Earthquakes Basics
What are tectonic plates?
Tectonic plates are a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere
What causes earthquakes?
The rubbing together of two tectonic plates
What is a volcano made out of?
Hot molten rock, ash and gasses
Where do most of the earthquakes occur?
On coastlines, specifically near tectonic plates
Can we predict when earthquakes happen?
You can but the odds are it won’t be accurate.
What happens to the surrounding climate after a volcano erupts?
Volcanic eruptions actually cool the planet and they can influence climate and global temperature drops because of the gases and dust particles spewed into the atmosphere during the eruption.
Do earthquakes occur often?
Yes, but many are so small we can not feel them.
How is the hazard level determined in a certain area?
The hazard depends on the magnitudes and locations of likely earthquakes, how often they occur, and the properties of the rocks and sediments that earthquake waves travel through.
In the long term, what are the biggest impacts of a volcanic eruption?
Volcanoes have caused global warming over millions of years when extreme amounts of eruptions occurred, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and have caused an ozone hole.
What is a fault in the earth’s crust?
A fault is a break in the Earth’s crust along a tectonic plate
Why do so many earthquakes happen in California?
It is so prone to earthquakes because the state lies on the San Andreas fault.
What causes a volcano eruption to occur?
A volcanic eruption happens when the magma rises to the surface. It happens when tectonic plates are pulling apart.
What is the Richter scale?
The Richter scale measures the strength of an earthquake
What was the largest earthquake to ever happen?
Valdivia Earthquake: The most powerful quake was the 9.5-magnitude Valdivia Earthquake that struck in Chile in 1960
What is the relationship between volcanoes and tectonic plates?
Volcanoes and earthquakes both result from the movement of tectonic plates. Most volcanoes form at the boundaries of Earth's tectonic plates. Volcanoes are most common in these geologically active boundaries.