Earthquakes

Earthquakes are caused by a release of  sudden energy through the Earth's crust which sends out seismic waves, they can be  observed by using seismometers.  There are  two kinds of scales used to measure Earthquakes , the moment magnitude scale is used to measure whether  it is larger than 5 , the other scale used is local magnitude scale or known as the Richter scale. If a earthquake is 3 or lower then it doesn't  do very much damage , but if it is 7 or higher than it can cause a  huge amount of damage but that also depends on the depth as well.

On the Earth's  surface earthquakes can shake themselves and cause displacement of the ground ,  sometimes they can cause landslides , and on occasion volcanic activity. Earthquakes can be caused by a rupture of geological faults , along with landslides , volcanic activity , mine blasts , and nuclear tests. The earthquakes initial rupture is called its focus , or hypocenter. The epicenter is located just above the hypocenter , the epicenter is the point at ground level.

Earthquake Fault Types 
There are 3 kinds of fault types : strike- slip , normal , and thrust.  Normal and reverse faulting are examples of dip-slip , this is where a displacement along the fault is in the direction of the dip and the movement of them involves a vertical component. Normal faults can occur where the crust is being shortened . Strike- slip faults occur when where two parts of the strike - slip pass each other horizontally .

Earthquake Clusters 

Aftershocks - this occurs after the original earthquake has already hit, it happens in the same  region as the main shock but in a smaller magnitude. Aftershocks are formed as the crust around the displaced fault plane adjust to the effects of the main shock.

Earthquake swarms -  Earthquakes striking in a specific area within a short period of time .


Earthquake storms - sometimes a  series of earthquake storms occur during an earthquake , this is where a  earthquake  strike a fault in clusters , which is triggered by stress or shaking retribution from the previous earthquake.

My Personal Opinion
 To me I think that Earthquakes are interesting in a way because you are learning about how the Earth's crust is being affected by tectonic plates. I would not want to be in one that is for sure because by looking at these pictures sometimes the end results can be  devastating .

I don't  know what I would do if I ever had to deal with all of the damage and consequences of an earthquake.  I feel so bad for the people that go through this,  its like they are losing everything they have ever known. Could you imagine what it would be like when a earthquake hit ? I imagine that the ground would be  shaking  , and buildings would be crumbling to the ground.In my mind I do not think that it would be something I would like to experience in my lifetime.