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How to Describe an Earthquake in a Story

By Brittany Kuhn

Does the central plot in your novel revolve around an earthquake that has happened? In this post, you’ll learn about how to describe an earthquake in a story. We’ve included 10 words below to explain further.

1. Catastrophe

• Intense, devastating change to the environment.
• Moment of complete failure or tragedy.

“California’s 1906 earthquake is still one of greatest catastrophes ever recorded.”

“I could not believe how catastrophic the earthquake was to my neighborhood: not a single house went untouched.”

How it Adds Description

When you want to describe your earthquake as particularly devasting, use catastrophe to show its obliterating impact on the buildings or natural environment. Catastrophic can also help to describe characters’ feelings about how the earthquake has affected them, particularly if their belongings have been destroyed or families hurt.

2. Slow burn

Gradual build up of power or intensity until a final explosion or outburst.

“Luckily, that 7.8 earthquake last week was a slow burner ; it built up so gradually that everybody had a chance to evacuate before it really hit.”

“Some of the worst earthquakes I’ve ever experienced were slow burns over a period of a few hours.”

By focusing on more than just the effects of an earthquake, describing one as a slow burn allows you to show the way people might prepare and set the atmosphere for the actual event. A slow burn earthquake also gives you a chance to build tension towards how powerful the earthquake may finally be.

3. Glass shattering

So loud or shaking so extremely hard that it does (or could) literally shatter glass into small pieces.

“Yesterday’s glass shattering earthquake was measured as a 6.3 on the Richter scale.”

“My first memory was hiding in our kitchen during a glass shattering earthquake.”

If an earthquake is powerful enough, it could cause windows, mirrors, or glass dishes inside of a house to crack and break from the violent movements. Using glass shattering also highlights what the characters are hearing during the earthquake and how intense the whole experience might be for them.

4. Ground splitting

A separation , crack, or fissure in the earth or rocks.

“We were completely unprepared for the ground splitting earthquake.”

“The ground splitting earthquake was so powerful that it caused a 6-foot fissure to open in the street.”

For an earthquake to actually cause a crack in the ground (like in the movies), the plates would have had to move quite dramatically, resulting in a pretty intense earthquake. Describing the earthquake as ground splitting immediately shows the reader that this event is pretty significant and should be followed closely.

5. Reverberating

Echoing , rippling, or bouncing back.

“The tremors of the reverberating earthquake could be felt two states over.”

“Her favorite part of studying earthquakes was tracking how far their effects reverberated outward.”

Want to focus on the far-reaching effects of an earthquake? You can use reverberating to highlight the way the vibrations in the earth slowly ripple out from the epicenter. Or, if you want to focus on the way things sound, you could use reverberating to highlight how everything goes silent in ripples then explodes back into sound in waves outward from the epicenter.

6. Underwater

Happening in or beneath the water’s surface .

“What was most disturbing about the underwater earthquake was that we never heard it coming.”

“The first I knew of an earthquake underwater was the large plume of water that shot straight up like a geyser, right outside my portside window.”

If you want to cause a tsunami or if your story’s events take place in the sea, put your earthquake underwater . Underwater earthquakes are often more powerful than land-based ones. Putting the earthquake in the sea also allows for you to include a reason for plot-relevant catastrophic effects like tidal waves or damage to boats and marine life.

7. Negligible

Of such little importance as to have little to no effect.

“The earthquake was so negligible that it barely rattled the front door.”

“The negligible earthquake barely registered on the Richter scale.”

Not all earthquakes are destructive. Sometimes you might want an earthquake as a plot device to bring two characters together or cause some minor damage to an object that needs replacing. By describing the earthquake as negligible , you show that the earthquake was barely noticeable and only as important as your plot needs it to be.

8. Rumbling

• A strong sound that slowly builds in intensity.
• A low, echoing sound travelling from a far distance.

“The earthquake’s rumbling started low at first and built to a body-rocking tremor by the time it finally hit.”

“We could hear the rumbling earthquake from deep within the earth long before we felt it.”

Sometimes, in order to create suspense, you need to describe how something sounds before you can describe how it feels. Using rumbling to describe the sound of the earthquake approaching builds tension as the characters (and readers) are preparing for what could be a pretty hefty earthquake as the rumbling gets closer.

9. Expansive

Wide-reaching, vast , large.

“Towns 350 miles from the epicenter of the expansive earthquake could feel the tremors.”

“We could not believe how expansive the earthquake’s aftershocks reached.”

If you want to show the size of the earthquake, use expansive to describe it as covering a large surface area and affecting a great number of people and buildings. In many cases, the stronger the earthquake, the larger it is, so the word expansive gives your reader a sense of just how wide-reaching the effects are.

10. Localized

Be focused on a smaller, more confined point .

“Yesterday’s earthquake seemed to be more localized than we first thought; only those in the nearest three towns were effected.”

“Sometimes I wonder what is worse: a powerful, localized earthquake that takes down all the buildings in one town or a weaker, more expansive one that just does a bit of surface damage but effects 20x as many people.”

Contrary to expansive , you could also describe your earthquake as localized if you want to emphasize how little it effected. Localized suggests that the earthquake only really affected the town or core area your characters or the plot is based in, rather than having any far-reaching or more worldly relevance.

Earthquake Essay for Students and Children

500+ Words Essay on Earthquake

Simply speaking, Earthquake means the shaking of the Earth’s surface. It is a sudden trembling of the surface of the Earth. Earthquakes certainly are a terrible natural disaster. Furthermore, Earthquakes can cause huge damage to life and property. Some Earthquakes are weak in nature and probably go unnoticed. In contrast, some Earthquakes are major and violent. The major Earthquakes are almost always devastating in nature. Most noteworthy, the occurrence of an Earthquake is quite unpredictable. This is what makes them so dangerous.

Types of Earthquake

Tectonic Earthquake: The Earth’s crust comprises of the slab of rocks of uneven shapes. These slab of rocks are tectonic plates. Furthermore, there is energy stored here. This energy causes tectonic plates to push away from each other or towards each other. As time passes, the energy and movement build up pressure between two plates.

Therefore, this enormous pressure causes the fault line to form. Also, the center point of this disturbance is the focus of the Earthquake. Consequently, waves of energy travel from focus to the surface. This results in shaking of the surface.

Volcanic Earthquake: This Earthquake is related to volcanic activity. Above all, the magnitude of such Earthquakes is weak. These Earthquakes are of two types. The first type is Volcano-tectonic earthquake. Here tremors occur due to injection or withdrawal of Magma. In contrast, the second type is Long-period earthquake. Here Earthquake occurs due to the pressure changes among the Earth’s layers.

Collapse Earthquake: These Earthquakes occur in the caverns and mines. Furthermore, these Earthquakes are of weak magnitude. Undergrounds blasts are probably the cause of collapsing of mines. Above all, this collapsing of mines causes seismic waves. Consequently, these seismic waves cause an Earthquake.

Explosive Earthquake: These Earthquakes almost always occur due to the testing of nuclear weapons. When a nuclear weapon detonates, a big blast occurs. This results in the release of a huge amount of energy. This probably results in Earthquakes.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Effects of Earthquakes

First of all, the shaking of the ground is the most notable effect of the Earthquake. Furthermore, ground rupture also occurs along with shaking. This results in severe damage to infrastructure facilities. The severity of the Earthquake depends upon the magnitude and distance from the epicenter. Also, the local geographical conditions play a role in determining the severity. Ground rupture refers to the visible breaking of the Earth’s surface.

Another significant effect of Earthquake is landslides. Landslides occur due to slope instability. This slope instability happens because of Earthquake.

Earthquakes can cause soil liquefaction. This happens when water-saturated granular material loses its strength. Therefore, it transforms from solid to a liquid. Consequently, rigid structures sink into the liquefied deposits.

Earthquakes can result in fires. This happens because Earthquake damages the electric power and gas lines. Above all, it becomes extremely difficult to stop a fire once it begins.

Earthquakes can also create the infamous Tsunamis. Tsunamis are long-wavelength sea waves. These sea waves are caused by the sudden or abrupt movement of large volumes of water. This is because of an Earthquake in the ocean. Above all, Tsunamis can travel at a speed of 600-800 kilometers per hour. These tsunamis can cause massive destruction when they hit the sea coast.

In conclusion, an Earthquake is a great and terrifying phenomenon of Earth. It shows the frailty of humans against nature. It is a tremendous occurrence that certainly shocks everyone. Above all, Earthquake lasts only for a few seconds but can cause unimaginable damage.

FAQs on Earthquake

Q1 Why does an explosive Earthquake occurs?

A1 An explosive Earthquake occurs due to the testing of nuclear weapons.

Q2 Why do landslides occur because of Earthquake?

A2 Landslides happen due to slope instability. Most noteworthy, this slope instability is caused by an Earthquake.

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143 Earthquake Essay Topics & Examples

Need a catchy title for an earthquake essay? Earthquakes can take place almost everywhere. That is why this problem is so exciting to focus on.

🏆 Best Earthquake Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

🎓 good essay topics on earthquake, 📌 catchy titles for earthquake essay, 👍 research titles about earthquake, ❓ essay questions about earthquake.

In your earthquake essay, you might want to compare and contrast various types of this natural disaster. Another option is to talk about your personal experience or discuss the causes and effects of earthquakes. In a more serious assignment like a thesis or a term paper, you can concentrate on earthquake engineering or disaster management issues. In this article, we’ve gathered best research titles about earthquake and added top earthquake essay examples for more inspiration!

