Earthquakes

and
Volcanos

Earth Science
Mr.McKay

Earthquakes
Earthquake The shaking and
trembling that results from the
sudden movement of part of the
Earths crust
Pebble in pond
Scientists predict over 1,000,000
earthquakes happen each year
Faulting is most common reason for
Earthquakes
San Andreas Fault
Fault Video

Tsunamis

Tsunami- A huge wave

caused by an earthquake
on the floor of the ocean
They can travel at speeds
of 700 to 800 MPH
They can reach Heights of
20 meters
The height of a 6 Story
Building
Tsunami Off of Thailand
Trouble in Paradise

Seismic Waves
Earthquake waves are
known as seismic waves
Focus- The point beneath
the Earths surface where
rocks break and move
The focus is the point of
origin for the earthquake

Epicenter- Directly above

the focus on the Earths
surface
Earthquake waves reach the
epicenter first
Seismic Waves

Seismic Waves
Primary waves P-waves: Seismic
waves that travel the
fastest
They arrive at a given
point before any other
type of wave
They travel through
Solids
Liquids
Gases

Seismic Waves
Primary waves They move through the
Earth differently
depending on the
material they are
traveling through
As they move deeper
into the Earth, where it
is more dense, they
move faster
They are push-pull
waves

Seismic Waves
Secondary Waves
S-Waves Seismic waves that do not travel
through the Earth as fast as P-waves do
S-waves arrive at a given point after P-waves do
S-waves travel through solids but not liquids and
gases

Seismic Waves

Surface Waves
L-waves: They are the slowest moving seismic waves
They arrive at a given point after P and S waves
They start at the epicenter and move along the Earths surface
Earths surface moves up and down like water waves do
They cause the most damage to the Earth because they bend and
twist the surface

Seismograph
Seismograph An
instrument that detects
and measures seismic
waves
Crude Seismographs
around for hundreds of
years
The first practical was
made in 1893 by John
Milne
Consists of
A weight attached to a spring
or wire
A pen attached to the weight
that records the movement of
the Earth on a paper, that is
wound tightly around a
constantly moving drum

Seismograph
Seismologists Scientists who
study earthquakes
PSP Seismograph
They can determine the strength of
an earthquake by studying the
height of the waves
They look at a Seismogram
They match the seismogram to a chart
called the Richter Scale
Invented in 1935
The scale is from one to ten, with any
earthquake above 6 being very destructive

Volcanoes
Formation

Magma: Rock deep within

the Earth

High temperature
High Pressure
Liquid State
Found in pockets called magma
chambers

Magma constantly moves and

works its way through cracks
toward the surface by melting the
solid rock

Volcanoes
Formation
Lava Magma that has reached
the Earths Surface
The place where magma becomes
lava is called a Volcano
The opening through which lava
erupts is called a vent
Volcanoes can have more than one
vent
Lava will poor from the sides of a
volcano as well as the top

Eruptions
All are not Alike
Some are quiet
Lava oozes from a vent

Others are violent

With lava and other material hurled
hundreds of feet in the air
Gases and earth material mix to be seen
from miles away

The opening through which lava

erupts is called a vent
Volcanoes can have more than one vent
Lava will poor from the sides of a
volcano as well as the top
Eruption

Eruptions
Scientists study the
makeup of the lava that
spews from the Volcanoes
vents to gain knowledge
about the interior magma
Types of Lava

Dark-colored/ Water
Light-colored/ little Water
Chemical composition of both
Large amounts of gases
Steam and carbon dioxide

Eruptions
During eruptions many rock fragments are blown
into the air
Smallest
Medium
Large

= volcanic dust
= volcanic ash
= volcanic bombs

Small volcanic bombs the size of golf balls are called Cinders

Types of
Volcanoes

Different types of volcanic eruptions form

different types of volcanoes
Cinder Cones - made mostly of cinders and other
rock particles that have been blown into the air
Form from explosive eruptions
Cones are not high
Narrow base & steep sides

Shield Volcanoes composed of mostly quiet lava

flows
Gently sloping, domed shaped mountain forms

Composite Volcanoes Built up of alternating layers

of rock particles and lava
First is a violent eruption
Then a quiet eruption
After many alternating eruptions a cone shape is formed

Types of
Volcanoes

At the top of a funnel-shaped pit or

depression is a pit
Called Crater
If it becomes to large it is called a Caldera
Super Eruption
Discovery Channel :: Virtual Super volcano

Zones
Three Major Zones
Nearly all the way around the edge of the
Pacific Ocean
Called the Ring of Fire

Near the Mediterranean Sea

Called the Mediterranean Zone

Third Extends through Iceland to the middle of

the Atlantic Ocean
Mid-Atlantic Ridge Long ridge of volcanoes