In case you simply felt the bottom shaking, you may be questioning what occurred or learn how to react the subsequent time an earthquake strikes. Listed below are the solutions to some widespread questions on earthquakes.
What causes them?
To know earthquakes, think about the Earth as an egg, mentioned Mark Benthien, the communications director for the Statewide California Earthquake Middle, a analysis group.
The egg’s shell represents the Earth’s crust, and “for those who take a look at it from a worldwide view, there are 12 or so main egg items of the crust which can be referred to as plates,” Mr. Benthien mentioned. Items of the egg’s shell — tectonic plates — transfer round slowly, about as rapidly as your fingernails develop, increase strain between them.
Most earthquakes happen when the pressure of the transferring tectonic plates exceeds the friction between them. When this occurs, the strain releases all of the sudden and plates transfer into, previous or away from each other. The strain is launched as seismic waves that move via the earth, inflicting the bottom to shake.
In uncommon instances, an earthquake may also happen within the inside of a tectonic plate.
Earthquakes can be brought on by human motion, such because the disposal of waste fluids as a part of the method of oil manufacturing.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
No. It isn’t potential to foretell the place or when an earthquake would possibly occur.
Nonetheless, nationwide seismic hazard maps from the U.S. Geological Survey describe what number of sturdy earthquakes are more likely to occur within the subsequent 10,000 years in america. Extra earthquakes with damaging shaking are more likely to happen alongside the West Coast, alongside Alaska’s south coast and in elements of Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Globally, earthquakes are most definitely close to the “Ring of Fireplace,” which spans the Pacific Ocean on the edges of tectonic plates.
You may put together forward of time.
Ought to folks fear about earthquakes earlier than they occur? “It’s not that they need to be fearful, however they need to act,” mentioned Mr. Benthien, who leads the Earthquake Nation Alliance, an earthquake coordination group.
The group suggests securing objects in your house forward of time. Fasten down bookcases and different furnishings, in addition to your tv and even your scorching water heater. “As our buildings are constructed higher and higher, these features are actually the reason for essentially the most accidents — not the buildings collapsing, however simply all these things flying round,” Mr. Benthien mentioned.
You also needs to put together not less than one equipment of provides to make use of within the aftermath of an earthquake. Amongst different issues, your emergency equipment ought to embrace a hearth extinguisher, additional doses of medicines you might be taking, first-aid provides, meals and water, in keeping with the usG.S.
Earthquake early warning techniques corresponding to ShakeAlert may also generally present valuable seconds of advance warning earlier than shaking strikes your space, mentioned Robert-Michael de Groot, a coordinator for this system, which is run by the usG.S. This provides you extra time to react and keep away from damage. “ShakeAlert asks you to do what you already do, however do it sooner,” he mentioned. (Right here’s how to join U.S.G.S. early warning techniques.)
What ought to I do if an earthquake occurs?
The subsequent time you are feeling the bottom shaking, observe these three steps: Drop to the bottom, cowl your physique to stop accidents — by crawling below a desk, for instance — and maintain on, in keeping with the Earthquake Nation Alliance. In case you use a wheelchair or walker, stay seated, bend over and canopy your head and neck.
Consultants used to advise folks to face below a doorway throughout an earthquake, however they don’t try this anymore, Dr. de Groot mentioned. “There was a time when the doorway was structurally extra steady, stronger than the remainder of different elements of the home,” he mentioned. “That actually isn’t the case anymore.”
Regardless of the place you might be when an earthquake strikes, Dr. de Groot mentioned, keep alert and take protecting measures. “In case you’re driving on the freeway at 70 miles an hour, you might not be capable to drop, cowl and maintain on,” he mentioned. “However there’s an thought about having that situational consciousness and understanding learn how to defend your self irrespective of the place you might be.”
“So staying in your home, dropping, is definitely a very powerful half,” he mentioned, advising folks to remain low on the bottom, and discover a method to defend themselves, wherever they’re.