Frequently Asked Questions (EARTHQUAKE)

Q: How do you know whether an earthquake is an

aftershock or not?
A: Large earthquakes often trigger smaller earthquakes as
aftershocks. The aftershocks occur because the earth has to
readjust to the new stress condition produced by the fact that
the large earthquake happened. Aftershocks exhibit a
particular pattern with time. If a small earthquake fits this
pattern that is part of this increased earthquake activity
following a large event, we call it an aftershock. If it does
not fit the pattern, then we say it is just another small
earthquake that is part of the natural background rate of
earthquake activity. Calling a small earthquake an
aftershock simply draws attention that it is related in space
or time to the large mainshock.
Q: Up to what wave intensity is the rictor scale used? And
what scale is used for larger earthquakes?
A: The magnitude scale for measuring the size of an
earthquake is based on the amplitude (not intensity) of a
seismic wave measured at a certain wave period (in seconds)
or frequency (in hertz). The original Richter magnitude
(designated the Local Magnitude scale) was designed to
work only in California. It is based on measuring the
amplitude of the seismic waves near 1 Hz or 1 sec period.
Because larger earthquakes release more of their energy at
longer periods (lower frequencies) than smaller earthquakes,
measuring the amplitude near 1-sec period waves is not
always a valid measure of the true "size" of the earthquake.
Because of this, the "Richter magnitude" is thus said to
saturate at about magnitude 7.0 to 7.5. This means that even
though the earthquake is larger, the amplitude near 1-sec
period does not significantly change. For larger earthquake
(> M7.5) we use other magnitude scales which measure
either the amplitude of seismic waves at longer periods
(anywhere from 20 seconds to 100 seconds), or we use a
completely different estimate for the size that takes into
account the surface area of rupture along the fault and the
amount of slip (displacment) on the fault. The latter is called
the seismic moment.
Q: How many earthquakes happen per year throughout the
world?
A: There are approximately 6,000 earthquakes per year
greater than magnitude 4.0, and hundreds of thousands of
smaller earthquakes that mostly go undetected. In southern
California, where there are hundreds of sensitive monitoring
stations, this network records between 2,000 and 10,000
earthquakes per year with magnitudes greater than about M
1.0.
Q: When do most earthquakes occur?
A: Earthquakes happen all the time. The earthquake itself is
thought to occur when the state of stress exceeds the
strength of the fault (or rock), the fault slips suddenly, and
the 'earthquake' or ground shaking begins.
Q: How does the depth of the earthquake affect the amount
of damage?
A: The depth of the earthquake has a very strong effect on
the amount of damage. The 1994 M6.7 Northridge
earthquake started at a depth of about 18 km (12 miles) and
ruptured up to a depth of 5 km (3 miles). It caused damaged
estimated to be between $20 billion and $40 billion and
killed about 60 people. In contrast, the 2001 M6.8 Nisqually

earthquake near Seattle occurred at a depth of 51 km (33

miles). No one was killed and damage was on the order of a
few $million. A large part of this difference was the greater
depth of the 2001 earthquake
Q: What do people do to try to minimize the damage caused
by earthquakes?
A: There are many things people do to minimize the damage
caused by earthquakes. The first is to recognize where large
earthquakes occur and to restrict building in these areas, and
require new buildings in earthquake prone areas to meet
higher standards to resist damage and collapse from
earthquake ground shaking. Older buildings are required to
be reinforced with added bracing, typically steel
reinforcement. There are also a lot of little things (like
strapping down your hot-water heater, putting latches on
kitchen cabinent doors, etc.) that you can do to your home to
minimize damage.
Q: Are animals able to detect earthquakes before they
happen?
A: This is a frequent question because of the many accounts
of animals acting unusually or being very agitated prior to
earthquakes. In nearly all well documented cases, the
answer is no.
Earthquakes, like lightening that produces both light and
sound (thunder), produces two kinds of waves, P-waves that
travel with the speed of sound in rock and S-waves that
travel at about 1/2 this speed. P-waves are also often much
smaller that the slower S-waves. What is actually happening
is that the animals, which are more sensitive to small ground
motions, are feeling either small foreshocks, or the firstarriving P-waves that are too small for humans to feel. The
larger main shock or the later-arriving S-waves then occur,
and the humans notice that the animals were agitated before
they were able to feel the earthquake themselves. In either
case, the animals are still experiencing earthquakes, not
predicting them. The animals are just experiencing the
earthquakes sooner, as they are more sensitive to the firstarriving seismic waves the earthquake (or earthquake
sequence) can produce.
Q: an earthquake, how deep does the crevice go when the
earth opens
A: A popular literary device is a fault that opens during an
earthquake to swallow up an inconvenient character. But
unfortunately for principled writers, gaping faults exist only
in novels. The ground moves across a fault during an
earthquake, not away from it. If the fault could open, there
would be no friction. Without friction, there would be no
earthquake. This information was obtained from:
http://www.scec.org/education/public/allmyths.html
http://www.crustal.ucsb.edu/outreach/faq.php
Earthquake A has a Richter magnitude of 7 as compared
with earthquake B's 6. The amount of ground motion is one
measure of earthquake intensity.
A is 10X more intense than B
A is 1000 more intense than B

