Geologic hazard project - Essay Example

Earthquakes are not isolated events as they occur in sequences. Most often, each series is dominated by an event with a larger magnitude than all others in the sequence. Smaller earthquakes and aftershocks may follow the main shock, sometimes several hours, months, or even several years later. Earthquakes are inevitable in many parts throughout the world. It can damage the infrastructure. It causes ground shaking, ground displacement, flooding and fire that can cause great damage to the people of the region affected.

For example, when an earthquake occurred in the state of Washington, more than a billion dollars worth of buildings got destroyed. Roads and bridges in the region affected became inaccessible, water pressure fail and gas lines break and leak leading to fires spread that causes severe damage. Earthquakes cause Water level in the sea to rise suddenly, causing very high waves, several meters in height, which then flood the coastal areas. These possibly give rise to tsunamis, causing damage to coastal areas (Ammon).

It is important to have earthquake knowledge and learn about how to minimize its effects. Its preparedness can reduce the number of the casualties, and the value of the properties destroyed. To understand earthquakes allows saving lives and to reduce damages, injuries. It also allows to build buildings more earthquakes resistant and find the locations that are more prone to earthquake. Earthquakes have been recorded throughout history for many years. Even before seismographs in early times, there are a record of mysterious ground shaking.

It occurs when rocks break along an underground fault. The ground shaking causes vibrations through the earth. The magnitude of the shaking varies on how great the movement along the fault is. When plates shift, they create shockwaves that go through the earth.The shock