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The Earths Structure

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.

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