Earthquakes By: Haley Z.

Q: what are Earthquakes? A: Earthquakes are the Earth's natural means of releasing stress. When the Earth's plates move against each other, stress is put on the lithosphere. When this stress is great enough, the lithosphere breaks or shifts. Imagine holding a pencil horizontally. If you were to apply a force to both ends of the pencil by pushing down on them, you would see the pencil bend. After enough force was applied, the pencil would break in the middle, releasing the stress you have put on it. The Earth's crust acts in the same way. As the plates move they put forces on themselves and each other. When the force is large enough, the crust is forced to break. When the break occurs, the stress is released as energy which moves through the Earth in the form of waves, which we feel and call an earthquake.

Q: Where do Earthquakes occur most often? You will find that most places around a volcano, a fault line, or plate boundary are more prone to earthquakes. There are a total of fifteen plates on the earth. Each of these plates is constantly moving. When plates collide it’s called a convergent boundary. When to plates travel away from each other its call divergent boundary. When two plates slide past each other it’s called a transform fault.

Q: How likely is your area to experience an Earthquake? Most Hoosiers, and other residents of the American Midwest, don't think much about earthquakes. After all, all of the earthquakes we hear about are in California, Japan, Italy, or other far away places. Make no mistake, some of the biggest and most devastating earthquakes in North American history were right here. And, by many accounts, big earthquakes are due again. Now, we may be offered some buffer here in south-central Indiana because we sit on beds of Oolitic limestone. But, even that is limited security in the case of earthquakes having a Richter Scale score above 8.0. . Most Hoosiers, and other residents of the American Midwest, don't think much about earthquakes. Afterall, all of the earthquakes we hear about are in California, Japan, Italy, or other far away places. Make no mistake, some of the biggest and most devastating earthquakes in North American history were right here. And, by many accounts, big earthquakes are due again. The New Madrid fault, centered in the boothill of Missouri, generated earthquakes in 1811 and 1812. They were so extreme that it caused the mighty Mississippi river to flow backwards! More than likely you can recall stories about the Mississippi running backwards. Well brace yourself, that was an New Madrid earthquake! Church bells rang as far away as Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. The larger quakes were even felt in New Hampshire, a full thousand miles from the center of the quake. Massive earthquakes from the New Madrid fault have occurred, on average, every 150 years. It's been almost 200 years since the last one. While earthquakes are not very predictable, we're way past the time when a devasting earthquake was predicted for this region. In a series of four earthquakes measuring over 8.0 on the Richter Scale, and aftershocks lasting for three months, homes, other buildings, and trees were swiftly destroyed. The first of these quakes occurred before dawn on the morning of December 16, 1811. The second of these massive quakes occurred just 6 hours later. In all, there were hundreds of quakes during this three month period of devastation. Lives were lost, although the population in 1811 and 1812 was tiny compared to today's population. Casualties of the next earthquake could be many thousands of lost lives, depending on where the earthquake is centered. Now, we may be offered some buffer here in south-central Indiana because we sit on beds of Oolitic limestone. But, even that is limited security in the case of earthquakes having a Richter Scale score above 8.0. Although the largest New Madrid Fault earthquakes experienced during recorded history (the past 200 years) have had epicenters in Missouri, at least 6 major earthquakes had epicenters in southern Indiana during the past 1200 years. The largest of these was centered in the area that is now Vincennes and was many-times more powerful than the devastating Los Angeles earthquake of 1994. A major earthquake is going to hit us is a fact. The only thing we don't know is when it will happen. It is statistically probable that it will be soon

Safety plan Choose a safe place in every room--under a sturdy table or desk or against an inside wall where nothing can fall on you. Practice DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON at least twice a year. Drop under a sturdy desk or table, hold on, and protect your eyes by pressing your face against your arm. If there's no table or desk nearby, sit on the floor against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on you. Teach children to DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON! Choose an out-of-town family contact. Consult a professional to find out additional ways you can protect your home, such as bolting the house to its foundation and other structural mitigation techniques. Take a first aid class from your local Red Cross chapter. Keep your training current. Get training in how to use a fire extinguisher from your local fire department. Inform babysitters and caregivers of your plan.

Earthquake risk area in Indiana

Earthquakes and Volcanoes affect many peoples lives

President letter President of the United State Pennsylvania Avenue   President of the United State Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President I am very pleased you have taken the time from your busy schedule to read my report. Below you will find information on earthquakes as you requested. Most earthquakes have been occurring around mainly the North American Plate Also many have occurred around the Ring of Fire. Most earthquakes are more likely to occur at plate boundaries. The plates smash and grind against each other sometimes causing earthquakes. You will find that most places around a volcano, a fault line, or plate boundary are more prone to earthquakes. There are a total of fifteen plates on the earth. Each of these plates is constantly moving. When plates collide it’s called a convergent boundary. When to plates travel away from each other its call divergent boundary. When two plates slide past each other it’s called a transform fault. Yes there is a close relationship between volcanoes and earthquakes. When two plates collide and form a convergent boundary then thicker layer is forced under the other plate. This is a subduction zone. As the plate travels deeper into the earth’s interior it gets hotter and melts. After it melts it forms magma, since the magma will be less dense than its surroundings it will be forced upward. When it reaches the earth’s surface it forms a volcano. Also since these plates are smashing and colliding into each other earthquakes occur. Basically volcanoes from usually around where many earthquakes start. Earthquakes occur because of plate movement. They rub, smash, grind, and bang against each other. Usually earthquakes happen around fault lines because two plates could be moving in different directions but one gets caught on the other. I thank you once again for taking time to read this report on earthquakes. I hope I have answered you questions correctly and that there are no more questions on this subject Sincerely Haley Zachary