Richter magnitude does not measure intensity

tsunami

B is 0.01X as intense than A

intense ground shaking

a landslide

In general, the most destructive earthquake waves are the

__________ .
P waves
S waves

all of these

Which of the following can trigger a tsunami?

undersea earthquakes

Surface waves
undersea landslides
Q waves
the eruption of an oceanic volcano
all of these

Which of the following statements is false?

Most earthquakes occur at plate boundaries
What causes the up-and-down wiggles on the seismogram
show above?
variations in air pressure
ground vibrations
tsunami waves
electromagnetic pulses

Who developed the procedure used to measure the size of an

earthquake?
Charles Richter
Edward Sheridan
James Hutton
Art Smith

Which of the following measures an earthquake's intensity

based on the observed effects on people and structures?
Richter scale
Modified Mercalli scale
the Centigrade scale

The time and location of most major earthquakes can

be predicted several days in advance
Earthquakes can be caused by normal, reverse and
strike-slip faulting
P waves travel faster than both S waves and Surface
waves
Which of the following observations may indicate a
forthcoming destructive earthquake?
An increase in the frequency of smaller earthquakes in
the region
rapid tilting of the ground
rapid changes in water levels in wells
all of these

Which of the following statements best describes the state of

earthquake prediction?
scientists can accurately predict the time and location
of almost all earthquakes
scientists can accurately predict the time and location
of about 50% of all earthquakes
scientists can accurately predict when an earthquake

the moment magnitude scale

will occur, but not where
scientists can characterize the seismic risk of an area,
Which of the following can be triggered by an earthquake?
but can not yet accurately predict most earthquakes

How often do magnitude 8 earthquakes occur?

about 5 to 10 times per year
about once a year
about every 5 to 10 years
about every 50 to 100 years

The point where movement occurred which triggered the

earthquake is the _______ .
dip
epicenter
focus
strike

The amount of ground displacement in a earthquake is

called the _________ .
epicenter
dip
slip
focus

Which of the following describes the build up and release of

stress during an earthquake?
the Modified Mercalli Scale
the elastic rebound theory
the principle of superposition
the travel time difference

http://www.uh.edu/~jbutler/physical/chap18mult.html
Questions and Answers:
1. What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is a natural phenomenon that occurs when
the Earth's plates that make up the earth's crust (the
taktonian plates) move. (As they move, an area of friction is
made between the two plates, and as the pressure that is
exerted on the area of friction increases above the pressure
between the plates, a rapid movement is caused = an
earthquake. During the process, a very large amount of
energy is released that is partially converted into waves that
are flowing within and outside the Earth, causing it to rock.

2. What is the magnitude, according to the Richter

Scale?
The magnitude is a relative measure of the amount of energy
that is released at the center of the earthquake. In the mid
30's, an American geologist, Prof. Richard Richter,
developed a method to measure the magnitude. The
magnitude is determined according to the amount of
vibration at the point of measurement. When the magnitude
has increased more than 1 unit, the amount of energy
released at the center of the quake is 30 times greater. All
earthquakes with a magnitude of one, always refers only to
the center of the quake.
3. Does the ground always shake?
Yes, there are a lot of elements on the Earth that create
seismic energy (human activity, headrest explosion, winds,
sea waves, etc. traveling waves on the Earth and tremors on
its surface. We call these movements background noise.
With this exception only, there are always very weak
earthquakes that are felt only by using a seismometer. Israel
deals with a number of minute quakes everyday, and whose
source is along the edge of the geological faults in our
region.
4. Which earthquake is the strongest ever recorded and
where did it occur?
Earthquakes with a magnitude of 9.2 were recorded in the
Pacific Ocean. They occurred at a long distance from
populated areas and did not cause any damage.
6. Is the first earthquake usually the most powerful?
Usually, yes, but not always. In the Eilat bay, there were
occurrences where the seismic activity began much earlier
with many weak quakes occurring and several days later a
powerful quake began to occur. In most of the cases, like the
earthquake of November 1995, the powerful quake was the
first.