• Natural Disasters: Tornadoes, Earthquakes, and Hurricanes Hence the loss may depend on the population of the area affected and also the capacity of the population to support or resist the disaster.
• Crisis Management: Nissan Company and the 2011 Earthquake Expand on the points made in the case to identify the potential costs and benefits of these actions. The sharing of information was quite beneficial to Nissan in its response to the disaster.
• Disaster Preparedness and Nursing: A Scenario of an Earthquake In a scenario of an earthquake, nursing staff must be aware of the stages of disaster management and disaster preparedness in particular.
• Earthquake in Haiti 2010: Nursing Interventions During natural disasters, such as the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010, nursing interventions aim to reduce the level of injury and provide the conditions for the fast recovery of its victims.
• Analysis of Damage to Apartment Buildings in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake In turn, it is a prerequisite for the cataclysms in nature, such as earthquakes and the effect of liquefaction which was particular to the Marina district in the disaster of 1989.
• Public Awareness of Earthquake This will mean that the basement that is involved in thickening and shortening is mechanically required to produce the shape of zagros belt.
• Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis In addition, the paper will outline some of the similarities and differences between tsunamis and floods. Similarities between tsunamis and floods: Both tsunamis and floods are natural disasters that cause destruction of properties and human […]
• The Parkfield Earthquake Prediction Experiment The seismic activity and the relatively regular sequence of the earthquakes in the area of San Paul Fault generated the interest of the geologists in exploring the processes in the rupture.
• Role of the Nurses in the Site of the Haiti Earthquake The primary aim of the tertiary intervention conducted by the health practitioners was to reduce the effect of the diseases and injuries that occurred because of the Haiti earthquake.
• Mitigation of Earthquake Hazards The geologists should also inform the architects on the areas where earthquakes are likely to occur and how strong they will be able.
• Earthquakes in Chile and Haiti Moreover, the quake in Haiti raptured at the epicenter of the city with a high population density compared to Chile. Therefore despite a lower magnitude earthquake than Chile, Haiti suffered more damage due to the […]
• Earthquakes and Their Devastating Consequences The break in the ground surface is the most common cause of horrific consequences, and people often cannot get out of the epicenter of the incident.
• Natural vs. Moral Evil: Earthquakes vs. Murder This problem demonstrates that such justifications for the problem of evil, such as the fact that suffering exists to improve the moral qualities of a person and thus serve the greater good, are unconvincing.
• Earthquake in South Africa: Reconstruction Process Therefore, it is vital for the government of South Africa to address the issues caused by the earthquake and reconstruct the region, focusing on several public interventions to stimulate the region’s growth in the shortest […]
• Review of Earthquake Emergency Response The second resource is the supply of food and water that can help survivors wait for the rescue team for three days.
• California Earthquakes of the 20th Century Ultimately, the current essay examines the most devastating earthquakes in California in the 20th century and proposes a hypothesis of when the next large earthquake might strike.
• Human Activity and Growing Number of Earthquakes The pieces that support the opposing view claim that the data about their number may be distorted due to the lack of difference in the development mechanism of natural and artificial earthquakes.
• Researching the Earthquake Due to human activity, artificial earthquakes occur, and their number increases every year following the strengthening of destructive human impact on the planet.
• Earthquake Disaster Preparedness in Healthcare Therefore, an earthquake disaster infers abrupt and immense shaking of the ground for a duration and magnitude that can infringe the day-to-day activities. The last role of healthcare personnel in triage and intervention is to […]
• Haiti Earthquake of 2010 Overview The purpose of this paper is to review the location and physical cause of the event, its human impact from it, and some of the interesting facts related to the disaster.
• Wenchuan Earthquake: Impact on China’s Economy The earthquake made a moderate impact on the country’s economy, yet affected several industries located in the devastated areas.
• Earthquake Prevention From Healthcare Perspective In terms of primary prevention of such a disaster, it is necessary to establish a public body or organization responsible for the creation of an extensive network of food, water, and first-aid kits to last […]
• The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 Documentary The documentary reflects the events leading to the natural disasters and their aftermath, including an investigation into the reasons for the failure of the precautionary measures in place during the 2011 earthquake in Japan.
• Earthquakes in California The earthquake that is the largest by magnitude is in California. It is possible to minimize the damage by an earthquake.
• Earthquakes and Barriers to Risk Mitigation The victims of the earthquake in Haiti were hundreds of people, while the number of wounded and homeless was in the thousands. As for the latter, the worst scenario of the earthquake is created and […]
• A Geological Disaster: Nisqually Earthquake in Washington State Geology refers to the study of the processes that lead to the formation of rocks and the processes that contribute to the shape of the earth.
• Theory of Disaster: Earthquakes and Floods as Examples of Disasters The second category is that of those people who put their focus on the effects of the social vulnerability or the disasters to the society or to the people who are likely to be the […]
• The Huaxian Earthquake: China’s Deadliest Disaster The main reason for the terrible earthquakes consequences was in the absence of a plan for the emergency case. After visiting China later in 1556, he wrote that the given disaster was likely to be […]
• The Sumatra Earthquake of 26 December 2004: Indonesia Tsunami As such, the earthquake resulted in the development of a large tsunami off the Sumatran Coast that led to destruction of large cities in Indonesia.
• Earthquakes: Plate Margins and Causes of Earthquakes Therefore, the distance of the fracture will determine the intensity of the vibrations caused by the earthquake and the duration of the effect, that is, shaking the ground.
• Review of Public Meeting Regarded Earthquakes This focused meeting held in Port Au-Prince was to formulate the best strategies to help the people of Haiti anticipate, adapt and also recover from the impacts of earthquakes.
• Rebuilding Haiti: Post-Earthquake Recovery No doubt the tremors have taken a massive toll on the lives and resources of Haiti, but it was not only the tremors that caused the damage to such a massive extent.
• Earthquake in Haiti and Its Ramifications The short-term effects of the earthquake include food shortage, lack of clean water; breakdown of communication, lack of sufficient medical care, closure of ports and main roads, increased mortally, injuries, fires, the spread of communicable […]
• Sichuan Earthquake and Recovering as Community Problem We plan to give these pamphlets to businessmen in China and we have also uploaded these pamphlets on the internet for all the people around the world to see and to support this great cause.
• Natural Hazard: Tsunami Caused by Earthquakes Other areas that are prone to the tsunamis include Midwestern and Eastern United States of America and parts of Eastern of Canada, Indian Ocean and East Africa.
• Volcanoes: Volcanic Chains and Earthquakes The “Ring of Fire” is marked by the volcanic chains of Japan, Kamchatka, South Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, the Cascade Range of the United States and Canada, Central America, the Andes, New Zealand, Tonga, […]
• Earthquakes: Causes and Consequences The first of these are body waves, which travel directly through rock and cause the vertical and horizontal displacement of the surface.
• Emergency Response to Haiti Earthquake The response to the earthquake and calamities that followed was a clear demonstration that the country was ill-prepared to deal with such a disaster.
• Haiti and Nepal Earthquakes and Health Concerns As applied to the environment in these countries, roads were disrupted and, in some parts of the area, people could not be provided with the necessary amounts of food and drinking water.
• Hypothetical New York Earthquake Case Therefore, the following faults would be included in the report as potential causes of the earthquake: the 125th Street fault is the largest of all.
• 1906 San Francisco Earthquake: Eyewitness Story The moon crept in and out of the room, like a late evening silhouette, but its lazy rays did little to signal us what we would expect for the rest of the day.
• Scientists’ Guilt in L’Aquila Earthquake Deaths Additionally, there is another issue related to the development of scientific knowledge, which takes time as it is subjected to a lot of criticism before it is adopted.
• Dangerous and Natural Energy: Earthquakes The distribution of earthquakes in the world varies according to the region. Click on one of the earthquakes on the map and make a note of its magnitude and region.
• Earthquake Emergency Management and Health Services Fundamental principles of healthcare incident management involve the protection of people’s lives, the stabilization of the disaster spot, and the preservation of property.
• Drilling Activities and Earthquakes in Kansas According to the report of the State Corporation Commission of the State of Kansas, the work of local drilling companies has considerably increased the number of seismic activities in the state.
• Earthquake as a Unique Type of Natural Disaster Earthquakes are believed to be one of the most dangerous natural disasters, and they can have a lot of negative effects on both the community and the environment.
• US Charities in Haiti After the 2010 Earthquake This paper aims to explore the overall implications of the earthquake and the response to it, as well as to provide an examination of the actions of three U.S.-based NGOs, which contributed to the restoration […]
• Earthquakes Effect on New Zealand HR Management Similarly, the occurrence of the incident led to the loss of lives that had the potential of promoting most businesses into great heights.
• Earthquake Statistics Understanding Tectonic earthquakes are prompted as a consequent of movement of the earth’s crust because of the strain. The USGS National Earthquake Information Center reports an increase in the number of detection and location of earthquakes […]
• Natural Disasters: Tsunami, Hurricanes and Earthquake The response time upon the prediction of a tsunami is minimal owing to the rapid fall and rise of the sea level.
• Geology Issues: Earthquakes The direction of the plates’ movements and the sizes of the faults are different as well as the sizes of tectonic plates.
• 2008 and 2013 Sichuan Earthquakes in China This was the worst and the most devastating earthquake since “the Tangshan earthquake of 1976 in China”. In addition, impacts differ based on the number of fatalities and damages to property.
• Haiti Earthquake Devastation of 2010 In addition, most of the personnel who were part and parcel of the recovery teams were lost in the disaster making it difficult to reach out for the victims.
• Mitigation for Earthquake and Eruption Since the energy is mainly derived from the sustained stress and deformation of the underlying rocks, the precursor signals of earthquakes especially in seismic zones are majorly based on the careful study of the earth’s […]
• Earthquakes Impact on Human Resource in Organizations The researcher seeks to determine the magnitude of this effect and its general effect on the society in general and the firms affected in specific.
• Earthquakes in New Madrid and Fulton City, Missouri The accumulation of this stress is a clear indication of the slow but constant movement of the earth’s outermost rocky layers.
• Tōhoku Earthquake of 2011 The rate at which the pacific plate undergoes displacement is at eight to nine centimeter per annum, hence the plate subduction of the plate led to a discharge of large amounts of energy leading to […]
• Earthquakes as a Cause of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Although earthquake is a major cause of the post traumatic stress disorder, there are other factors that determine the development of the same.
• Plate Tectonics, Volcanism, Earthquakes and Rings of Fire Plate tectonics has led to the separation of the sea floor over the years and the earth is composed of seven tectonic plates according to the available geological information.
• The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake The earthquake was accompanied by a great tsunami given the high magnitude of the earthquake that reached 9. The third disaster was the meltdown of a number of nuclear plants following the tsunami.
• The 1979 Tangshan Earthquake The Tangshan Earthquake happened in 1976 is considered to be one of the large-scale earthquakes of the past century. The 1975 Haicheng Earthquake was the first marker of gradual and continuous intensification of tectonic activity […]
• Earthquakes: Definition, Prevalence of Occurrence, Damage, and Possibility of Prediction An earthquake is a dangerous tremor that is caused by sudden release of energy in the crust of the earth leading to seismic waves that cause movements of the ground thus causing deaths and damages.
• Losing the Ground: Where Do Most Earthquakes Take Place? Since, according to the above-mentioned information, natural earthquakes are most common in the places where the edges of tectonic plates meet, it is reasonable to suggest that earthquakes are most common in the countries that […]
• Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, Floods and Volcanic Eruption This is due to the relationship between an eruption and the geology of the area. It was observed that the mountain swelled and increased in size due to the upward force of magma.
• The Impacts of Japan’s Earthquake, Tsunami on the World Economy The future prospects in regard to the tsunami and the world economy will be presented and application of the lessons learnt during the catastrophe in future” tsunami occurrence” management.
• Geology Issue – Nature of Earthquakes Such an earthquake is caused by a combination of tectonic plate movement and movement of magma in the earth’s crust. Continental drift is the motion of the Earth’s tectonic plates relative to each other.
• The Great San Francisco Earthquake The length however depends on the size of the wave since the larger the wave the larger the area affected and consequently the longer the period of time taken.
• School Preparedness Plan for Tornado, Earthquakes, Fire Emergency In case of an earthquake emergency, the school should be prepared to keep the students safe. In case of a tornado emergency the school should be prepared to keep the students safe.
• The Impact of the California Earthquake on Real Estate Firms’ Stock Value
• Technology Is The Best Way To Reduce The Impact of An Earthquake
• Study on Earthquake-Prone Buildings Policy in New Zealand
• The Devastating Effects of the Tohuku Earthquake of 2011 in Japan
• The Disasters in Japan in 2011: The Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
• Why Was the Haiti Earthquake So Deadly
• Taking a Closer Look at Haiti After the Earthquake
• The Aftermath of The Earthquake of Nepal
• The Effects of the Fourth-Largest Earthquake in Japan in Problems Persist at Fukushima, an Article by Laurie Garret
• The Greatest Loss of The United Francisco Earthquake of 1906
• The Impact of Hurricanes, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes on Named Caribbean Territories
• The Destruction Caused by the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
• Foreshocks and Aftershocks in Earthquake
• The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Firestorm
• Scientific and Philosophic Explanation of The 1755 Lisbon Earthquake
• The Haiti Earthquake: Engineering and Human Perspectives
• Voltaire and Rousseau: A Byproduct of The Lisbon Earthquake
• The Great East Japan Earthquake’s Impact on the Japanese
• Estimating the Direct Economic Damage of the Earthquake in Haiti
• What Should People Do Before, During, and After an Earthquake
• What to Do Before, During, and After an Earthquake
• Valuing the Risk of Imperfect Information: Christchurch Earthquake
• The Impact of the Earthquake on the Output Gap and Prices
• The Devastating Earthquake of The United States
• The Earthquake of The Sumatra Earthquake
• The Crisis of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant After an Earthquake
• The Impact of The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
• The History and Effects of the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami in 2004
• The Effects of an Earthquake Ledcs
• The Cascadia Earthquake: A Disaster That Could Happen
• The Economy in the Aftermath of the Earthquake
• The Impact of Earthquake Risk on Housing Market Before and After the Great East Japan Earthquake
• Who Benefit From Cash and Food-for-Work Programs in Post-Earthquake Haiti
• Macro Effects of Massive Earthquake Upon Economic in Japan from 2011 to 2013
• How the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Shaped Economic Activity in the American West
• The Cause of Earthquakes and the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
• The Effect of the Earthquake in Haiti: Global Issues
• Understanding How Gigantic Earthquake and Resultant Tsunami Are Being Formed
• Why God and The Earthquake of Haiti Happened
• The Effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Investors’ Risk and Time Preferences
• The Great East Japan Earthquake and its Short-run Effects on Household Purchasing Behavior
• Internal Displacement and Recovery From a Missouri Earthquake
• Understanding the Causes and Effects of an Earthquake
• Supply Chain Disruptions: Evidence From the Great East Japan Earthquake
• The Earthquake That Shook The World In Pakistan
• What Motivates Volunteer Work in an Earthquake?
• Who Benefits From Cash and Food-For-Work Programs in Post-earthquake Haiti?
• Why Did Haiti Suffer More Than Kobe as a Result of an Earthquake?
• Why Did the Earthquake in Haiti Happen?
• Why Does the Earthquake Happen in Chile?
• Why Was the Haiti Earthquake So Deadly?
• Was the Japan Earthquake Manmade?
• How Did the 1964 Alaska Earthquake Enhance Our Understanding?
• How Does the Theory of Plate Tectonics Help to Explain the World Distribution of Earthquakes and Volcanic Zones?
• How Leaders Controlled Events in the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake?
• How Shaky Was the Regional Economy After the 1995 Kobe Earthquake?
• How Would Society React to Modern Earthquakes, if They Only Believed in Myths?
• How the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Shaped Economic Activity in the American West?
• How Does the Nepal Earthquake Continue to Re-Shape People’s Lives?
• Are People Insured Against Natural Disasters Such as Earthquakes?
• What Is the Long-Lasting Impact of the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti?
• How Do Japanese Smes Prepare Against Natural Disasters Such as Earthquakes?
• The Kobe Earthquake and Why Did Mrs. Endo Die?
• What Was the Last Earthquake?
• What Is an Earthquake, and Why Does It Happen?
• What Are Three Earthquake Facts?
• What Is an Earthquake in a Simple Way?
• How Do Earthquakes Start?
• What Are the Effects of Earthquakes?
• How Can Earthquakes Be Prevented?
• What Are the Five Leading Causes of the Earthquake?
• Where Is the Safest Place to Be in an Earthquake?
• Can Humans Cause Earthquakes?
• What Are Five Facts about Earthquakes?
• Does a Small Earthquake Mean That a Giant Earthquake Is Coming?
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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "143 Earthquake Essay Topics & Examples." February 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/earthquake-essay-topics/.

