1886 Earthquake of Charleston - Research Paper Example

The 1886 Charleston Earthquake Introduction In 1886, an intra-plate earthquake hit Charleston, South Carolina. This earthquake is recorded as the most powerful quake to hit the South East of the US because of the immense damage which it caused in this region. Even though the quake lasted less than one minute, its implications on Charleston were significantly damaging to property and life.1 It is estimated that the earthquake resulted in the destruction of more than 2,000 structures and buildings. The value of the damages which the earthquake caused is approximated to be over $145 million. The loss of human life is estimated to be about 108 people. Some of the negative implications of the 1886 Charleston earthquake are observed even up to the present days.2 This paper gives a critical analysis of the Charleston quake of 1886 with illustrations of its consequence for the region at the time and of what it means to the modern political, social and economic systems. The physical damages that the earthquake caused in the Charleston region include the displacement of large portions of tracks and curvy formations in addition to longitudinal land movements. In the region, more than 75 km of rail lines were also destroyed. Geographic malformations such as fissuring and craters were formed extensively in the region.3 These malformations indicate the powerful nature of the earthquake. Therefore, both economic and social implications were felt as a result of the earthquake, as revealed by the deaths of people, displacement and destruction of infrastructure which served to support the economy within this region. The regions surrounding Charleston also felt the impact of the earthquake which was experienced even more than 60 miles away. Other sources reported that structures were damaged as far as in Kentucky, Ohio and Alabama which are located hundreds of miles away for the region of Charleston. Toward the Northern Side, reports showed that the quake was experienced in Boston and New Orleans to the West.4 The extensive nature of the earthquake is illustrated by its reach and the geographical scale that it was measured to have reached. The measurement of the quake was estimated to have reached up to 7.3 as revealed in the Richter scale. The soil liquefaction which characterized this earthquake was recorded along the affected areas. It is said that there are minor quake activities in this region which have been recorded and measured by geologists in order to determine the possibility of a major quake happening again and the implications that would result from it. The minor activities of quakes experienced in the Charleston area have been attributed to the aftershocks of the 1886 quake. This implies that the major Charleston quake is being experienced up to the present days through in a smaller scale. The damaging Charleston earthquake has been explained by geologists as a consequence of the faults and malformations which occurred when the Pangaea was breaking. However, some scientists argue that there were less significant earthquakes which were experienced in the Charleston region and they would be attributed to the severity of the 1886 earthquake and the extensive damage which resulted out of it.5 The implications of geological studies and investigations of earthquakes in the present times are related to the fact that the faults of the Pangaea breaking may have future consequences in other parts of America such as the Northern coast. Because of the high magnitude of the Charleston Earthquake of 1886, it is an area of extensive study and investigation. As an example of an intra-plate earthquake, scientists and geologists study the Charleston quake with an aim of predicting the possibility of future experiences of such quakes. As a result of these studies, geographic and political implications of earthquakes have increasingly become significant in America.6 The severity of the Charleston quake was demonstrated by the widespread ejection of sand along the epicentral region. Geologists say that there was no surface faulting in the Charleston area during the quake. However, significant overflowing of sand along large tracks of land was experienced and, thus, the transformation of geographical features of this region.7 Rivers were also significantly affected by the quake with formation of fissures along river banks being recorded. The environmental consequences of the 1886 quake in the Charleston region are, however, illustrated by the uprooting of many trees along this region and, thus, affecting the economic activities of the surrounding communities. The social implications of the Charleston quake were significantly felt in small towns within the Charleston region such as Summerville. Thousands were displaced form these towns and, thus, disrupted their social, political and economic life. The severity of the quake along the small towns of Charleston which were commonly situated in inclined geographic regions has made geologists to hypothesize that the earthquake was in a vertical motion with the consequent implications of such earth movement.8 It can be argued that the political and economic restructuring which resulted from the Charleston quake signifies the changes which would be experienced in the modern society if such a catastrophe struck again. In conclusion, the Charleston earthquake of 1886 caused a lot of damage in this region which includes many deaths and loss of property. The quake was experienced in a wide geographic area around the Charleston region and further in the North and West. The quake is attributed to the faults which occurred when the Pangaea was breaking. The high magnitude of the Charleston quake and the extensive damage that it caused has made it to be one of the widely studied earthquakes. Scientists and geologists have hypothesized many concepts related to the quake, but the implication of the Charleston quake in the modern economic, social and political systems cannot be ruled out. This is due to the fact that quakes of such magnitude may happen in future in other regions of the America and the world in general. Works Cited Bakun, William H., and Oona Scotti. "Regional Intensity Attenuation Models for France and the Estimation of Magnitude and Location of Historical Earthquakes." Geophysical Journal International , 2006. Conahan, Gillian. "Not Your Average Earthquake Zones." Discover, 2011. Freed, Andrew M. "Earthquake Triggering By Static, Dynamic, And Postseismic Stress Transfer." Annual Review of Earth & Planetary Sciences, 2005. Hayati, Hossein, and Ronald D. Andrus. "Liquefaction Potential Map Of Charleston, South Carolina Based On The 1886 Earthquake." Journal of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2008. Juan-Carlos Singaucho, et al. "Locations and Magnitudes of Historical Earthquakes in the Sierra of Ecuador (1587–1996)." Geophysical Journal International, 2010. Publishers Weekly. ”Upheaval In Charleston: Earthquake And Murder On The Eve Of Jim Crow." Publishers Weekly, 2011. Science News. "Rethinking the Charleston Quake." Science News, 1983. Read More