7. Are additional earthquakes expected after a powerful

quake?
Almost always. After a powerful earthquake, weaker
quakes occur and part of them is likely to be felt by the
population. The amount of time that passes during the
activity is different from case to case. It can continue for
days or a few weeks or can continue for months or even
years.
14. What magnitude on the Richter Scale will cause
complete destruction heavy damage?
At no time will we see a situation of complete destruction.
What usually decides the amount of damage to a building is
its planning and quality of building. As a rule, there are
mostly concerns for earthquakes of the magnitude of 6 on
the Richter Scale to have caused destruction, harm and large
damage to property.
Preparation for Earthquake
How should I prepare for an earthquake event?
The rule that you should remember is that everything that
moves, breaks or falls can be a source of danger. Locate the
sources of danger in the institution and prevent them.
Store heavy objects or flammable objects in a
suitably, locked storage closet.

Put heavy objects on low shelves.

Remove or lock refrigerator wheels or any other
heavy object, or store them such that they do not
move.
Attach the water heating/cooling unit to the wall
by way of special metal bands.

20. Should one keep special aid equipment in case of an

earthquake?
As a rule, the recommended equipment for every emergency
situation is:
Good supply of water.
Fire extinguisher.
First aid kit.
Flashlight, transistor radio that operate on
batteries.
Instructions for behavior during an earthquake:
21. Is it recommended to stay next to an outside wall,
with the thought that if an earthquake occurs, I will
fall outside and not between the ruins?
No. there is no possible way to predict which wall or
other part of the building will be destroyed first during
an earthquake, and so, it is recommended to hide under
heavy furniture, like a dining table, doorway, etc.
22. Is it recommended to go to the emergency shelter
security room?
The question is a question of access. If it is within a
number of seconds to arrive to the shelter, it is ok, if
not; one should stay inside the building, under the
furniture. In principle, the shelter is more durable than a
regular building and it is capable of protecting from
pieces of a falling building.
23. I have an emergency room (Mamad). Is it
recommended to enter it during an earthquake?
Yes. If it is possible, enter quickly to the place.
24. What is the level of protection in a shelter during
an earthquake?
The protection in a shelter is maximum. Enter within, if
accessible.

After the Earthquake

28. Is it proper thinking that after an earthquake, to go
downstairs and stay in an open area because another
quake will occur?
Your thinking is correct. Be sure to disconnect electricity
and gas connections before leaving and take a transistor
radio. It is likely that to hear instructions by radio. On
should stay far away from buildings, trees, poles, etc. in an
open space.
29. In case of evacuation announcement, where will I be
evacuated to?
To an open area, free of buildings and obstacles. In the
second stage, emergency services will be setup in the
affected area, together with structures for receiving evacuees
to assist in organizing and transporting evacuees to these
structures. People will find shelter, clothing and food in
these structures and also information centers and points of
communication. People that remain there will be assisted
and trained and receive every necessary assistance.
30. Are there any rules to be followed during an
evacuation?
Before leaving the building, close all gas and
electric connections and valves.
Take any first aid equipment, water and food.
- Stay away from any buildings, ruins or unstable
structures.
http://old.haifa.muni.il/Haifa/enus/Pages/Earthquake.aspx?
x=97
Tsunami Quiz: Ten Facts on Killer Waves
1. What can cause a tsunami?
a. Landslide
b. Underwater earthquake
c. Volcanic eruption
d. All of the above
2. Do all undersea earthquakes trigger a tsunami?
a. Yes
b. No
3. What does the word "tsunami" mean in Japanese?
a. Tidal wave
b. Harbor wave
c. Killer wave
d. Century wave

25. I live on the first floor. What am I to do during

an earthquake?
If exiting to open air is within a few seconds do it! If
not, stay under some heavy furniture.
26. If I am outside of a building without any cover?
Stay outside!
Do not try to enter buildings, apartments, or
stairwells.
Try to distance yourself from buildings,
trees, tall poles and electric cables.
Try to cling to the ground and protect your
head with your arms.

