Question

What are the effects of earthquake

Answer 1

Earthquakes: collateral effects The energy released from an earthquake can be up to 10,000 times more powerful than the first atomic bomb. Its side-effects can be: Ground shaking Shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves, especially surface waves near the epicentre of the earthquake are responsible for the most damage during an earthquake. The intensity of ground shaking depends on: conditions of the local geology influence evenuts: solid bedrock is far less subject to intense shaking than loose sediment;duration and intensity of the earthquake are subject generally to the size of the earthquake;distance: ss the distance from the epicentre drops off so the intensity of the shaking decreases. This depends on the type of material underlying the area. There are however some exceptions. The 1985 Earthquake in Mexico city (magnitude 8.1) had its epicentre 350 Kms away to the south on the coast. Damage to city was extensive as Mexico city is built on a former lake made up of soft unconsolidated sediment (see: Liquefaction further down). Faulting and Ground Rupture When an earthquake event occurs, ground rupture is only where the fault zone moves. Those constructions built adjacent to the fault will survive while structures built across these zones will collapse. Landslides and ground subsidence Avalanches, landslides, slumps and rock slides are triggered by ground shaking. These landslides are often more destructive than the earthquakes. A residential area in Alaska (Turnagain Heights) was destroyed by a shock induced landslide as well as are in downtown Anchorage. Damage to man-made structures Damage to man-made structures, such as roads, bridges, dams and buildings from ground motion depends on the type of construction: concrete and masonry structures are brittle and thus more susceptible to damage and collapse;damage to wood and steel structures is far less because of its flexibility.