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Resources from our Assignments for the Earthquake Writing Assignment

Information about key us earthquake fault zones.

Each of these regions has a potentially high earthquake hazard.

1.  In California      San Andreas Fault - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Andreas_Fault

2.  In Washington and Oregon      Cascadia Subduction Zone - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_subduction_zone      Seattle Fault - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Fault

3.  In Utah and Idaho      Wasatch Fault - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasatch_Fault

4.  In the Midwest - Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky      New Madrid Seismic Zone - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone

Information about Key Events and Faults

The following file has the distribution of earthquakes for our 5 key regions:  http://www.users.miamioh.edu/brudzimr/classes/USA-earthquakes.kmz

Please note that some computers have trouble recognizing a .kmz Google Earth file and get it confused with a .zip file, and sometimes even rename it into a zip file when you download it. If the downloaded file doesn't open in Google Earth, you should try to right-click on the link in this question and choose Save As and make sure the filename ends in .kmz

When you open this file in Google Earth, you should find 5 folders , one for each of the following metropolitan areas:

Each folder includes at least one Wikipedia link about a key earthquake or fault (earthquake symbol) and a catalog of earthquakes over the last 50 years for that region. Remember, you can open the folder and click the checkbox next to each of these pieces of information to show or hide it.

Information about Predicted Earthquake Shaking

ShakeMaps show predicted earthquake shaking intensities from hypothetical earthquakes which are based on historic earthquakes. The predicted shaking intensities are converted into a Mercalli Scale that uses roman numerals (I-XI) to indicate the level of shaking and anticipated damage. The information we used in our Assignment can be found in the following file in Google Earth: http://www.users.muohio.edu/brudzimr/classes/USAshakemaps.kmz

When you open this file, you should find 5 folders, one for each of the metropolitan areas we have examined: San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Memphis. Each folder includes at least one ShakeMap. You can open the folder and click the checkbox next to each ShakeMap to show or hide it. The main reason to look at these hypothetical earthquake ShakeMaps is to examine the key information that city planners use when trying to evaluate earthquake risks in each city.

Make sure your "Borders and Labels" in Google Earth are checked on, so that you can see label cities.  You can use the red dot labeled San Francisco as the marker for downtown. 

Information about Applying Probability to Seismic Hazards

The probability of an event is a useful way for scientists to assess the risk of a certain hazardous event. For example, it is useful to know the probability of an earthquake occurring in a particular location so that emergency officials can prepare develop appropriate building codes, etc.

Geologists study the location of faults, the frequency and magnitude of past earthquakes on those faults to quantify the probability of an earthquake happening in that area over a given length of time. Geologists assume that future earthquakes will likely occur where past earthquakes have occurred, and base this assumption on observations of earthquakes over many years. Here in the U.S., the United States Geological Survey has the official responsibility of producing these probabilities. We can examine their probabilities at the following website: http://www.users.muohio.edu/brudzimr/classes/eqprob

This website enables you to find the probability of an earthquake of a magnitude 7 earthquake occurring during different periods of time.  To help you evaluate the earthquake hazards in the 5 cities we have been investigating, you would have downloaded the following Excel file and completed the blank areas of the table using the USGS website: http://www.users.muohio.edu/brudzimr/classes/eq.probability.xls

Hopefully you kept this file because it probably took you some time to complete this table.

Information about the Probability of Large Ground Shaking

The probability of large ground shaking is another way that geologists assess the hazard risk for a particular area.  While the amount of ground shaking that occurs during an earthquake is certainly related to the amount of energy released from it, e.g. magnitude of an earthquake, it is also directly related to the type of surface material at a given location. These levels of ground shaking are used primarily for formulating building codes and for designing buildings.

Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) maps estimate the intensity of ground shaking based on actual instrumental measurements of ground type.   The PGA is different than the Mercalli Scale, which uses human observations.  In our Assignment, we investigated maps that show a PGA of 2% chance ground motion exceedance within the next 50 years: http://www.users.muohio.edu/brudzimr/classes/PGA.usa.jpg

The peak ground acceleration (PGA) is measured as a percentage of ‘g,’ which is the earth’s gravitational acceleration of 9.8 m/s2. So, for example, the areas of the map which are green in color have a 2% chance of shaking 0.10 or 10% of g.

You can use "Command +" on a Mac or "Cntrl +" on a PC to zoom in on a map.  It may also be useful to have Google Maps open, so you can use this as a reference for where a city is located.

How to Write an Essay About Earthquakes

Diana v. faustmann.

Earthquakes cover as much ground in essay writing as they do in the real world. You can relate a personal earthquake experience, describe the steps to become a seismologist, narrate the earthquake history of a certain location or compare earthquakes to other natural disasters. Then you can choose to describe your topic, narrate a specific incident, analyze earthquake effects or argue for a better earthquake coping mechanism. These rich options challenge you to narrow your focus and define your purpose upfront. Then use sound research and a simple essay format to convey your informed message about earthquakes clearly and concisely.

Narrow your focus. Choose an area about earthquakes that fascinates or intrigues you and then restrict your focus further within it. For example, go from earthquakes in general to the Haiti earthquake of 2010, and from its effect on the Haitian people to orphans specifically.

Decide on your angle. Perform cursory research on your selected topic and then decide whether you want to narrate, explain, analyze, argue or persuade your readers to take action.

Establish your thesis and identify several sub-topics that exemplify or otherwise support your thesis. Develop a thesis statement that contains both elements. For example, “Seismology is a sound career to consider. You work outdoors most of the time, study the causes and effects of earthquakes in depth, and help to discover ways to limit their damage.”

Outline your introduction, body and conclusion. Focus your research on the data that you need to amplify your sub-topics. For instance, for the sub-topic, “The Richter scale is an inadequate earthquake measurement tool,” in your outline, add three bullets corresponding to case studies that illustrate that claim.

Write your introductory paragraph to compel further reading. First, provide a lead-in that gives earthquakes an interesting or original slant. Then narrow your focus and end with a statement of your thesis. For example, “My family barely escaped calamity in last summer's earthquake. Many of our neighbors were not so lucky; they lost homes and lives. Clearly, our homes still don’t adequately protect us from shifts in the seismic plates beneath us. We need to better earthquake-proof our area with a building code that is stronger in three major areas: (a), (b) and (c).”

Assign one or two paragraphs to address each sub-topic. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence followed by supporting facts or examples. For example, state that “Governments should discourage new developments over known earthquake faults.” Follow this topic sentence with a description of three communities that earthquakes virtually demolished.

End your essay clearly and confidently. Begin your conclusion with “in summary” or “in brief,” then restate your thesis and sub-topics. Engage your readers with one final, memorable or compelling statement or anecdote. For example, “Compassion can be as earth-shaking as an earthquake, but with the opposite effect. Investigate how you can help to rebuild the lives of Haitian earthquake orphans today.”

• Sometimes your research leads you to a different conclusion than your thesis originally set out to prove. Adjust your thesis statement accordingly.
• Keep your sentences short and coherent. As much as possible, use active verbs throughout.
• Use transitional expressions between sentences and paragraphs; words such as “moreover,” “consequently” and “finally,” help your readers follow your train of thought and move smoothly from one thought to the next.
• Review your essay for spelling and grammar errors and any weaknesses in its flow. If possible, recruit a friend to help you proofread your essay before you submit it.
• 1 Purdue Online Writing Lab: Essay Writing

About the Author

Since 1988, Diana Faustmann has been writing on technology, business and culture. Her articles have appeared in various print publications, corporate websites and authoritative online sites. Faustmann holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of the Philippines.

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Earthquake Essay

Essay on Earthquake - An earthquake is a natural disaster that occurs when two tectonic plates collide. The force of the collision creates seismic waves that travel through the earth's crust, causing the ground to shake and buildings to collapse. Here are some sample essays on earthquakes.

• 100 Words Essay on Earthquake

Earthquakes can happen anywhere in the world, and although their occurrence is not predictable, there are some things you can do to make yourself more prepared in case one does strike. This includes having an earthquake kit ready to go, knowing how to drop, cover and hold on, and staying informed about any potential risks in your area. Make sure you have an emergency kit stocked with food, water, and other supplies, and know what to do when an earthquake hits. If you're not sure what to do, it's best to stay away from windows and other objects that could fall on you, and head to a safe place.

200 Words Essay on Earthquake

500 words essay on earthquake.

Earthquakes are a natural disaster that come with a lot of dangers. The shaking and movement of the earth can cause buildings to fall down, trapping people inside. The shaking caused by such a sudden change is usually very minor, but large earthquakes sometimes cause very large shaking of the land. The shaking waves spread from the spot at which rock begins breaking for the first time; this spot is called the center, or hypocenter, of an earthquake.

