Difference between revisions of "Earthquake"
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Earthquakes are a significant natural [[hazard]] to populations living in areas prone to them, and emergency responses to the hazard vary with economic development. The most powerful and destructive earthquakes occur at tectonic plate boundaries like the [[San Andreas Fault]]. | Earthquakes are a significant natural [[hazard]] to populations living in areas prone to them, and emergency responses to the hazard vary with economic development. The most powerful and destructive earthquakes occur at tectonic plate boundaries like the [[San Andreas Fault]]. | ||
| − | The severity of earthquakes is measured using the [[Richter scale]]. | + | The severity of earthquakes is measured using the [[Richter scale]] with largest quake ever recorded being 9.5 which struck Chile in 1960<ref>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php<ref>. |
Revision as of 02:08, March 14, 2011
An earthquake is when the Earth shakes, caused by tectonic activity in an area after the release of stored energy from the rock. Earthquakes most commonly occur on tectonic plate boundaries, and also occur along faults where previous movement has occurred. There are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.
Earthquakes are a significant natural hazard to populations living in areas prone to them, and emergency responses to the hazard vary with economic development. The most powerful and destructive earthquakes occur at tectonic plate boundaries like the San Andreas Fault.
The severity of earthquakes is measured using the Richter scale with largest quake ever recorded being 9.5 which struck Chile in 1960<ref>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php<ref>.
