U4, L2: How do faults reshape the Earths surface?

Normal Faults o Tension forces cause large blocks of crust to break & create a normal fault o The rocks above the fault tilt or slide downward leaving steep-sided mountains on the opposite side fault-block mountains o EX: Sierra Nevada (CA) o Normal faulting is also a result of a divergent plate boundary o Rift valleys & mid-ocean ridges are present Reverse Faults o Compression forces cause collisions, which result in reverse faults (rocks above the fault move up) o Massive folding ( bending) & faulting (breaking) occurs resulting in mountain ranges o EX: Himalayas & Appalachians Strike-slip Faults o When sliding past one another, rock layers will stick & then suddenly slip o Cause earthquakes that can visibly damage the Earths crust Side Effects of Earthquakes on the Earths Surface Liquefaction o Wet soil is typically very strong but shaking from an earthquake causes it to act more like a liquid o When liquefaction occurs, building can sink into the soil & collapse Tsunamis o Earthquakes under the ocean can cause sudden movement of the ocean floor o This movement pushes the water causing a powerful wave to form o Can travel very fast; thousands of kilometers in all directions o Far from shore, tsunamis travel deep in the water o When waves reach the shore, they can reach heights up to 30m o Warning systems have been established world-wide to warn people of oncoming tsunamis o They cannot prevent all loss of life