National Geographic Reading Explorer 3- Unit 4 Earthquakes 101

Summary

Earthquakes, a devastating natural phenomenon, originate from the movement of the Earth's 12 major tectonic plates. These plates float on magma and interact, causing quakes when they violently shift against each other, especially in subduction zones. The Richter scale measures their magnitude, with the strongest quakes causing significant destruction. On average, earthquakes claim 10,000 lives annually. Scientists and engineers work on predicting earthquakes and constructing resilient buildings to mitigate their impact.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Earth's crust is divided into 12 major tectonic plates that float on magma and constantly move.
• 💥 Earthquakes occur when two tectonic plates violently shift, bump, or push against each other.
• 🌋 The most violent earthquakes happen in subduction zones, where one plate is forced under another.
• 🏙️ Earthquakes can cause widespread destruction, as seen in Nepal in 2015 and Haiti in 2010.
• 🌊 Earthquakes under the ocean can trigger tsunamis, which have caused significant loss of life in Japan and Indonesia.
• 🔢 On average, earthquakes result in approximately 10,000 fatalities per year.
• 📊 The Richter scale measures the magnitude of earthquakes, with each whole number increase representing a tenfold increase in ground movement.
• 🚀 No earthquake has ever reached the highest magnitude of 10 on the Richter scale in recorded history.
• 🔍 There are over 500,000 detectable earthquakes annually, with 100 causing actual damage.
• 🏗️ Engineers are working on designing buildings that are stronger and more flexible to withstand earthquakes.
• 🔮 Scientists are actively researching methods to predict earthquakes and mitigate their impact.

Q & A

What causes the ground to shake and buildings to collapse as described in the script?

The ground shaking and buildings collapsing are signs of an earthquake, which is caused by the movement of tectonic plates against each other.

What are tectonic plates and how many major ones are there?

Tectonic plates are huge pieces of land that make up Earth's crust, floating on magma and constantly moving. There are 12 major tectonic plates.

What is a subduction zone and how does it relate to earthquakes?

A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another. It is the starting point for the most violent earthquakes.

How did the 2015 Nepal earthquake occur and what were its effects?

The 2015 Nepal earthquake occurred in a subduction zone and resulted in the destruction of many buildings and over 8,000 deaths.

What is a tsunami and how is it related to earthquakes?

A tsunami is a series of giant waves created when an earthquake happens under the ocean. It has the potential to cause significant damage and loss of life.

How many people on average die from earthquakes each year?

On average, earthquakes kill about 10,000 people per year.

What was the death toll from the 2010 Haiti earthquake?

The 2010 Haiti earthquake killed over 300,000 people, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes on record.

How many detectable earthquakes occur on Earth each year?

There are over 500,000 detectable earthquakes on Earth each year.

How is the magnitude or strength of an earthquake measured?

The magnitude or strength of an earthquake is measured using the Richter scale, which runs from 0 to 10.

What does a whole number increase on the Richter scale represent?

A whole number increase on the Richter scale represents 10 times more movement on the ground.

What are scientists and engineers doing to prepare for future earthquakes?

Scientists and engineers are designing stronger and more flexible buildings and looking for ways to predict earthquakes to protect homes and lives.