Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which earthquake scale is most suitable for measuring the total energy released during a major earthquake?
Which earthquake scale is most suitable for measuring the total energy released during a major earthquake?
- Seismic Wave Amplitude Scale
- Richter Scale
- Modified Mercalli Scale
- Moment Magnitude Scale (correct)
A seismologist is evaluating earthquake risk in a particular region. Which combination of indicators would suggest a higher risk?
A seismologist is evaluating earthquake risk in a particular region. Which combination of indicators would suggest a higher risk?
- Buildings designed to withstand earthquakes, infrequent past earthquakes, and low population density.
- High population density, frequent past earthquakes, and geology prone to ground motion. (correct)
- Low population density, infrequent past earthquakes, and geology resistant to ground motion.
- Geology resistant to ground motion, buildings designed to withstand earthquakes, and frequent past earthquakes.
At which of the following plate boundaries are volcanoes LEAST likely to form?
At which of the following plate boundaries are volcanoes LEAST likely to form?
- Divergent Boundaries
- Transform Boundaries (correct)
- Convergent Boundaries
- Hot Spots
What is the primary factor that determines whether a volcanic eruption will be violent or quiet?
What is the primary factor that determines whether a volcanic eruption will be violent or quiet?
Which type of volcano is characterized by its large size, shield shape, gentle slopes, and predominantly gentle eruptions?
Which type of volcano is characterized by its large size, shield shape, gentle slopes, and predominantly gentle eruptions?
During a volcanic eruption, ash fall can have several effects. Which of the following is a significant consequence of ash fall on a global scale?
During a volcanic eruption, ash fall can have several effects. Which of the following is a significant consequence of ash fall on a global scale?
A town is located near a volcano with a history of explosive eruptions. Which of the following volcanic hazards poses the MOST immediate and deadly threat to the residents?
A town is located near a volcano with a history of explosive eruptions. Which of the following volcanic hazards poses the MOST immediate and deadly threat to the residents?
How does the formation of a caldera typically occur?
How does the formation of a caldera typically occur?
Which type of fault is most commonly associated with transform plate boundaries?
Which type of fault is most commonly associated with transform plate boundaries?
During an earthquake, what distinguishes the focus from the epicenter?
During an earthquake, what distinguishes the focus from the epicenter?
Why are S-waves crucial in determining that Earth's outer core is liquid?
Why are S-waves crucial in determining that Earth's outer core is liquid?
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relative speeds and characteristics of P-waves and S-waves?
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relative speeds and characteristics of P-waves and S-waves?
Which of the seismic waves typically causes the most significant damage to surface structures during an earthquake?
Which of the seismic waves typically causes the most significant damage to surface structures during an earthquake?
What is the primary purpose of using triangulation with seismic data from multiple stations?
What is the primary purpose of using triangulation with seismic data from multiple stations?
An earthquake occurs. Station A records the arrival of the P-wave 3 minutes before the S-wave. Station B, located further away, records a lag time of 5 minutes. What does this difference in lag time indicate?
An earthquake occurs. Station A records the arrival of the P-wave 3 minutes before the S-wave. Station B, located further away, records a lag time of 5 minutes. What does this difference in lag time indicate?
At a location near a plate boundary, frequent small earthquakes are recorded, but no major earthquakes have occurred in recent history. What could this indicate about the fault in this area?
At a location near a plate boundary, frequent small earthquakes are recorded, but no major earthquakes have occurred in recent history. What could this indicate about the fault in this area?
Flashcards
Earthquake
Earthquake
Vibrations in the Earth’s ground due to the movement of plates at fault lines.
Fault
Fault
A break in Earth’s lithosphere where one block of rock moves toward, away from, or past another.
Strike-Slip Fault
Strike-Slip Fault
Occurs at transform plate boundaries (plates slide past each other).