If you're inside when an earthquake starts, drop to the ground and cover your head. The earthquake's magnitude is related to the amount of earthquake energy released in a seismic event.

Different Types of Earthquakes

There are three types of earthquakes:

Shallow | A shallow earthquake is when the earthquake's focus is close to the surface of the Earth. These earthquakes are usually less powerful than the other two types, but can still cause a lot of damage.

Intermediate | Intermediate earthquakes have a focus that's located between the surface and the Earth's mantle, and are usually more powerful than shallow earthquakes.

Deep | Deep earthquakes have a focus that's located in the mantle, which is the layer of the Earth below the crust. They're the most powerful type of earthquake, and can even cause damage on the surface.

An earthquake can cause damage to buildings and bridges; interrupt gas, electrical, and telephone services; and occasionally trigger landslides, avalanches, flash flooding, wildfires, and massive, destructive waves of water over oceans (tsunamis).

The Dangers Associated With Earthquakes

The shaking of the ground can cause objects to fall off shelves and injure people. If you're outside when an earthquake starts, move away from tall buildings, streetlights and power lines.

An earthquake can also cause a tsunami, or a large wave, to form and crash onto the shore. Tsunamis can be very dangerous and can reach heights of over 100 feet.

How to Prepare for an Earthquake

When an earthquake is imminent, your first step should be to find a safe spot. The most ideal spots are under sturdy furniture or inside door frames. It is best to stay away from windows and anything that can fall over.

Once you've found the safest place, it's time to prepare for the shaking. Grab some blankets, pillows and helmets if possible – all of which can provide extra cushioning against falling objects.

Additionally, you should always keep an eye out for debris that could cause injuries, such as broken glass and sharp objects.

Finally, stay calm until the shaking stops, and monitor local news reports for additional information on how best to handle the situation.

What to do During an Earthquake

The moment an earthquake hits, it is important to stay as calm and collected as possible. Safety is the first priority so you must stay away from windows and furniture that can fall on you, and protect your head with your arms if needed.

If an earthquake occurs while you are indoors, stay away from anything that could fall or break such as windows, mirrors, or furniture. Do not run outdoors as shaking can cause glass and other materials to fall from the building structure. Instead, seek shelter under sturdy tables or desks. If there is no furniture available, move to a corner of the room and crouch down protectively with your arms over your head and neck.

It's also important to take note of any gas lines that could be affected during an earthquake and shut them off if necessary in order to prevent fires from breaking out due to exposed pipes.

After the Earthquake: Recovery and Assistance

When the shaking stops, there will be a period of recovery.

Don't enter any building if it has visible damage due to the earthquake - it's better to be safe than sorry.

You should contact local aid organisations like the Red Cross for additional help with sheltering, water, food and other essentials.

Stay in touch with local officials about any services provided for those affected by the earthquake.

Make sure you also have a plan for what to do if you're stuck in an earthquake, and know how to get in touch with loved ones in case of an emergency.

By being prepared and knowing what to do, you can help ensure that you and your loved ones are safe in the event of an earthquake.

Explore Career Options (By Industry)

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Data Administrator

Database professionals use software to store and organise data such as financial information, and customer shipping records. Individuals who opt for a career as data administrators ensure that data is available for users and secured from unauthorised sales. DB administrators may work in various types of industries. It may involve computer systems design, service firms, insurance companies, banks and hospitals.

Bio Medical Engineer

The field of biomedical engineering opens up a universe of expert chances. An Individual in the biomedical engineering career path work in the field of engineering as well as medicine, in order to find out solutions to common problems of the two fields. The biomedical engineering job opportunities are to collaborate with doctors and researchers to develop medical systems, equipment, or devices that can solve clinical problems. Here we will be discussing jobs after biomedical engineering, how to get a job in biomedical engineering, biomedical engineering scope, and salary. 

Ethical Hacker

A career as ethical hacker involves various challenges and provides lucrative opportunities in the digital era where every giant business and startup owns its cyberspace on the world wide web. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path try to find the vulnerabilities in the cyber system to get its authority. If he or she succeeds in it then he or she gets its illegal authority. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path then steal information or delete the file that could affect the business, functioning, or services of the organization.

GIS officer work on various GIS software to conduct a study and gather spatial and non-spatial information. GIS experts update the GIS data and maintain it. The databases include aerial or satellite imagery, latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, and manually digitized images of maps. In a career as GIS expert, one is responsible for creating online and mobile maps.

Data Analyst

The invention of the database has given fresh breath to the people involved in the data analytics career path. Analysis refers to splitting up a whole into its individual components for individual analysis. Data analysis is a method through which raw data are processed and transformed into information that would be beneficial for user strategic thinking.

Data are collected and examined to respond to questions, evaluate hypotheses or contradict theories. It is a tool for analyzing, transforming, modeling, and arranging data with useful knowledge, to assist in decision-making and methods, encompassing various strategies, and is used in different fields of business, research, and social science.

Geothermal Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as geothermal engineers are the professionals involved in the processing of geothermal energy. The responsibilities of geothermal engineers may vary depending on the workplace location. Those who work in fields design facilities to process and distribute geothermal energy. They oversee the functioning of machinery used in the field.

Database Architect

If you are intrigued by the programming world and are interested in developing communications networks then a career as database architect may be a good option for you. Data architect roles and responsibilities include building design models for data communication networks. Wide Area Networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), and intranets are included in the database networks. It is expected that database architects will have in-depth knowledge of a company's business to develop a network to fulfil the requirements of the organisation. Stay tuned as we look at the larger picture and give you more information on what is db architecture, why you should pursue database architecture, what to expect from such a degree and what your job opportunities will be after graduation. Here, we will be discussing how to become a data architect. Students can visit NIT Trichy , IIT Kharagpur , JMI New Delhi . 

Remote Sensing Technician

Individuals who opt for a career as a remote sensing technician possess unique personalities. Remote sensing analysts seem to be rational human beings, they are strong, independent, persistent, sincere, realistic and resourceful. Some of them are analytical as well, which means they are intelligent, introspective and inquisitive. 

Remote sensing scientists use remote sensing technology to support scientists in fields such as community planning, flight planning or the management of natural resources. Analysing data collected from aircraft, satellites or ground-based platforms using statistical analysis software, image analysis software or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a significant part of their work. Do you want to learn how to become remote sensing technician? There's no need to be concerned; we've devised a simple remote sensing technician career path for you. Scroll through the pages and read.

Budget Analyst

Budget analysis, in a nutshell, entails thoroughly analyzing the details of a financial budget. The budget analysis aims to better understand and manage revenue. Budget analysts assist in the achievement of financial targets, the preservation of profitability, and the pursuit of long-term growth for a business. Budget analysts generally have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field. Knowledge of Financial Management is of prime importance in this career.

Underwriter

An underwriter is a person who assesses and evaluates the risk of insurance in his or her field like mortgage, loan, health policy, investment, and so on and so forth. The underwriter career path does involve risks as analysing the risks means finding out if there is a way for the insurance underwriter jobs to recover the money from its clients. If the risk turns out to be too much for the company then in the future it is an underwriter who will be held accountable for it. Therefore, one must carry out his or her job with a lot of attention and diligence.

Finance Executive

Product manager.

A Product Manager is a professional responsible for product planning and marketing. He or she manages the product throughout the Product Life Cycle, gathering and prioritising the product. A product manager job description includes defining the product vision and working closely with team members of other departments to deliver winning products.  

Operations Manager

Individuals in the operations manager jobs are responsible for ensuring the efficiency of each department to acquire its optimal goal. They plan the use of resources and distribution of materials. The operations manager's job description includes managing budgets, negotiating contracts, and performing administrative tasks.

Stock Analyst

Individuals who opt for a career as a stock analyst examine the company's investments makes decisions and keep track of financial securities. The nature of such investments will differ from one business to the next. Individuals in the stock analyst career use data mining to forecast a company's profits and revenues, advise clients on whether to buy or sell, participate in seminars, and discussing financial matters with executives and evaluate annual reports.

A Researcher is a professional who is responsible for collecting data and information by reviewing the literature and conducting experiments and surveys. He or she uses various methodological processes to provide accurate data and information that is utilised by academicians and other industry professionals. Here, we will discuss what is a researcher, the researcher's salary, types of researchers.

Welding Engineer

Welding Engineer Job Description: A Welding Engineer work involves managing welding projects and supervising welding teams. He or she is responsible for reviewing welding procedures, processes and documentation. A career as Welding Engineer involves conducting failure analyses and causes on welding issues. 

Transportation Planner

A career as Transportation Planner requires technical application of science and technology in engineering, particularly the concepts, equipment and technologies involved in the production of products and services. In fields like land use, infrastructure review, ecological standards and street design, he or she considers issues of health, environment and performance. A Transportation Planner assigns resources for implementing and designing programmes. He or she is responsible for assessing needs, preparing plans and forecasts and compliance with regulations.

Environmental Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as an environmental engineer are construction professionals who utilise the skills and knowledge of biology, soil science, chemistry and the concept of engineering to design and develop projects that serve as solutions to various environmental problems. 

Safety Manager

A Safety Manager is a professional responsible for employee’s safety at work. He or she plans, implements and oversees the company’s employee safety. A Safety Manager ensures compliance and adherence to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines.

Conservation Architect

A Conservation Architect is a professional responsible for conserving and restoring buildings or monuments having a historic value. He or she applies techniques to document and stabilise the object’s state without any further damage. A Conservation Architect restores the monuments and heritage buildings to bring them back to their original state.

Structural Engineer

A Structural Engineer designs buildings, bridges, and other related structures. He or she analyzes the structures and makes sure the structures are strong enough to be used by the people. A career as a Structural Engineer requires working in the construction process. It comes under the civil engineering discipline. A Structure Engineer creates structural models with the help of computer-aided design software. 

Highway Engineer

Highway Engineer Job Description:  A Highway Engineer is a civil engineer who specialises in planning and building thousands of miles of roads that support connectivity and allow transportation across the country. He or she ensures that traffic management schemes are effectively planned concerning economic sustainability and successful implementation.

Field Surveyor

Are you searching for a Field Surveyor Job Description? A Field Surveyor is a professional responsible for conducting field surveys for various places or geographical conditions. He or she collects the required data and information as per the instructions given by senior officials. 

Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and Prosthetists are professionals who provide aid to patients with disabilities. They fix them to artificial limbs (prosthetics) and help them to regain stability. There are times when people lose their limbs in an accident. In some other occasions, they are born without a limb or orthopaedic impairment. Orthotists and prosthetists play a crucial role in their lives with fixing them to assistive devices and provide mobility.

Pathologist

A career in pathology in India is filled with several responsibilities as it is a medical branch and affects human lives. The demand for pathologists has been increasing over the past few years as people are getting more aware of different diseases. Not only that, but an increase in population and lifestyle changes have also contributed to the increase in a pathologist’s demand. The pathology careers provide an extremely huge number of opportunities and if you want to be a part of the medical field you can consider being a pathologist. If you want to know more about a career in pathology in India then continue reading this article.

Veterinary Doctor

Speech therapist, gynaecologist.

Gynaecology can be defined as the study of the female body. The job outlook for gynaecology is excellent since there is evergreen demand for one because of their responsibility of dealing with not only women’s health but also fertility and pregnancy issues. Although most women prefer to have a women obstetrician gynaecologist as their doctor, men also explore a career as a gynaecologist and there are ample amounts of male doctors in the field who are gynaecologists and aid women during delivery and childbirth. 

