster previously, no scientist can find out when an earthquake will happen. But scientists have been successful estimate the earthquake zone. The zones are the witness of earthquakes for many times. The areas may also face it in the future. So, we cannot stop it from occurring. The only thing we can do is to know some tactical points to save us.

It is very dangerous to run in the time of an earthquake because the land is shaking. You could have easily fallen into the ground and being injured by debris or glass. The building, structure, glass, bricks or any other component of a building may fall over you. 

Try to stay inside in a building and get under a table or other objects which can protect you from the ceiling collapse. Stay calm. If you are outside, stay outside but don’t run. If you are indoor, stand near the center of the building. Do not stay nearby any window or door.