4. Witnesses have said that an approaching tsunami

sounds like what?
a. Firecrackers exploding
b. A freight train
c. Ice cracking
d. Nothingthere is absolute silence
5. What is the most active tsunami area?
a. Pacific Ocean
b. Caribbean Sea
c. Indian Ocean
d. North Atlantic Ocean

27. If I am on a bus trip during an earthquake?

Stop and stay inside the vehicle until the
earthquake stops. (the vehicle protects you).
Continue traveling carefully to an open area.
Stay on a clean traffic route from dangers of
electric cables, bridges, etc.
.

6. What is the deadliest tsunami ever recorded?

a. The 1782 South China Sea tsunami
b. The 1868 northern Chile tsunami

c. The 1883 South Java Sea tsunami

d. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
7. How fast can a tsunami travel?
a. Up to 100 miles an hour (160 kilometers an hour)
b. Up to 200 miles an hour (320 kilometers an hour)
c. Up to 500 miles an hour (800 kilometers an hour
d. Up to 1,000 miles an hour (1,600 kilometers an hour)
8. Can you detect a tsunami in the open ocean?
a. Yes
b. No
9. Where was the largest tsunami in history recorded?
a. India
b. Philippines
c. Chile
d. Japan
10. What is frequently a warning sign of an impending
tsunami?
a. Winds suddenly change direction
b. The sky suddenly clears
c. Seawater suddenly retreats from the shore
d. All of the above
ANSWERS
1. d.Tsunamis are usually generated by undersea
earthquakes at tectonic plate boundaries, but they can also
be triggered by underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, or
even a giant meteor impact with the ocean.
2. b.An undersea earthquake creates a tsunami only if it is of
sufficient force and there is a violent enough movement of
the seafloor to displace a massive amount of water.
3. b.Our English word "tsunami" comes from the Japanese
term for "harbor wave." Tsunamis are not the same things as
tidal waves and actually consist of a series of waves.
4. b.Many witnesses have described the sound of an
approaching tsunami as being similar to a freight train's.
5. a.Most tsunamis, about 80 percent, happen within the
Pacific Oceans Ring of Fire, a geologically active area
where tectonic shifts make volcanoes and earthquakes
common.
6. d.In 2004 more than 200,000 peoplethe most ever
recordeddied in an Indian Ocean tsunami that was
triggered by an earthquake off Sumatra, Indonesia.
7. c.Tsunamis race across the sea at up to 500 miles (805
kilometers) an hourabout as fast as a jet airplane. At that
pace they can cross the entire expanse of the Pacific Ocean
in less than a day.
8. b.No. In the open ocean, the wave length of a tsunami is
hundreds of miles long and only a few feet high. Boaters are
safer out at sea during a tsunami than close to shore or tied
up at port.
9. d.In 1971 a wall of water 278 feet (84.7 meters) high
surged past Ishigaki Island, Japan. It moved a 750-block of
coral 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) closer to shore but did little
other damage.

10. c.If the tsunami's trough reaches shore first, it sucks the
water seaward, exposing the seafloor suddenly. The wave's
crest usually hits shore about five minutes later. Recognizing
this phenomenonand getting to higher ground
immediatelycan save lives.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/10022
7/tsunami-quiz/
Quiz Time
1. A tsunami is a series of giant waves generated by:

A. High winds

B. Stronger than normal tides

C. Large disturbance on ocean floor

D. Storms

2. Which of the following is a tsunami warning sign?

A. Water falling back quickly from beach

B. Pets and animals act in a strange manner

C. The weather gets stormy

D. None of the above

3. What does the word tsunami mean?

A. Big wave

B. Earthquake wave

C. Harbour wave

D. Tidal wave

4. What do tsunami look like in the open sea?

A. Hardly noticeable waves

B. Small cresting waves

C. Huge cresting waves

D. Huge non-cresting waves

5. What should you do if there is a tsunami warning issued?

A. Pack your belongings and leave as soon as

possible
B. Head immediately to higher ground or

inland
C. Go down to the shore to check if it is
correct

D. Look for your pets and put them away first

6. How far apart can the waves of a tsunami be?

A. There is only one wave

B. Only a few seconds

C. Only a few minutes

D. Up to an hour

7. How far inland should you go if there is a warning of a

tsunami?