Audiologist

The audiologist career involves audiology professionals who are responsible to treat hearing loss and proactively preventing the relevant damage. Individuals who opt for a career as an audiologist use various testing strategies with the aim to determine if someone has a normal sensitivity to sounds or not. After the identification of hearing loss, a hearing doctor is required to determine which sections of the hearing are affected, to what extent they are affected, and where the wound causing the hearing loss is found. As soon as the hearing loss is identified, the patients are provided with recommendations for interventions and rehabilitation such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and appropriate medical referrals. While audiology is a branch of science that studies and researches hearing, balance, and related disorders.

An oncologist is a specialised doctor responsible for providing medical care to patients diagnosed with cancer. He or she uses several therapies to control the cancer and its effect on the human body such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biopsy. An oncologist designs a treatment plan based on a pathology report after diagnosing the type of cancer and where it is spreading inside the body.

Are you searching for an ‘Anatomist job description’? An Anatomist is a research professional who applies the laws of biological science to determine the ability of bodies of various living organisms including animals and humans to regenerate the damaged or destroyed organs. If you want to know what does an anatomist do, then read the entire article, where we will answer all your questions.

For an individual who opts for a career as an actor, the primary responsibility is to completely speak to the character he or she is playing and to persuade the crowd that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation. Here in this article, we will discuss how to become an actor in India, actor exams, actor salary in India, and actor jobs. 

Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats create and direct original routines for themselves, in addition to developing interpretations of existing routines. The work of circus acrobats can be seen in a variety of performance settings, including circus, reality shows, sports events like the Olympics, movies and commercials. Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats must be prepared to face rejections and intermittent periods of work. The creativity of acrobats may extend to other aspects of the performance. For example, acrobats in the circus may work with gym trainers, celebrities or collaborate with other professionals to enhance such performance elements as costume and or maybe at the teaching end of the career.

Video Game Designer

Career as a video game designer is filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. A video game designer is someone who is involved in the process of creating a game from day one. He or she is responsible for fulfilling duties like designing the character of the game, the several levels involved, plot, art and similar other elements. Individuals who opt for a career as a video game designer may also write the codes for the game using different programming languages.

Depending on the video game designer job description and experience they may also have to lead a team and do the early testing of the game in order to suggest changes and find loopholes.

Radio Jockey

Radio Jockey is an exciting, promising career and a great challenge for music lovers. If you are really interested in a career as radio jockey, then it is very important for an RJ to have an automatic, fun, and friendly personality. If you want to get a job done in this field, a strong command of the language and a good voice are always good things. Apart from this, in order to be a good radio jockey, you will also listen to good radio jockeys so that you can understand their style and later make your own by practicing.

A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

Choreographer

The word “choreography" actually comes from Greek words that mean “dance writing." Individuals who opt for a career as a choreographer create and direct original dances, in addition to developing interpretations of existing dances. A Choreographer dances and utilises his or her creativity in other aspects of dance performance. For example, he or she may work with the music director to select music or collaborate with other famous choreographers to enhance such performance elements as lighting, costume and set design.

Social Media Manager

A career as social media manager involves implementing the company’s or brand’s marketing plan across all social media channels. Social media managers help in building or improving a brand’s or a company’s website traffic, build brand awareness, create and implement marketing and brand strategy. Social media managers are key to important social communication as well.

Photographer

Photography is considered both a science and an art, an artistic means of expression in which the camera replaces the pen. In a career as a photographer, an individual is hired to capture the moments of public and private events, such as press conferences or weddings, or may also work inside a studio, where people go to get their picture clicked. Photography is divided into many streams each generating numerous career opportunities in photography. With the boom in advertising, media, and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option for many Indian youths.

An individual who is pursuing a career as a producer is responsible for managing the business aspects of production. They are involved in each aspect of production from its inception to deception. Famous movie producers review the script, recommend changes and visualise the story. 

They are responsible for overseeing the finance involved in the project and distributing the film for broadcasting on various platforms. A career as a producer is quite fulfilling as well as exhaustive in terms of playing different roles in order for a production to be successful. Famous movie producers are responsible for hiring creative and technical personnel on contract basis.

Copy Writer

In a career as a copywriter, one has to consult with the client and understand the brief well. A career as a copywriter has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. Several new mediums of advertising are opening therefore making it a lucrative career choice. Students can pursue various copywriter courses such as Journalism , Advertising , Marketing Management . Here, we have discussed how to become a freelance copywriter, copywriter career path, how to become a copywriter in India, and copywriting career outlook. 

In a career as a vlogger, one generally works for himself or herself. However, once an individual has gained viewership there are several brands and companies that approach them for paid collaboration. It is one of those fields where an individual can earn well while following his or her passion. 

Ever since internet costs got reduced the viewership for these types of content has increased on a large scale. Therefore, a career as a vlogger has a lot to offer. If you want to know more about the Vlogger eligibility, roles and responsibilities then continue reading the article. 

For publishing books, newspapers, magazines and digital material, editorial and commercial strategies are set by publishers. Individuals in publishing career paths make choices about the markets their businesses will reach and the type of content that their audience will be served. Individuals in book publisher careers collaborate with editorial staff, designers, authors, and freelance contributors who develop and manage the creation of content.

Careers in journalism are filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. One cannot afford to miss out on the details. As it is the small details that provide insights into a story. Depending on those insights a journalist goes about writing a news article. A journalism career can be stressful at times but if you are someone who is passionate about it then it is the right choice for you. If you want to know more about the media field and journalist career then continue reading this article.

Individuals in the editor career path is an unsung hero of the news industry who polishes the language of the news stories provided by stringers, reporters, copywriters and content writers and also news agencies. Individuals who opt for a career as an editor make it more persuasive, concise and clear for readers. In this article, we will discuss the details of the editor's career path such as how to become an editor in India, editor salary in India and editor skills and qualities.

Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter may often be at work on national holidays and festivities. He or she pitches various story ideas and covers news stories in risky situations. Students can pursue a BMC (Bachelor of Mass Communication) , B.M.M. (Bachelor of Mass Media) , or  MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication) to become a reporter. While we sit at home reporters travel to locations to collect information that carries a news value.  

Corporate Executive

Are you searching for a Corporate Executive job description? A Corporate Executive role comes with administrative duties. He or she provides support to the leadership of the organisation. A Corporate Executive fulfils the business purpose and ensures its financial stability. In this article, we are going to discuss how to become corporate executive.

Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist is a media professional who creates, audio, videos, graphic image files, computer animations for multimedia applications. He or she is responsible for planning, producing, and maintaining websites and applications. 

Quality Controller

A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product. 

A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

Production Manager

A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans. 

Process Development Engineer

The Process Development Engineers design, implement, manufacture, mine, and other production systems using technical knowledge and expertise in the industry. They use computer modeling software to test technologies and machinery. An individual who is opting career as Process Development Engineer is responsible for developing cost-effective and efficient processes. They also monitor the production process and ensure it functions smoothly and efficiently.

AWS Solution Architect

An AWS Solution Architect is someone who specializes in developing and implementing cloud computing systems. He or she has a good understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing and can confidently deploy and manage their systems. He or she troubleshoots the issues and evaluates the risk from the third party. 

Azure Administrator

An Azure Administrator is a professional responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure Solutions. He or she manages cloud infrastructure service instances and various cloud servers as well as sets up public and private cloud systems. 

Computer Programmer

Careers in computer programming primarily refer to the systematic act of writing code and moreover include wider computer science areas. The word 'programmer' or 'coder' has entered into practice with the growing number of newly self-taught tech enthusiasts. Computer programming careers involve the use of designs created by software developers and engineers and transforming them into commands that can be implemented by computers. These commands result in regular usage of social media sites, word-processing applications and browsers.

Information Security Manager

Individuals in the information security manager career path involves in overseeing and controlling all aspects of computer security. The IT security manager job description includes planning and carrying out security measures to protect the business data and information from corruption, theft, unauthorised access, and deliberate attack 

ITSM Manager

Automation test engineer.

An Automation Test Engineer job involves executing automated test scripts. He or she identifies the project’s problems and troubleshoots them. The role involves documenting the defect using management tools. He or she works with the application team in order to resolve any issues arising during the testing process. 

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How to Write an Earthquake Scene

• What are the characters doing right before the earthquake?

» A . Show the sheer joy or sadness the people are going through seconds before.

I. Are they alone or with loved ones? In public or in a private house? Eating dinner or Working out? What emotions are they feeling? What is being said? What are they looking forward to for tomorrow?         II. Describe the turning point. The drama, the awesomeness that will change in exactly 1 second. Or perhaps, maybe someone doesn’t feel right or there is a warning sign that something bad will happen. Do they hurry to get prepared?     

Suggest YOUR Scene Idea

» b. how is the weather and describe how things look around them currently. such as the house, the buildings, the lawn. why because when you write about the aftermath it has more impact .

I.  How does the outside buildings look. Are they new? Can the character see people working on a bridge? Are they mowing their grass and take pride in the way it looks?      II.  Describe the inside of buildings. Bed made, dishes on the dish rack. Christmas lights handing around the ceiling? Use adjectives and really layout your atmosphere.

     III.  How is the weather? Sunshine? Rain and gloom? Dark? Light? Afternoon? Night? Describe how it feels and the sounds. Any birds chirping, music playing? People talking or completely silent?

• What is damaged, knocked down, destroyed first?

» A. Now, show the very things you describe in the last part being destroyed. Describe the action of them being destroyed, the process… not yet the aftermath.

I. Stuff falling on shelves? (bang, crash, thump). The grinding of parts of their home against one another? How does buildings, belongings look as they are being knocked around. Do they disintegrate? Expand? Twirl? Whirl in midair. The windows can crack. Stair case shudder.      II.  What buildings are being obliterated first? Maybe show people or a character watch it demolish before their very eyes. How are the schools, post office, government facilities doing? Stores? What about that bridge that the workers were working on? How does that fall apart? Slow? Fast? Do cars drop to the ocean as well? A great way to describe this is by knowing the parts of the buildings or structures you plan to write about. Then explain how all of that is being pulled apart, bit by bit. Use metaphors and similes if you can.

     III. How are they trying to stay up? Do people attempt to preserve pieces or these buildings and structures? Do they record it?? Is that store hanging by a thread? How about that library, though? It’s still staying put? How so? What gives?     

» B.  How are people reacting to their belongings being torn apart? Are the belongings hurting them? Is anything other than the earthquake hurting them?

I. Some may be crushed. Sadly, some may have to jump out from high stories. People could be taking their lives in order to save others. .      II.  Can they use any of their belongings as a way to cover? Have they prepared for this? Are they safe? Can go to the bunker or basement without having to worry?       

• Who is injured from the destruction?

» A.What injuries are caused? How bad are they?

I. Is everyone in one piece? How much bleeding? Are they fully flexible or is something hindering them from moving? How do they fix that? Do they have any first aid or do they need to use whatever’s available?      II.  Who died? How did they die? How do people grieve after/during the person losing their life?Is someone alive but knocked out?     III.  Is anyone yelling for help? Can anyone get to them? How much space does the character have? Is it safe to travel to another location? If so, where do they go and why?     

» B . How do people help them while the earthquake is still going? How do they try to help themselves?

I.  Any last minute requests or prayers or confessions? Does anyone know how to fix that broken leg? Do people use team work to lift the television off the woman? Anything similar?      II. Is anyone selfish? Do they try to take while the earthquake is destroying. How are their nerves? Do they need to do anything extreme to save themselves and does it work?       

• How much mayhem and mess is left?

» A. What is the earth doing? Cracking? Lava coming out from beneath? Tearing? Moving? How much does it shake? ?

