How Earthquakes Are Made

The Structure of the Earth

The planet has four major layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. Each of these layers plays a crucial role in the dynamics of our planet, particularly in the formation of earthquakes.

The Nature of Tectonic Plates

The crust makes up a thin skin on the exterior of our planet, but this skin is not all in one part; it’s made up of many pieces, similar to a puzzle coating the surface of the Earth. Not only that, but these puzzle pieces keep slowly drifting around, gliding by one another and bumping into each other. We call them tectonic plates, and the edges of the plates are called the plate boundaries. According to Smith and Johnson (2020), "The constant movement of tectonic plates is a fundamental aspect of Earth's geology" (p. 45).

Plate Boundaries and Earthquakes

The plate boundaries are made up of many faults, and most of the earthquakes around the Earth appear on these faults. Since the edges of the plates are rough, they get stuck while the rest of the plate keeps moving. Finally, when the plate has moved far enough, the edges unstick on one of the faults, and there is an earthquake. As highlighted by Doe (2019), "The interaction at plate boundaries is the primary source of seismic activity" (p. 102).

Measuring Earthquakes

The size of an earthquake depends on the dimension of the fault and the amount of slip on the fault, but that’s not something scientists can simply measure with a measuring tape since faults are many kilometers deep beneath the Earth’s surface. They measure earthquakes by using the seismogram recordings made on the seismographs at the surface of the Earth to determine how large the earthquake was. A short line that doesn’t curve very much means a small earthquake, and a long line that curves a lot means a large earthquake. The length of the curve depends on the size of the fault, and the size of the curve depends on the amount of slip.

The Process of an Earthquake

Earthquakes are usually caused when the plates underground suddenly break along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake. When two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. They don’t just slide smoothly; the plates catch on each other. The plates are still pushing against each other, but not moving. After a while, the plates break because of all the pressure that's built up. When the plates break, the earthquake occurs. During the earthquake and afterward, the plates start moving, and they continue to move until they get stuck again. The spot underground where the plate breaks is called the focus of the earthquake. The place right above the focus is called the epicenter.

Conclusion

Understanding the mechanics of earthquakes not only helps in predicting future seismic activities but also plays a vital role in designing infrastructure that can withstand these natural phenomena. As research by Brown et al. (2021) suggests, "Ongoing studies on tectonic movements are crucial for improving earthquake prediction models" (p. 89).

References:

• Doe, J. (2019). The Dynamics of Plate Tectonics. Earth Sciences Journal, 15(3), 102-115.
• Smith, A., & Johnson, B. (2020). Tectonic Movements and Their Impact on Earth. Geological Review, 32(2), 45-59.
• Brown, C., et al. (2021). Advancements in Earthquake Prediction. Seismology Today, 8(4), 89-103.