The Earths interior is composed of three major layers, similar to
an egg. The Earths shell is called the crust, which is made up of more than a dozen major tectonic plates. The whites are called the mantle, which is composed of solid rock. The yolk is called the core, and is composed of liquid iron and other materials. Inter-plate earthquakes Although the mantle is solid rock, it slowly flows in a convection current !" #ecause of heat dissipating from the core. This causes the plates on the mantle to move several centimeters a year. $hen plates move, they collide with each other or grind past each other at plate #oundaries, creating stress strain energy". $hen sufficient strain energy is stored, the plates try to return to their original position, causing an earthquake. This is called an interplate earthquake. %nterplate earthquakes can reach magnitudes of over &, and cause tsunamis and other e'tensive damage over wide areas. The (acific (late is su#ducting under the )khotsk (late at the #ottom of the sea east of *endai. The +iyagi,oki Earthquake occurs when the )khotsk (late, which is dragged down #y the (acific (late, re#ounds to its original position. !"-onvection is a phenomenon that occurs when part of a fluid is warmed. The warmed fluid e'pands, #ecomes less dense, and rises upwards. -old and denser parts of the fluid sink and fill the space previously occupied #y the warmed fluid.
.igure !. %nter,plate Earthquakes
!.(late A su#ducts under (late /, dragging (late / with itself. 0.(late / tries to return to its original position, causing an earthquake. Intra-plate Earthquakes *train energy caused #y plate movement is also stored within the plates. $hen weak parts of the #edrock cannot resist the energy, they slip, causing intra,plate earthquakes. The discontinuities caused #y intra,plate earthquakes are called faults. .aults that have caused earthquakes within the last !.& million years are called active faults. Active faults are like injuries that havent completely healed yet. Theyre weaker than other parts of the ground and frequently cause earthquakes. %ntra,plate earthquakes do not cause tsunamis, and their magnitudes rarely e'ceed 1. 2owever, they occur at relatively shallow depths, within 03km from the ground. Therefore, intra, plate earthquakes can also cause large damage. There are 4 known active faults in the *endai area, the 5agamachi,6ifu .ault 7one, the 8ainenjiyama .ault, the *hishiochizaka .ault, the Tsu#onuma .ault, the Ayashi .ault, and the *akunami,9ashikidaira .ault. Magnitudes and Seismic Intensity The magnitude of an earthquake is the measurement of an earthquakes energy. $hen the magnitude of an earthquake increases #y one step, its energy increases #y a factor of :0. %f the magnitude increases #y two steps, the energy increase is a factor of :0 times :0 ; appro'imately !,333. *eismic intensity refers to the strength of shaking e'perienced in a particular location. The seismic intensity of an earthquake can vary according to location and geological conditions. The <apan +eteorological Agency *eismic %ntensity *cale is used in <apan. The scale runs from 3 to 1 and has !3 different measurements #ecause intensities of = and 4 are divided in to >weak? and >strong? intensities. *eismic intensity used to #e measured #y human perception and damage to #uildings, #ut it is now quickly measured #y mechanical seismic scales.