I. Often, you can actually see the ground move in ripples. In a single story building, you can definitely see the floor rippling and moving. On the second story of an earth quake prepared building, you can see the floor moving but also the walls. The walls start with the ripples but, then start doing a circular motion. You can estimate the magnitude of the quake by counting the earth provided ripples/movements as opposed to those provided by the structure.

     II. Effects/impacts of earthquakes:

Shaking and ground rupture are the main effects created by earthquakes. Ground rupture is a visible breaking and displacement of the earth’s surface along the trace of the fault. It is a major risk for large engineering structures such as dams, bridges and nuclear power stations.

Landslides are a major geologic hazard. Earthquakes can produce slope instability.

Fires can following an earthquake. They can be generated by break of the electrical power or gas lines. In the event of water mains rupturing and a loss of pressure, it may also become difficult to stop the spread of a fire once it has started.

Soil liquefaction occurs when, because of the shaking, water-saturated granular material (such as sand) temporarily loses its strength and transforms from a solid to a liquid. Soil liquefaction may cause rigid structures, as buildings or bridges, to tilt or sink into the liquefied deposits.

Floods may be secondary effects of earthquakes, if dams are damaged. Earthquakes may cause landslips to dam rivers, which then collapse and cause floods.

» B.What are they people feeling? How are they doing midway through?

I. What is the character thinking? What are they saying out loud and in conversation? NOW is the time for them to think about what they were doing just a few minutes ago and how they wished they could have done something different.

• What’s the aftermath?

» A. Describe the sight.

I.   Any aftershocks? These are strong but distant quakes, and several smaller quakes.      II. What has been completely destroyed and what is left? Who is alive and who is not living? How is the weather clearing if at all?Still raining?      III.  How do they pick up after things have been torn down. Is it worth it? Do they tend to the hurt? Do they cover the dead? Search for bodies? Collect money, food, clothing? Where are they headed now?

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105 Earthquake Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on earthquake, 📚 earthquake research paper examples, 👍 good earthquake research topics & essay examples, 🌶️ hot earthquake ideas to write about, ❓ earthquake research questions.

• Earthquakes’ Impacts on Society
• 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami
• Earthquake Resistant Building Technology & Ethics
• Earthquakes: Effects on People’s Health
• A Report on Earthquakes Using Scientific Terms
• Earthquake: Definition, Stages, and Monitoring
• Comparison of the Loma Prieta California Earthquake and Armenia
• Emergency Operations Plan During Earthquake Timeliness and quality of response to environmental challenges are the primary factors that can save the lives of thousands of people.
• Earthquakes: History and Studies Earthquakes are sudden movements of the earth’s surface caused by the abrupt release of energy into the earth’s crust. The earliest earthquake took place in China in 1411 BC.
• The Tohoku Earthquake: Tsunami Entry The paper discusses the Tohoku earthquake. The tsunami evacuation can be described as one that was preceded by warning, preparation, and knowledge.
• Causes of the Haiti Earthquake This paper defines what an earthquake is, then discusses and reviews the causes of the Haiti Earthquake and the possibility of another Earthquake.
• Geology: Iquique Earthquake in Chile This paper describes the Iquique earthquake that took place on 1 April, 2014 in Chile and explains why living near an active faultline is better than on an active volcano.
• Earthquake Mitigation Measures for Oregon Oregon could prepare for the earthquake by using earthquake-proof construction technologies and training people.
• Earthquakes as the Natural Disaster Posing the Greatest Danger to Societies The scope of irreparable damage, human losses, and paralyzed infrastructure due to earthquakes causes high economic costs for rescuing, preventing, reconstructing, rehabilitating.
• Earthquakes Preventions in USA and Japan The article clarifies the issue of earthquakes in the United States, investigate the weaknesses of the American system, and explore the benefits of the Japanese technique.
• Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand The earthquake is considered one of the costliest natural disasters in history. Thousands of buildings, cars, and other property were damaged or destroyed completely.
• Consequences of Northridge Earthquake The paper discusses Northridge Earthquake. A blind thrust fault provoked an earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7, which is high for such a natural phenomenon.
• Humanitarian Assistance After 2010 Haiti Earthquake This paper aims to discuss how the people of Haiti experienced the earthquake, as well as how humanitarian aid from various organizations helped make a difference for Haitians.
• Earthquakes: Determination of the Risk There is a need to create awareness and knowledge about earthquake disasters and how to mitigate and respond to such disasters.
• Earthquake Threats in Bakersfield Earthquakes and dam failures are the most severe threats to Bakersfield, both of which can result in gas leaks and power disruptions.
• Effects of Earthquakes: Differences in the Magnitude of Damage Caused by Earthquakes There are various types of earthquakes depending on the cause of the earthquake hence have different effects and damage to property and loss of life.
• Energy Safety and Earthquake Hazards Program The distribution of earthquakes around the world is not uniform. Some parts experience earthquakes frequently while others do not.
• Destructive Force: Earthquake in Aquila, Italy A high magnitude earthquake shook Central Italy and the worst hit was the city of Aquila, the pain and sorrow were palpable but it did not take long before the people decided to move on.
• Scientific Responsibility for Earthquakes in Japan Extensive geological studies of the occurrence of earthquakes not only in Japan but also around the world have uncovered useful information on their devastating potential.
• India’s, Indonesia’s, Haiti’s, Japan’s Earthquakes In 2001, the major tremor hit the Indian state Gujarat. It was reported as the most significant earthquake in the region in the last several decades.
• Active Tectonics and Earthquake Geology Along the Pallatanga Fault
• An Instrumental Earthquake Magnitude Scale
• Critical Double Impulse Input and Bound of Earthquake Input Energy to Building Structure
• Benefits and Costs of Earthquake Mitigation
• Spatial Patterns of Earthquake Disaster Probability and Individual Risk Perception
• Designing Earthquake-Proof Buildings
• Earthquake Magnitude: Recent Research and Current Trends
• Disaster and Economic Structural Change: The Earthquake
• Assessing Earthquake Early Warning Using Sparse Networks in Developing Countries
• Earthquake Magnitude, Intensity, Energy, and Acceleration
• Disaster and Political Trust: The Japan Tsunami and Earthquake
• Appraising the Unhappiness Due to the Great East Japan Earthquake
• Earthquake Magnitude Scaling Using Seismogeodetic Data
• Numerical and Comparative Study of Earthquake Intensity Indices in Seismic Analysis
• Earthquake and Volcanic Hazards in the Caribbean
• Estimating Earthquake Location and Magnitude From Seismic Intensity Data
• Dependence of Earthquakes on the Human Factor
• A Surprisingly Good Measure of Earthquake Ground Motion
• Recent Studies of Historical Earthquake-Induced Landsliding, Ground Damage in New Zealand
• Business Losses, Transportation Damage, and the Northridge Earthquake
• Difference Between Earthquake Magnitude and Earthquake
• Using Earthquake Intensities to Forecast Earthquake Occurrence Times
• Corporate Philanthropy: Insights From the Wenchuan Earthquake in China
• Crisis Communication During Volcanic Emergencies: Japanese Earthquake
• Earthquake Hazard and the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale
• Earthquake Magnitude Time Series: Scaling Behavior of Visibility Networks
• Regional Relationships Among Earthquake Magnitude Scales
• Impact and Lessons Learned From the Japanese Earthquake
• Earthquake Planning and Decision Support Systems
• A Probabilistic Neural Network for Earthquake Magnitude Prediction
• Effects of Earthquake on the Surrounding Environment
• Earthquake Risk Assessment for the Building Inventory
• A Criterion for Determining Exceedance of the Operating Basis Earthquake
• Living With Earthquake and Flood Hazards
• Statistical Models for Earthquake Occurrences and Residual Analysis for Point Processes
• Fiscal and Social Costs of Recovery Programs for an Earthquake Disaster
• Correlation Between Earthquake Intensity Parameters and Damage Indices of High-Rise RC Chimneys
• Real-Time Seismology and Earthquake Damage Mitigation
• Routine Data Processing in Earthquake Seismology
• Fault-Zone Properties and Earthquake Rupture
• Traditional Construction Techniques for Construction of Earthquake Resistant Buildings
• Implementing New Loan Programs for an Earthquake
• Earthquake Risk Mitigation: The Impact of Seismic Retrofitting Strategies on Urban Resilience
• New Possible Earthquake Precursor and Initial Area for Satellite Monitoring
• Federal State and Local First Responders Earthquake
• Interdependency Amongst Earthquake Magnitudes in Southern California
• Influence of Fluids and Magma on Earthquakes: Seismological Evidence
• Network Similarity and Statistical Analysis of Earthquake Seismic Data
• Statistics of Earthquake Activity: Models and Methods for Earthquake Predictability Studies
• Superbrittleness of Rocks and Earthquake Activity
• Why Do Earthquakes Occur in the Lithosphere?
• What Is the Relationship Between Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics?
• What Conditions Need to Be Present in Order for an Earthquake to Occur?
• Where Was the Deadliest Earthquake?
• What Is the Medium of Earthquake Waves?
• How Is the Amount of Energy Released During an Earthquake Measured?
• What Is the Difference Between an Earthquake and a Fault?
• Where Is the Safest Place to Be During an Earthquake?
• What Does the Magnitude of an Earthquake Mean?
• What Is the Source of Energy for an Earthquake?
• What Tectonic Plates Caused the Haiti Earthquake?
• Does an Earthquake Form Only in the Continental Crust?
• What Information Does an Epicenter Provide About an Earthquake?
• Why Is the Shaking Close to an Earthquake’s Epicenter More Severe?
• Do Earthquakes Cause Volcanoes to Erupt?
• How Are an Earthquake’s Fault Focus and Epicenter Related?
• How Do Tectonic Plates Cause Earthquakes and Volcanoes?
• Why Do Most Earthquakes Occur Along Tectonic Plate Boundaries?
• What Type of Fault Caused the Japan Earthquake in 2011?
• What Is Soil Liquefaction During Earthquake Motion?
• Why Are Earthquakes Mechanical Waves?
• How Do Earthquake Locations Support the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
• What Energy Is Released by an Earthquake?
• Why Don’t Insurance Companies Usually Offer Earthquake Insurance?
• Do Earthquakes Typically Occur Along Passive Continental Margins?
• How Do Geologists Locate the Epicenter of an Earthquake?
• What Geologic Cycle Is an Earthquake In?
• What Is the Social and Economic Impacts of Earthquake?
• Why Are Large Earthquakes Less Common Than Small Earthquakes?
• How Do Earthquakes Affect the Earth’s Crust?

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StudyCorgi. (2023, March 20). 105 Earthquake Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/earthquake-essay-topics/

"105 Earthquake Essay Topics." StudyCorgi , 20 Mar. 2023, studycorgi.com/ideas/earthquake-essay-topics/.

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1. StudyCorgi . "105 Earthquake Essay Topics." March 20, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/earthquake-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "105 Earthquake Essay Topics." March 20, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/earthquake-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2023. "105 Earthquake Essay Topics." March 20, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/earthquake-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Earthquake were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on December 28, 2023 .

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Earthquakes Worksheets

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Exploring the Use of Earthquake Worksheets in the Classroom

When it comes to teaching children about natural disasters, earthquakes stand out as both a fascinating and essential topic. Geology education is not just about teaching facts; it's about preparing children for potential natural disasters, like a volcano or tsunami, and fostering an interest in science. Earthquakes worksheets for kids offer an interactive and informative way to introduce young learners to the fascinating world of seismic events, making science education both enjoyable and educational. By using these free earthquake worksheets and activities, teachers can create a dynamic learning experience that empowers kids to understand the power of the Earth, the science behind quakes, and the importance of staying safe in earthquake-prone regions. Make learning about earthquakes a memorable experience for your students, and watch their curiosity and knowledge flourish.

