Geology Chapter 12 Practice Quiz

Questions and Answers

What are some ways that volcanoes and magma can cause earthquakes?

Volcanic explosions cause seismic waves, volcanoes can load the crust, causing faulting and earthquakes, many volcanoes have steep, unstable slopes that can cause landslides that shake the ground, and moving magma within or below the volcano can cause earthquakes.

What type of evidence was used in the investigation to locate where the earthquake occurred?

Seismograms from three stations.

Which of the following features was most likely the cause of the earthquake in the investigation?

Oceanic trench (correct)

Volcanic island

River valley

Mountain range

Which factors influence the velocity of P-waves as they travel through the Earth?

How rigid the material is, the density of the material, and how easily the rocks are compressed. Signup and view all the answers

What is long-range earthquake forecasting based on?

It is based mainly on the knowledge of when and where earthquakes occurred in the past, uses tectonic settings and historical records, and measures patterns of seismic activity along a fault to determine locations and recurrence intervals. Signup and view all the answers

What is short-term earthquake prediction?

It is complex, but techniques are still developing that hold promise. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to study prehistoric earthquakes?

To determine the recurrence intervals and likely size of earthquakes to help people in a region plan for future seismic events. Signup and view all the answers

When can sudden movement on a fault cause a tsunami?

When the fault suddenly uplifts or downdrops the seafloor. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Christchurch earthquake (2011) in New Zealand cause much more damage than the larger Canterbury earthquake (2010)?

It was closer to a large city with buildings that had been damaged by the earlier earthquake. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following did NOT cause damage in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake?

Tsunami Signup and view all the answers

What caused the huge 1964 Alaskan earthquake?

Thrusting along a subduction zone (megathrust). Signup and view all the answers

Most deaths from earthquakes are caused by:

Collapse of structures. Signup and view all the answers

What can cause extensive damage well after the ground shaking associated with an earthquake stops?

Tsunami, fire, and flooding from subsidence or failure of dams. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would NOT be a good idea in an area that has a high risk for earthquakes?

Having many new buildings made of rigid concrete or masonry Signup and view all the answers

How do we determine the location of a recent earthquake?

Use seismic records from three or more stations. Signup and view all the answers

What are characteristics of S-waves?

They cannot travel through liquids, they shear rock from side to side or up and down, and they displace the rock in a direction that is perpendicular to their travel direction. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of P-waves?

They compress and then expand the rock in the direction the wave travels. Signup and view all the answers

What are some ways earthquakes may be generated within a continental plate?

Intrusion of magma, continental rifting and normal faulting, transform faults, and movement of preexisting faults subjected to new stress. Signup and view all the answers

Most earthquakes occur along:

Plate boundaries. Signup and view all the answers

If an area has shallow, intermediate, and deep earthquakes, what can you infer about the area?

It is near a subduction zone, the shallow earthquakes will be closer to the trench than deeper ones, the depth pattern of earthquakes can be used to determine which way the slab is inclined, and this area has the potential for large earthquakes. Signup and view all the answers

When do rocks along a fault have the highest amount of stress and stored elastic strain?

Right before an earthquake. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main cause of death associated with the 2004 Indonesian earthquake?

A large ocean wave or tsunami. Signup and view all the answers

When did the December 26, 2004 Indonesian earthquake occur?

From subduction of the Indian-Australian plate. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the S-wave shadow zone occur?

S-waves cannot pass through the outer part of the core. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Volcanic explosions generate seismic waves that can cause earthquakes.
Volcanoes exert pressure on the crust, leading to faulting.
Steep, unstable slopes of volcanoes can result in landslides that create ground shaking.
Movement of magma within or beneath a volcano can trigger earthquakes.

Earthquake Localization Evidence

Seismograms from three monitoring stations are essential for pinpointing earthquake locations.

Earthquake Causes

The formation of an oceanic trench is a common cause of earthquakes.

P-wave Velocity Influences

The rigidity, density, and compressibility of geological materials affect the velocity of P-waves.

Earthquake Forecasting Techniques

Long-range forecasting relies on historical data, tectonic settings, and seismic activity patterns.
Short-term predictions are complex and still evolving.

Importance of Prehistoric Earthquakes

Studying prehistoric events aids in understanding recurrence intervals and potential magnitude, providing critical information for future seismic risk planning.

Tsunami Generation

Sudden fault movements that uplift or downdrop the seafloor can lead to tsunami formation.

Christchurch vs. Canterbury Earthquakes

The 2011 Christchurch earthquake inflicted more damage due to proximity to cities and prior structural damage from earlier quakes.

1906 San Francisco Earthquake Damage

A tsunami was not a contributing factor in the damage from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

1964 Alaskan Earthquake

One of the largest recorded earthquakes, caused by thrusting along a subduction zone.

Deaths from Earthquakes

The majority of earthquake-related fatalities result from building collapses.

Damage Aftershocks

Extensive post-event destruction can occur from tsunamis, fires, and flooding caused by dam failures or ground subsidence.

Building Safety in Earthquake-Prone Areas

Constructing rigid concrete or masonry buildings is not advisable in high-risk earthquake zones.

Earthquake Location Determination

The position of recent earthquakes is identified through seismic records from three or more monitoring stations.

Characteristics of S-waves

S-waves cannot travel through liquids and displace rock perpendicularly to their travel direction.

Characteristics of P-waves

P-waves compress and expand rock in the same direction as their propagation.

Earthquake Generation Mechanisms

Earthquakes within continental plates can result from magma intrusion, rifting, normal faulting, transform faults, or stress on preexisting faults.

Earthquake Occurrence

The majority of earthquakes are concentrated along tectonic plate boundaries.

Earthquake Depth Insights

An area with shallow, intermediate, and deep earthquakes indicates proximity to a subduction zone, where shallow quakes are often closer to trenches.

Stress in Faults

Maximum stress and elastic strain in rocks along a fault occur just before an earthquake strikes.

Main Cause of 2004 Indonesian Earthquake Deaths

The significant loss of life from the 2004 Indonesian earthquake resulted from the tsunami it generated.

Subduction of the Indian-Australian Plate

The December 26, 2004 Indonesian earthquake was triggered by the subduction of this tectonic plate.

S-wave Shadow Zone

The S-wave shadow zone is attributed to S-waves being unable to traverse the outer core, resulting in areas where these waves do not reach.

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Description

Test your knowledge on volcanic activity and its impact on earthquakes in Geology Chapter 12. This quiz explores the connections between magma movements, volcanic explosions, and seismic activity. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of the geological processes involved in these phenomena.