Understanding Earthquake Fundamentals

Earthquakes occur when energy stored in Earth's lithosphere is suddenly released. This happens due to tectonic stresses overcoming friction, resulting in ground shaking. Most earthquakes are caused by geological faults, but volcanic activity can also be a contributor.

When an earthquake strikes, it emits seismic waves that travel through the Earth. There are primary (P-waves) and secondary (S-waves), which move differently due to the materials they pass through, offering clues about the planet's internal structure.

The Richter scale, once widely used, has largely been supplanted by the moment magnitude scale (Mw). This scale provides a more accurate measure of an earthquake's size by considering the area of the fault that slipped and the amount of movement.

The 1556 Shaanxi earthquake is the deadliest known, claiming approximately 830,000 lives in China. In 1960, the largest ever recorded, a magnitude 9.5 earthquake struck Chile, reshaping landscapes and affecting places as far as Alaska.

Predicting earthquakes remains a challenge due to their complex nature. While animals have been reported to behave unusually before earthquakes, scientific evidence remains anecdotal and not yet a reliable prediction method.

Engineers are developing cutting-edge technologies to safeguard structures against earthquakes, including base isolation systems that allow buildings to move independently of the ground, significantly reducing the seismic force impact.

Beyond human structures, earthquakes can cause landslides, tsunamis, and even influence volcanic activity. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan led to a tsunami that caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, showcasing the far-reaching environmental consequences.

Mysterious lights in the sky, similar to auroras, have been reported before and during earthquakes, baffling scientists for centuries.