Worksheet Activity Ideas

• Jeopardy (Questions about Earthquakes Worksheet): Create a game where students take turns answering earthquake-related questions in a Jeopardy-style format. Use the worksheet questions as a basis for the game.
• Shake Table Experiment (Worksheets for Middle School): Build a simple shake table (using materials like a shoebox and marbles) to simulate quakes and movements. Have students complete the worksheet. Middle school students can observe the effects of shaking on objects placed on the table and record their findings on the worksheet.
• Epicenter Simulation (Locating the Epicenter of an Earthquake Worksheet): Provide students with simulated seismograms and have them use triangulation techniques to locate the epicenter of fictional earthquakes. This hands-on activity reinforces the concepts from the worksheet.
• Fault Model Construction (Activity for Middle School): Students can create models of different types of faults (normal, reverse, strike-slip) using clay or playdough. They can label the faults and discuss how they contribute to earthquakes.
• Triangulation Game (Earthquake Triangulation Worksheet): Organize a game where students take on the roles of seismic stations. They communicate with each other to determine the epicenter of a hypothetical quake, practicing the triangulation method.
• Epicenter Hunt (Finding the an Earthquake's Epicenter Worksheet): Provide students with a map and seismograph data from three locations. They must use the worksheet instructions to locate the epicenter on the map. This can be done as a group activity.
• Vocabulary Pictionary (Earthquake Vocabulary Worksheet): Assign earthquake-related vocabulary words from the worksheet to students. They must create visual representations (drawings or diagrams) of the terms, like "rocks" or "measure magnitude," to help reinforce their understanding.
• Plate Tectonics Exploration (Map of World Earthquakes and Volcanoes Worksheet): Use the worksheet as a guide for students to investigate the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes on a world map. Encourage them to identify patterns related to tectonic plate boundaries.

Steps to Make an Earthquake Worksheet

• Determine Your Learning Objectives: Begin by defining the specific learning objectives you want to achieve with the worksheet. Consider the grade level of your students and the key concepts you want them to understand about earthquakes in the lesson.
• Choose Worksheet Topics and Content: Select the topics you want to cover in the worksheet. Common topics include basics, seismic waves, tectonic plates, safety, historical earthquakes, and more. Decide on the type of content, such as questions, diagrams, or activities, that will help convey these concepts effectively.
• Design the Worksheet Layout: Create a clear and organized layout for your worksheet. Include headings, subheadings, and sections for different parts of the content. Use a mix of text, images, and diagrams to make the worksheet visually appealing and informative.
• Develop Engaging Questions and Activities: To promote active learning, create questions, exercises, and activities that align with your objectives, encourage critical thinking, and include diverse question types like multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and open-ended questions.
• Include Answer Key and Instructions: Include an answer key and clear instructions for completing the worksheet, along with any needed resources.
• Test and Refine: Test the worksheet with a small group, gather feedback, and make revisions for effective teaching.

Additional Storyboard That Resources and Free Printables

Parents and teachers looking for educational resources to teach their children about earthquakes can easily find free printable earthquake worksheets for kids and other worksheets on the platform.

• Erosion, Weathering, and Deposition Worksheets
• Layers of the Earth Worksheets
• Rocks and Minerals Worksheets
• Weather Worksheets
• Waves Worksheets
• Earth Science Worksheets
• The Moon Worksheets
• Volcano Worksheets

How to Make an Earthquakes Worksheet

Choose one of the premade templates.

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on "Copy Template"

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions about Earthquakes Worksheets

Can earthquake worksheets be used in cross-disciplinary activities.

Yes, earthquake worksheets can be integrated into cross-disciplinary activities, allowing students to explore the connections between earthquake science and other subjects such as geography, math, and history.

What is earthquake triangulation, and how is it taught using worksheets?

Earthquake triangulation is a method used to locate the epicenter of an earthquake. Worksheets that teach earthquake triangulation typically include activities that involve plotting seismic data and using it to determine the earthquake's epicenter.

How can teachers design worksheets that focus on earthquake history and their impact on civilizations?

To design worksheets about earthquake history and its impact on civilizations, select significant earthquakes, research thoroughly, set clear learning objectives, organize chronologically, use primary and secondary sources, create thought-provoking questions, include maps and visuals, share engaging stories, encourage critical thinking, foster reflection and discussion, offer additional resources, and promote cross-disciplinary connections for a comprehensive understanding.

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KS2 Earthquakes/Volcanoes Descriptive Writing Resources. Narrative Model and Idea Generator Card

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

12 September 2023

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Resources included to use in creative writing for earthquakes and volcanoes

• Short narrative example for an Earthquake – modelling some of the descriptive language and grammatical features/structure that pupils could use in their own stories.

• Word bank/sentence starters/content idea cards for earthquake and volcano descriptive writing/narratives

Also, a set of quick reference idea cards and story model used when working with small groups of Year 6 pupils who were tasked with writing their own short narratives as part of their studies on earthquakes and volcanoes.

Although primarily used for Year 6, the information could be used for other ks2 year groups.

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Earthquake Cause and Effect Essay Sample

Earthquakes are one of the worst and deadliest natural disasters that can occur. They are due to different factors and leave behind after-effects in their wake. An earthquake is the sudden release of strain energy in the crust of the planet’s surface, which will result in shaking that resonates outwards from the source. Simply, it is the sudden shaking of the Earth’s surface and can also be called a quake, tremor, or tremblor.

Earthquakes come in different sizes, as some are weak and cannot be felt, while others are violent and can destroy cities. The frequency, size, and type of quakes experienced are called seismicity. Earthquakes can be a result of volcanic action too. Furthermore, they have various effects that disturb lives and property.

The Valdivia Earthquake, also known as the Great Chilean, is the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. It occurred on the 22 nd of May, 1960, with studies placing it between 9.4 and 9.6 on the moment magnitude scale. The main cause of the quake was tension released by the Nazca plate under the South American plate. The earthquake lasted for about 10 minutes and resulted in tsunamis that affected Hawaii, southern Chile, eastern New Zealand, the Aleutian Islands, Japan, southeast Australia, and the Philippines.

Earthquakes are one of the most destructive and fascinating natural disasters that can cause a huge amount of destruction, injuries, and even death, but what makes them so dangerous? In this earthquake cause and effect essay sample, we will attempt to answer this question and explore why earthquakes occur and what effects they can have on society and the environment. Earthquakes are caused by sudden movement of the earth’s crust resulting from a release of energy from the Earth’s interior, and can be triggered by many different things including human activities such as mining and construction. Understanding the processes behind earthquakes can help individuals and organizations make better plans for future mitigation and adaptation if an earthquake were to occur. Additionally, students can buy a coursework to learn how to plan for an earthquake and develop better understanding of how to prepare for and cope with natural disasters.

Causes of Earthquakes

The main cause of the quakes is the sudden release of stress from the faults in the Earth’s crust. In this guide on how to do a cause and effect essay , we will cover the causes of an earthquake. As the continuous motion of layers transpires, it causes a gradual build-up of pressure on both sides of a fault. This happens because of plate boundaries that are moving. Once the stress is too significant, it is released in a shaky movement. So, how are earthquakes caused? Here are the factors causing quakes.

Tectonic Movements of the Earth

One of the leading causes of an earthquake is movement from the tectonics. This is a shift of the planes making up the crust. Our planet consists of about a dozen major plates and several minor ones and is constantly changing.

The tectonic plates frequently move slowly, but sometimes, they get stuck because of friction. When the stress on the crust becomes more significant than the friction, an earthquake happens to release energy. This brings about a shaky feeling in steps through the planet’s crust. Little movement from the tectonic caused big things such as the happenings in the Ring of Fire.

Seismicity Ripples

Seismic waves are one of the causes of earthquakes. These are elastic ripples generated by an impulse, like an earthquake. The energy from the fault in the crust of the planet will radiate outward in different directions through seismicity. Think of it as ripples on a pond. As the ripples move through the surface, they shake the floor and anything on it. These can be in the form of ripples, which is when an earthquake happens more than once. North Carolina earthquake events occur because of seismicity, although they don’t have significant damage.

Compressions in the Crust of the Earth

Compression in the crust happens when plate tectonics are pushed together. The crust will become shorter and thicker, and depending on how it reacts to the force, it can lead to an earthquake. Due to compression, many quakes that occur in Australia are caused by these shifts along faults. Also, the main cause of the Northridge earthquake 1994 was the compressions on the planet’s surface.

Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanic eruptions are one of the less likely causes of an earthquake, depending on the volcano that erupts. The earthquake will be triggered when an explosion of an explosive volcano. These ripples have a wider effect than volcanic eruptions when they trigger an earthquake. In the case of volcanic eruptions, around 20 miles of the region around the volcano will be affected when it erupts. The largest volcanic tremor took place under Mount St. Helens in 1981 , with an intensity of 5.5.

Disturbances on the Surface

In general, an earthquake can be caused by disturbances on the surface. Technology advancement is one of the popular cause/effect essay topics , which is to some extent responsible for catastrophes like an earthquake. Humanity builds skyscrapers, constructs dams, and gets water from underground. Dams and reservoirs are known to trigger earthquakes, especially when a dam structure fails.

For instance, the 2008 happening in Sichuan , China, which killed about 70,000 persons, was triggered by the nearby Zipping Dam construction. Another disturbance is groundwater extraction, as this can destabilize an existing fault. Hydraulic fracking is a method of extracting natural resources. It works when shale formations underneath are injected with a mixture of chemicals and water at high pressure. Fracking has had such an impact on the environment causing earthquakes.

Big buildings and skyscrapers can also add significant pressure on the Earth’s surface and crack rudimentary rocks.

Writing a college admission essay can be a difficult and intimidating process. Fortunately, there are college admission essay services that can help. These services can help to ensure that the essay meets the requirements of the college. Ultimately, college admission essay service provide students with the resources needed to create a persuasive and effective essay that will make a lasting impression on college admissions committees.

Effects of Earthquakes

When an earthquake happens, it leaves behind five primary outcomes and fires, a significant secondary impact of quakes. The effects of earthquakes on the Earth are often devastating, with people getting killed and injured, buildings getting destroyed, and the emotional and mental health of those affected. That’s why the investigation of this topic is so crucial in minimizing the adverse outcomes.

If you need an essay discussing this or any similar topic, our custom essay writing services can help you get the job done quickly and professionally. Now, let’s get to the main repercussions of quakes.

Ground Shaking

One of the most negative effects of earthquakes is surface shaking. During this time, buildings can be damaged, humans and animals will not be able to stand up or move around, and objects can be tossed around regardless of how big they are. Lives are taken in earthquakes but not directly by the shaking. Instead, it is caused by shaking, like buildings collapsing or getting hit by large objects.

The shaking of unstable slopes and direct blowout during an earthquake can lead to a landslide. Landslides are harmful effects of earthquakes and can damage buildings, tumbling hilltop homes, and block roads and transport lines. When a landslide happens, parts of the planet slide down and block an area. It can affect transportation after the earthquake, causing increased expenditure and leading to injuries and death for people there.

Surface Rupture

Another effect of quakes is surface breaking, which happens when the earthquake breaks the surface. As the earthquake occurs along a fault-line, it breaks through the Earth’s surface and can damage roads, pipelines, railway lines, tunnels, and airport runways. They will be damaged in the aftermath of an earthquake. An example of surface damage during an earthquake was the 1906 quake in California. The main cause of the quake was a slip of the San Andreas fault. The San Andreas fault is a major fracture of the planet’s crust.