A. Go down to the beach to look

B. One hundred metres

C. Five hundred metres

D. One kilometre

certain key responses such as people awakening, movement

of furniture, damage to chimneys, and finally - total
destruction. Although numerous intensity scales have been
developed over the last several hundred years to evaluate the
effects of earthquakes, the one currently used in the United
States is the Modified Mercalli (MM) Intensity Scale. It was
developed in 1931 by the American seismologists Harry
Wood and Frank Neumann. This scale, composed of
increasing levels of intensity that range from imperceptible
shaking to catastrophic destruction, is designated by Roman
numerals. It does not have a mathematical basis; instead it is
an arbitrary ranking based on observed effects.
The Modified Mercalli Intensity value assigned to a specific
site after an earthquake has a more meaningful measure of
severity to the nonscientist than the magnitude because
intensity refers to the effects actually experienced at that
place.
The lower numbers of the intensity scale generally deal with
the manner in which the earthquake is felt by people. The
higher numbers of the scale are based on observed
structural damage. Structural engineers usually contribute
information for assigning intensity values of VIII or above.
The following is an abbreviated description of the levels of
Modified Mercalli intensity.

8. How high above sea level should you try to get if there is
warning of a tsunami?

A. 5 metres above sea level

B. 10 metres above sea level

C. 35 metres above sea level

D. 55 metres above sea level

9. What should you never do if there is a tsunami warning?

A. Move at least a kilometre inland

B. Move to a place that is at least 35 metres

above sea level

C. Head to the beach to check if the tsunami is

coming
D. Stay calm

10. What should you do if there is a large or slow

earthquake while you are on the beach?

A. Stay put and wait for instructions

B. Ignore it

C. Move inland or uphill in a few minutes

D. Move inland or uphill immediately

The Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale

The effect of an earthquake on the Earth's surface is called
the intensity. The intensity scale consists of a series of

What is a tsunami?
The name Tsunami, from the Japanese words tsu meaning
harbour and nami meaning wave, is now used
internationally to describe a series of waves travelling across
the ocean. These waves have extremely long wavelengths,
up to hundreds of kilometres between wave crests in the
deep ocean.
In the past, tsunamis have been referred to as 'tidal waves' or
'seismic sea waves'. The term 'tidal wave' is misleading.
Even though a tsunami's impact upon a coastline is
dependent on the tidal level at the time a tsunami strikes,
tsunamis are unrelated to the tides. Tides result from the
gravitational influences of the moon, sun and planets. The
term 'seismic sea wave' is also misleading. Seismic implies
an earthquake-related generation mechanism. Earthquakes
are only one of several ways that a tsunami can be
generated. Tsunamis can also be caused by events such as
underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, land slumping
into the ocean, meteorite impacts, or even the weather when
the atmospheric pressure changes very rapidly.
What are the warning signs of a tsunami?

The number one warning sign of a tsunami in Australia is

the advice you may receive from the media (on radio or
television) or from police and other emergency services.
Follow their instructions immediately.
The following are natural signs of a tsunami that you may,
but not always, experience when you are near the coast in
Australia or overseas. If you notice any of these three
warning signs take action.
1.

A shaking of the ground in coastal regions may

reflect the occurence of a large undersea
earthquake nearby that may generate a tsunami.

2.

As a tsunami approaches shorelines, the sea may,

but not always, withdraw from the beach (like a
very low and fast tide) before returning as a fastmoving tsunami.

3.

A roaring sound may precede the arrival of a

tsunami.

What should I do if I notice the warning signs or hear a

warning from my local emergency services?
If you are at the beach, immediately move inland or
to higher ground.
If your boat is in deep water and offshore, maintain
your position.
If your boat is berthed or in shallow water, secure
your vessel and move inland or to higher ground.
If you are on the coast and cannot move inland,
seek shelter in the upper levels of a stable building.
Do not return to the coast until you receive official
clearance.

Continue to follow emergency services

instructions.

What is the difference between the Richter scale and the

Mercalli scale?
The Richter Scale is an absolute scale; wherever an
earthquake is recorded, it will measure the same on the
Richter Scale. Second, the Modified Mercalli scales
measures how people feel and react to the shaking of an
earthquake.
seismogram is a graph output by a seismograph. It is a
record of the ground motion at a measuring station as a
function of time.
Epicenter.The point on the Earths surface directly above the
focus of an earthquake.
Magnitude.The magnitude is a number that characterizes the
relative size of an earthquake. Magnitude is based on
measurement of the maximum motion recorded by a
seismograph.
Seismograph.An instrument that records vibrations of the
Earth, especially earthquakes.
Seismology.Science that deals with earthquakes and
attendant phenomenon including the study of artificially
produced elastic waves in the Earths material.