Normal Fault
Normal Fault
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Reverse Fault
Reverse Fault
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Seismic Waves
Seismic Waves
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Focus
Focus
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Epicenter
Epicenter
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Richter Scale
Richter Scale
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Moment Magnitude Scale
Moment Magnitude Scale
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Modified Mercalli Scale
Modified Mercalli Scale
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Volcano
Volcano
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Convergent Boundary Volcanoes
Convergent Boundary Volcanoes
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Shield Volcano
Shield Volcano
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Composite Volcano
Composite Volcano
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Caldera
Caldera
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Study Notes
Earthquakes
- Quakes come from vibrations in the Earth's ground
- These vibrations are due to the movement of plates at fault lines
- Most quakes occur along plate boundaries
Faults
- Faults are breaks in the Earth's lithosphere
- Breaks occur when a block of rock moves toward, away from, or past another block
Type of Fault
- Strike-Slip faults occur at transform plate boundaries
- Normal faults occur at divergent plate boundaries
- Reverse faults occur at convergent plate boundaries
Seismology
- Seismic waves transmit energy that travels as vibrations on and in Earth
- The focus is a point inside Earth which the Earthquakes first starts
- The epicenter is the location on Earth's surface directly above the focus
Seismic Waves
- Primary waves travel in a push/pull motion
- Primary waves are the fastest moving seismic waves
- Primary waves can travel through solids and liquids
- Secondary waves are slower than P waves but faster than surface waves, and can only only travel through solids
- Surface waves move in a rolling motion
- Surface waves are the slowest seismic waves
- Surface waves cause the most damage
Earth's Interior Discovery
- Scientists discovered that Earth's outer core is liquid based on seismic wave behavior
- Secondary waves cannot travel through liquids
- Primary waves travel through both solids and liquids
Finding the Epicenter
- Find the difference between the arrival time of the P wave and the S wave to find the lag time
- Use an earthquake graph to determine the distance from the epicenter
- Draw a circle with the correct distance around the station, and repeat for two more stations
- the epicenter is where the circles intersect
Scales for Earthquakes
- Richter Scale measures the amount of ground motion at a given distance
- The Moment Magnitude scale measures the total amount of energy released by an earthquake
- The Modified Mercalli Scale measures the intensity of an earthquake based on the amount of damage. I - XII
Earthquake Risk Factors
- Past earthquakes
- Probability of quakes
- Population density
- Geology around a fault
- Building design
Volcanoes
- A volcano a vent in Earth's crust through which molten rock flows
Where Volcanoes Form
- Convergent boundaries: Where two plates collide and one plate subducts under another plate, causing volcanoes to form
- Divergent Boundaries: are Where two plates separate and magma comes out, like mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys
- Hot Spots: locations where volcanoes that are not associated with plate boundaries form, like Hawaii
Types of Volcanoes
- Shield Volcanoes: Are large shield shaped volcanoes with gentle slopes and gentle eruptions
- Composite Volcanoes: Are large steep-sided volcanoes that result from explosive eruptions
- Cinder Cone Volcanoes: Are small, steep sided volcanoes that erupt gas rich, basaltic lavas, and have moderately explosive eruptions
Caldera
- A caldera is a large volcanic depression created when the summit of the volcano collapsed during a violent eruption
Eruptions
- Violent eruptions contain lava with a high viscosity and gas content
- Quiet Eruptions: contain lava with a low viscosity and gas content
Effects of Eruptions
- Lava flows; Move slowly and can destroy towns, but are rarely deadly
- Ash fall causes breathing problems and can cool Earth's atmosphere/disrupt air traffic
- Mudflows cause snow and ice to melt, which mixes with mud/ash
- Pyroclastic flows, produced from violent eruptions, throw gas, ash and rock into the air
Forecasting Methods
- Measuring ground deformation
- Noting increases in earthquakes frequencies
- Measuring increases in volcanic gas
- Noting if water near a volcano becomes more acidic
Climate Changing Effects
- Volcanic ash can block the sun which causes a decrease in global temperatures
- Can cause acid rain
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Description
This lesson covers earthquakes, including their causes from plate movement at fault lines. It classifies different fault types based on plate boundaries and introduces seismology concepts. It also describes seismic waves, focusing on primary and secondary waves and their properties.
