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Earthquakes 101 | National Geographic


April 18 1906 California San Andreas

April 18 1906 California San Andreas Fault

Fault

Fault snaps shaking San Francisco for nearly

snaps shaking San Francisco for nearly

snaps shaking San Francisco for nearly 60 terrifying seconds when the trembling

60 terrifying seconds when the trembling

60 terrifying seconds when the trembling stops the disaster is only beginning gas

stops the disaster is only beginning gas

stops the disaster is only beginning gas lines rupture setting off massive fires

lines rupture setting off massive fires

lines rupture setting off massive fires some seven hundred people died most of

some seven hundred people died most of

some seven hundred people died most of city is reduced to ruins

this trembling of the ground caused when

this trembling of the ground caused when masses of rock suddenly shift below the

masses of rock suddenly shift below the

masses of rock suddenly shift below the earth’s surface is called an earthquake

earth’s surface is called an earthquake

earth’s surface is called an earthquake hundreds of little earthquakes shake the

hundreds of little earthquakes shake the

hundreds of little earthquakes shake the planet every day but most pass unnoticed

planet every day but most pass unnoticed

planet every day but most pass unnoticed they usually occur along the boundaries

they usually occur along the boundaries

they usually occur along the boundaries of the thin plates that cover the earth

of the thin plates that cover the earth

of the thin plates that cover the earth like an eggshell driven by the heat deep

like an eggshell driven by the heat deep

like an eggshell driven by the heat deep within the Earth’s core the plates grind

within the Earth’s core the plates grind

within the Earth’s core the plates grind against each other along lines called

against each other along lines called

against each other along lines called faults when the plates motion is blocked

faults when the plates motion is blocked

faults when the plates motion is blocked stress builds up finally the fault gives

stress builds up finally the fault gives

stress builds up finally the fault gives way the released energy races through

way the released energy races through

way the released energy races through the earth in the form of seismic waves

the earth in the form of seismic waves

the earth in the form of seismic waves scientists record these waves on a

scientists record these waves on a

scientists record these waves on a device called a seismograph these zigzag

device called a seismograph these zigzag

device called a seismograph these zigzag lines show the strength of various

lines show the strength of various

lines show the strength of various seismic waves using the line scientists

seismic waves using the line scientists

seismic waves using the line scientists grade earthquakes on the Richter scale

grade earthquakes on the Richter scale

grade earthquakes on the Richter scale for a quick to measure one number higher

for a quick to measure one number higher

for a quick to measure one number higher on the Richter scale

on the Richter scale

on the Richter scale it must release about 30 times as much

it must release about 30 times as much

it must release about 30 times as much energy as the number below it

energy as the number below it

energy as the number below it every year about a hundred thousand

every year about a hundred thousand

every year about a hundred thousand earthquakes Rumble through the ground

earthquakes Rumble through the ground

earthquakes Rumble through the ground hard enough for people to feel them of

hard enough for people to feel them of

hard enough for people to feel them of these only about a thousand are strong

these only about a thousand are strong

these only about a thousand are strong enough to damage property but a powerful

enough to damage property but a powerful

enough to damage property but a powerful earthquake can be devastating on average

earthquake can be devastating on average

earthquake can be devastating on average about 10,000 people die each year as a

about 10,000 people die each year as a

about 10,000 people die each year as a result of earthquakes

the greatest recorded earthquake ever to

the greatest recorded earthquake ever to hit North America measured a massive 9.2

hit North America measured a massive 9.2

hit North America measured a massive 9.2 the tremor struck Alaska

the tremor struck Alaska

the tremor struck Alaska on March 28 1964 a camera on board a

on March 28 1964 a camera on board a

on March 28 1964 a camera on board a ship docked in Valdez recorded the

ship docked in Valdez recorded the

ship docked in Valdez recorded the draining of the entire harbor as a chasm

draining of the entire harbor as a chasm

draining of the entire harbor as a chasm opened up on the seafloor

opened up on the seafloor

opened up on the seafloor there’s no stopping the surface of the

there’s no stopping the surface of the

there’s no stopping the surface of the earth from changing and moving so

earth from changing and moving so

earth from changing and moving so engineers are focusing on ways to create

engineers are focusing on ways to create

engineers are focusing on ways to create better buildings highways and bridges

better buildings highways and bridges

better buildings highways and bridges and structures that will remain safe and

and structures that will remain safe and

and structures that will remain safe and stay in one piece the next time the

stay in one piece the next time the

stay in one piece the next time the earth begins to shape

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