EARTHQUAKE
Earthquake implies the sudden movement of the earth’s tectonic plates that trigger shaking of the earth’s surface. The shaking that results from the earthquake can cause significant damages to the earth’s surface; hence are a form of a natural disaster.
Notably, not all types of earthquakes are disastrous as some are weak. These go unnoticed, but there are major earthquakes whose magnitude triggers violent effects on the earth’s surface. Earthquakes usually occur in two main areas. The hypocenter depicting a location where the quake starts and an epicenter where he seismic rupture effects begin to show (Allen et al., 2009). The catastrophic nature of earthquakes depends on its magnitude and intensity that is measured using equipment the Richter scale that observes the extent of the seismographs.
Consequently, it is crucial to affirm that earthquakes mostly occur in fault line locations, and the impact of crushing of rocks in the fault line locations leads to massive tremors leading to earthquakes. Earthquakes around the world are located along the edges of oceanic and continental plates, especially along the Pacific Ocean basin that is famously known as the Ring of Fire”.
The area witnesses a series of continuous activities ranging from slipping between tectonic plates and faulting of the plates making the region an active hotspot for occurring of earthquakes. The countries around the Pacific basin, including Guatemala, New Zealand, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States of America, are highly vulnerable to earthquakes, unlike those outside the ring (Stenhouse, 2018).
It is also important to note that the area is prone to volcanic eruptions that make the earth surface vulnerable, hence making tectonic and oceanic plates to weaken exposing the earth’s crust to faults that trigger catastrophic effects on the earth surface. It is essential to affirm that earthquakes are highly unpredictable. Only through possessing knowledge on the likely risks that persons can overcome the dangers of earthquakes.
References
Johnson, BjjjAllen, Allen, R. M et al. (2009). The Status of Earthquake Early Warning around the World: An Introductory Overview. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/38975825_The_Status_of_Earthquake_Early_Warning_around_the_World_An_Introductory_Overview
Stenhouse, A. (2018). What is the Pacific Ring of Fire? The facts, causes, and countries affected. Retrieved from: https://www.mirror.co.uk/science/what-pacific-ring-fire-facts-12342864
