Name: ______________________

Class: 3G

As you read the article, take note of the following details with regard to the Washington D.C. earthquake, 23rd August 2011.
When an earthquake occurs, two things need to be determined quite quickly: the epicentre and the magnitude. 1. What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is the shaking and vibration of the Earth's crust due to movement of the Earth's plates (plate tectonics). Earthquakes can happen along any type of plate boundary. Earthquakes occur when tension is released from inside the crust. Plates do not always move smoothly alongside each other and sometimes get stuck. When this happens pressure builds up. When this pressure is eventually released, an earthquake tends to occur. (Does this definition agree with your textbook? ) Based on this definition, what can you gather about plate movements and earthquakes? Are there plate movements that will generate more severe earthquakes?

2.

Time the earthquake occurred: ______________________ Do earthquakes occur in this area? How did the earthquake occur on 23rd August in Washington D.C.?

3.

The MAGNITUDE of the earthquake What is the meaning of MAGNITUDE of an earthquake? o What is the meaning of INTENSITY of an earthquake?

What does Richter scale of 5.8 mean to you? How long did the quake last? 1

Prepared by Esther Cheong for Anglican High School 2011

So you think it would be more devastating if the quake lasted longer? Why?

Study the chart below and answer the questions that follow: Earthquake Magnitude Scale

Magnitude 2.5 2.5 5.5 6.1 7.0 or less to 5.4 to 6.0 to 6.9 to 7.9

Earthquake Effects

Usually not felt, but can be recorded by seismograph. Often felt, but only causes minor damage. Slight damage to buildings and other structures. May cause a lot of damage in very populated areas. Major earthquake. Serious damage. Great earthquake. Can totally destroy communities near 8.0 or greater the epicenter.

Estimated Number Each Year 900,000 30,000 500 100 20 One every 5 to 10 years

What does the chart tell you about the earthquake experienced by Washing D.C on 23rd August, 2011?

4.

The EPICENTRE of the earthquake The actual source of an earthquake, called its focus, is usually many kilometres deep in the Earth. The epicentre is the place on the Earth's surface directly above the earthquake's focus. The energy that is released travels outwards from the focus in waves and people and buildings are shaken when those waves reach their area.

Where was the epicenter located? What was the depth of the earthquake? What other dangers will Washington DC be exposed to if the earthquake had been more violent?

Prepared by Esther Cheong for Anglican High School 2011

Would you consider Washington D.C. earthquake on 23rd August devastating? o Lets investigate! o What are the damages?

Structural

Economic

Lives injured/ Loss of lives

On Monday 12 May 2008, an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 struck northwestern Sichuan province of China. It is the most devastating earthquake in China in more than three decades. As of June 1, 69,016 deaths have been confirmed, 368,565 people have been injured, and many more have lost their Prepared by Esther Cheong for Anglican High in Sichuan, homes. Our thoughts are with the people School 2011 China. By USGS

After Thoughts: Why are some earthquakes more devastating than others?

The devastating earthquakes that hit China on 12 May 2008, Italy on 6 April 2009 and Haiti one month ago all measured above 6.0 and took many lives. But why was the human cost so much greater for Haiti? The reason he predicted the effects of the quake would be so grave, Mr Garratt explains, is that there are a number of critical factors, learned through years of experience, that contribute to the scale of devastation following such big shifts of the Earth's crust. One is, perhaps obviously, the size of the quake , but also how near it is to the surface, the density of the population near its epicentre, as well as whether there are any heavily urbanised areas nearby. These all indicate a higher death toll - and were all features of the Haiti quake. But poverty also plays its role, Mr Garratt explains, as it exacerbates a country's or region's vulnerability to such disasters. In places such as Haiti, where 72.1% of the population live on less than $2 a day, and in cities like Port-auPrince, where many are housed in poor and densely-packed shantytowns and badly-constructed buildings, the devastation is always expected to be greater. "These countries have less money to put into buildings and there is less governance ensuring building codes are followed," Mr Garratt explains. "Corruption can also be an issue and so, even when there are government structures to ensure building codes are followed, there are bribes that enable people to take short cuts. "Put simply - there are the technical elements of the earthquake and then the social elements on top of that." By BBC.

Here are some questions to guide your thinking: Are all developed nations able to cope with devastating earthquakes? Earthquakes cannot be prevented but there are measures to mitigate the devastations brought about by earthquakes. Do you agree? Generate your own questions and be ready for next class.

Prepared by Esther Cheong for Anglican High School 2011