Module 4: Earthquake Hazards-50

Objectives :

1. Identify various potential earthquake

hazards;
2. Recognize the natural signs of an impending
tsunami;
3. Analyze the effects of the different
earthquake hazards;
4. Interpret different earthquake hazard maps;
5. Apply precautionary and safety measures
before, during, and after an earthquake.
•What is an earthquake?

•If there is an earthquake while we are at

school, what are the hazards to life and
property?
•What is a safe or dangerous place
in an earthquake?
 ACTIVITY
Each group identifies various areas of the
school (eg classrooms, library, hall, PE room,
Practical Arts room,etc.)) to identify safe and
dangerous places for an earthquake. Use
Template 3.
• Read the story “The Miracle of Kamashi”

• Look at the pictures and identify the potential

earthquake hazards that may cost so much
damage to lives and properties.
 •What is the miracle in Kamashi ?

•How do high magnitude earthquakes bring

so much damage?

•How do an earthquake hazard turn into a

disaster?

•How do we mitigate the effects of these

hazards?
 Earthquakes are the perceptible shakings of the
surface of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release
of energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic
waves. Earthquakes can be violent enough to toss
people around and destroy whole cities.
 Earthquake Hazards

1. Ground shaking. The first main earthquake

hazard is the effect of ground shaking:
Collapsing buildings, walls, bridges,
falling furniture or objects, shattering
glass windows and mirrors.

Debris from collapsing structures is one of

the principal dangers during an earthquake
since the impact of large, heavy objects can
be fatal to human beings.
2. Ground rupture. Ground rupture is a visible
breaking and displacement of the Earth's
surface along the trace of the fault, which may
be of the order of several meters in the case
of major earthquakes.
3. Liquefaction. Liquefaction happens when
sediments with a high water content are
subjected to prolonged shaking, the pressure
of the water held in pores in the sediment
gradually increases eventually, the sediments
lose all cohesive strength and begin to behave
as if they were liquids.
4. Earthquake-induced ground subsidence.

Land subsidence can occur in various ways

during an earthquake. Movement that occurs
along faults can be horizontal or vertical or
have a component of both. As a result, a large
area of land can subside drastically during an
earthquake.
5. Tsunami. A tsunami, also known as a seismic
sea wave, is a series of waves in a water body
caused by the displacement of a large volume
of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake.
An earthquake is a natural tsunami warning. A
tsunami is sometimes preceded by a noticeable
fall or rise in the water level..
 Tsunami buoy deployed by NOAA in the Pacific Ocean

Tsunami signs in the deep sea

Impending earthquake

Tsunami buoy deployed by NOAA in the Pacific Ocean

Tsunami signs along the
shoreline
 strong ground shaking
from an earthquake
 unusual sea-level
fluctuations: a Tsunami hazard sign in California, United
noticeable rapid rise or States
fall in coastal waters
 abnormally huge wave
 loud ocean roar

Tsunami Siren, Ophir State Park,

Oregon, United States
6. Earthquake-induced landslides

Strong ground motion can also trigger

landslides -- known as earthquake-induced
landslides -- in areas with steep slopes. The
greatest losses of human life are due to rock
avalanches, rapid soil flows and rock falls.
 Other Geological Hazards

1.Rainfall-induced landslide. Landslides are

often triggered by rainfall, particularly in the
tropical climate of SE Asia which is
characterized by very intense long duration
rainy seasons.
2. Sinkhole

A sinkhole is a localized depression in the

surface topography, usually caused by the
collapse of a subterranean structure such as
a cave.
Although rare, large sinkholes that
develop suddenly in populated areas can
lead to the collapse of buildings and other
structures.
 ACTIVITY

1. Draw an earthquake hazard map of your

community. Use color legends to demarcate
safe from risk places/locations/structures.

2. Design precautionary measures before,

during and after an earthquake in
consideration of the hazard map
KEY POINTS:

 Locations of buildings should be based on

local geology and the subsoil properties which
modify the earthquake ground motion .

 Earthquake resistant measures as specified

in building codes must be strictly adopted.

 Earthquake drills are important measures for

preparedness.
 Assignment

1. Read about Volcanoes and be

ready to report about :

1.1. How are volcanoes formed?

1.2. What makes a volcano erupt ?
1.3. What is the role of volcanoes
to atmospheric processes ?
1.4. What are the types of
volcanoes?
That’s all for now