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Earthquakes (i) Name one location where an earthquake has occurred - Leaving Cert Geography - Question B - 2013
Question B
Earthquakes (i) Name one location where an earthquake has occurred. (ii) Name a scale used to measure the force of an earthquake. (iii) Describe how earthquakes o... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Earthquakes (i) Name one location where an earthquake has occurred - Leaving Cert Geography - Question B - 2013
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Describe how earthquakes occur and describe their main effects.
Answer
Earthquakes occur due to the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, typically caused by tectonic plate movements. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, a fault slips, leading to seismic waves that we perceive as shaking.
Main Effects of Earthquakes:
- Ground Shaking: This is the primary effect that causes damage to buildings and infrastructure.
- Surface Rupture: The ground can rupture at the surface along fault lines.
- Tsunamis: Underwater earthquakes can generate tsunamis that result in flooding and destruction, particularly in coastal areas.
- Landslides: The shaking can trigger landslides, especially in hilly or mountainous regions.
- Liquefaction: Saturated ground can lose its strength due to the shaking, causing structures to sink or tilt.
- Aftershocks: These are smaller tremors that follow the main quake, potentially causing further damage.
- Infrastructure Damage: Roads, bridges, and utilities can be severely impacted.
- Casualties: Earthquakes can result in loss of life and injuries due to the collapsing structures and resulting chaos.