Although this is a less common effect, an earthquake causes a tsunami. Tsunamis are water or tidal shakes that cause grave danger to places around the world, especially those in the Pacific Northwest region. An earthquake can cause the seafloor to move vertically apart from the normal floor. This will shake up the ocean and come in a series of floods to the beach. Tsunamis can move more than 700 kilometers per hour, causing flooding. It can damage properties and lead to death and injury too. Places close to the ocean are often subjected to tsunamis during an earthquake.

Liquefaction

Liquefaction is one of the outcomes of an earthquake that happens on the unconsolidated surface. When sediment grains are made to float in groundwater, the soil will lose all its solidity, and this is liquefaction. Tremors and earthquakes can cause mud and sand to spray over a couple of meters, posing a danger to buildings, train lines, gas lines, roads, and airport runways. Buildings can tip over and sink because of the liquefied soils, as occurred in the 1964 Niigata earthquake in Japan. Even septic tanks and gas tanks can float to the surface. Liquefaction after earthquakes leads to damages worth millions of dollars.

Earthquakes can have devastating consequences, so learning more about their causes and effects can be extremely beneficial. Recently, scientists have made tremendous progress in understanding the mechanisms behind earthquakes. To develop a deeper understanding of earthquakes, students may be required to write a coursework for me exploring the causes and effects of them. For example, they can focus on exploring tectonic plates and how they move and affect the ground, as well as the effect of natural conditions like weather and climate on their development. Additionally, the effects of an earthquake, such as structural damage and the resulting landslides, tsunamis and fires, can be further investigated in other science studies.

This essay has highlighted the cause and effect of earthquakes.  Earthquakes are severe natural disasters caused by shifts in the crust of the Earth. Compressions on the planet’s surface, human disturbances like skyscrapers and dams, and tectonics moving can cause earthquakes.  When they occur, consequences like landslides, ruptures, tsunamis, and more will follow. Some of the top countries prone to quakes are China, Indonesia, Turkey, Peru, Iran, Turkey, the United States, Japan, and Italy. China has gone through 157 earthquakes between 1900 and 2016. People living in these areas have precautions taken to protect themselves from injury during an earthquake.

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Earthquake! A Term Paper and Presentation Assignment

Laura Reiser Wetzel , Eckerd College Author Profile

This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Collection

Resources in this top level collection a) must have scored Exemplary or Very Good in all five review categories, and must also rate as "Exemplary" in at least three of the five categories. The five categories included in the peer review process are

For more information about the peer review process itself, please see https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/activity_review.html .

This activity has benefited from input from faculty educators beyond the author through a review and suggestion process. This review took place as a part of a faculty professional development workshop where groups of faculty reviewed each others' activities and offered feedback and ideas for improvements. To learn more about the process On the Cutting Edge uses for activity review, see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html .

In this writing and oral presentaion assignment, students are challenged to assess a building site for a fictitious organization, the Society for Earthquake Enthusiasts. Each student must choose a historically significant earthquake, determine the likelihood of another deadly earthquake at the site in his or her lifetime, and persuade the Society to build or not to build their new headquarters at that location. The primary strength of this exercise is that it extends throughout the semester, with a letter proposing a site due early in the semester, a historical background paper due mid-semester, and a final report and oral presentation due at the end of the semester.

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To focus their research, students are presented with the following hypothetical situation: Suppose you and your classmates are members of an organization that is looking for a site to build a new headquarters. As the Society for Earthquake Enthusiasts (SEE), you plan to put your headquarters at the site of a historically significant earthquake. You are not looking to put yourselves at risk, however, and are therefore looking for a safe location. You have decided that a safe site is one that will not produce a deadly earthquake in your lifetime (i.e., in the next 80 years). Students complete a series of assignments throughout the semester to demonstrate their understanding of structural geology by writing papers and giving an oral presentation. First, a letter proposing a site is due early in the semester, next a historical background paper is due mid-semester, and finally a persuasive report and oral presentation are due at the end of the semester. Has minimal/no quantitative component

Determining whether students have met the goals

I provide the students with checklists for what I expect in each writing assignment as well as my oral presentation evaluation tool. (All are provided here as WORD files.) I fill out the checklists and provide final grades in each case. I also provide a grading rubric in the original assignment. One of the advantages of having a stepped assignment is that I return their first letter before they complete the second paper so that they can improve their work. Students may also incorporate any appropriate material from the first and second assignments in their final paper. In this way, students consider my comments on the first assignments as they prepare their final paper rather than simply looking at the grade early in the semester and moving on without reflecting on their work.

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• Earthquake Essay

Download the Earthquake Essay Available on Vedantu’s Website.

Earthquakes are some of the most devastating natural disasters. Millions of dollars worth of property are damaged and a hundred die every time a big magnitude of eater quake strikes.  It is in this regard that everyone must read and know about earthquakes and be prepared to mitigate the damage. Furthermore, the topic of earthquakes is quite often asked in exams. Preparing for this topic will enable them to have an edge and score more marks in the English paper.

To serve the above-mentioned purpose, Vedantu has come up with the Earthquake essay. This essay is prepared by the experts who know what exactly is required to know and weeding out points that are not important. The essay is very precise and would surely allow students to successfully claim marks in the essay question and even stay prepared when an earthquake actually strikes.

What is an Earthquake?

When the earth’s surface shakes, the phenomenon is referred to as an earthquake. Precisely, the sudden trembling of the earth’s surface is the cause of an earthquake. Earthquakes are regarded as one of the deadliest natural disasters. Huge damage and loss of property are caused by earthquakes. There are various types of earthquakes. Some of them are severe in nature. The most dangerous thing about an earthquake is that it is quite unpredictable. It can cause several damages without any previous indication. The intensity of an earthquake is measured by the Richter’s scale. Generally, earthquakes occur due to the movement of tectonic plates under the earth’s surface.

Types of Earthquake

There are four kinds of earthquakes namely 

Tectonic Earthquake,

Volcanic Earthquake, 

Collapse Earthquake and 

Explosive Earthquake.

Tectonic Earthquake 

It is caused due to the movement of the slab of rocks of uneven shapes that lie underneath the earth’s crust. Apart from that, energy is stored in the earth’s crust. Tectonic plates are pushed away from each other or towards each other due to the energy. A pressure is formed because of the energy and movement as time passes. A fault line is formed due to severe pressure. The center point of this dispersion is the epicenter of the earthquake. Subsequently, traveling of the waves of energy from focus to the surface causes the tremor.

Volcanic Earthquake

The earthquake caused by volcanic activity is called a volcanic earthquake. These kinds of earthquakes are of weaker magnitudes. Volcanic earthquakes are categorized into two types. In the first type, which is called volcano-tectonic, shaking happens due to input or withdrawal of Magma. In the second type, which is termed as Long-period earthquake, tremors occur due to changing of pressure among the earth’s layers.

Collapse Earthquake

Collapse Earthquake is the third type of earthquake that occurs in the caverns and mines. This is another example of a weak magnitude earthquake. Mines collapsed due to underground blasts. Consequently, seismic waves are formed due to this collapsing. Earthquakes occur because of these seismic waves.

Explosive Earthquake

The fourth type of earthquake is called an explosive earthquake. This is caused due to the testing of nuclear weapons.

Effects of Earthquake

The effects of earthquakes are very severe and deadly. 

It can cause irreparable damage to property and loss of human lives. The lethality of an earthquake depends on its distance from the epicentre. 

Damage to establishments is the direct impact of an earthquake. In the hilly areas, several landslides are caused due to earthquakes.  

Another major impact of an earthquake is soil liquefaction. Losing the strength of water-saturated granular material is the cause behind this. The rigidity of soil is totally lost due to this.

Since the earthquake affects the electric power and gas lines, it can cause a fire to break out. 

Deadly Tsunamis are caused due to earthquakes. Gigantic sea waves are caused by the sudden or abnormal movement of huge volumes of water. This is called an earthquake in the ocean. When tsunamis hit the sea coasts, they cause a massive loss of lives and properties. 

Earthquake is termed as one of the most huge and lethal natural disasters in the world. It proves the fact that human beings are just nothing in front of nature. The sudden occurrence of earthquakes shocks everyone. Scientists are working rigorously to prevent the damage of earthquakes, but nothing fruitful has been achieved yet.

Examples of Devastating Earthquake

The city of Kobe in Japan witnessed a devastating earthquake on January  17, 1995, killing more than 6,000 and making more than 45,000 people homeless.  The magnitude of the quake was 6.9 at the moment which caused damage of around 100 million dollars.  The governor of Kobe spent years on reconstruction and made efforts to bring back fifty thousand people who had left home.  Japan geologically is a highly active country. It lies upon four major tectonic plates namely, Eurasian, Philippine, Pacific, and North American which frequently meet and interact.

The second incident is in Nepal where an earthquake struck on April 25, 2015. About 9000 people were killed and almost 600,000 structures were destroyed.  The magnitude of the quake was 7.9 and the repels were felt by neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, China and India.  The disaster caused severe damage of millions of dollars. All the countries across the world including India garnered to help Nepal by sending monetary aid, medical supplies, transport helicopters and others.

FAQs on Earthquake Essay

1. How to download the Earthquake Essay?

The Earthquake essay is available on Vedantu's website in PDF format. The PDF could be downloaded on any device, be it android, apple or windows.    One just has to log on to www.vedantu.com and download the document. The document is totally free of cost and a student does not need to pay any prior registration fee.  

2. How to protect oneself during an earthquake?

Earthquakes could be very disastrous and can cause a lot of collateral damage.  During an earthquake you can look for the corners to hide. Another safe place to hide is under the table or under the bed. If one is sitting in a multistory building, avoid taking a lift and only use the stairs. In this kind of situation, one should never panic and stay calm.  Let the earthquake pass until then keep hiding in the safe spot. Once over, come out to evaluate the situation and take appropriate actions.

3. How to mitigate the effects of an earthquake?

Prevention is better than cure. It is always a better idea to take necessary actions before an earthquake has struck. In the first place, send a copy of all your documents to someone reliable. In case of an earthquake that destroys your important documents, there would always remain a facility to retrieve them.  Research and know if your city is in a seismic zone.  One should also take note of earthquakes during the construction of a house and lay emphasis on a seismic-proof house.

4. How can one teach people about the effects of an earthquake?

There are many ways one can raise awareness about the effects of earthquakes.  There is Youtube and Instagram which could be used to disseminate all the knowledge about the earthquake and its impact on humans. You can also go to schools and colleges to conduct a seminar whereby the students could be told about the mitigation and steps to take when an earthquake strikes.  However before that, one must thoroughly research the topic. For this, visit www.vedntu.com and download the earthquake essay for free.

5. Who has written the Earthquake essay?

The earthquake essay provided by Vedantu is prepared by expert teachers who invest a good amount of time and effort to come up with an essay that is highly useful for the students in their personal lives as well as for their academic performance. The students can use this essay to maximize their abilities to cope with the questions on earthquakes and the earthquake itself. The essay is totally reliable and one mustn’t doubt its credibility at all.

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• Earthquakes Living Lab: Locating Earthquakes

Hands-on Activity Earthquakes Living Lab: Locating Earthquakes

Grade Level: 10 (9-12)

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Expendable Cost/Group: US $0.00

Group Size: 2

Activity Dependency: None

Subject Areas: Earth and Space, Physical Science

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Every year, thousands of people die in earthquakes, and many more homes and communities are destroyed or damaged. Many of these catastrophes can be mitigated, however, by smart engineering. The first step in protection is determining where earthquakes are likely to occur, and how severe they may be. Some techniques engineers use include looking at fault lines, examining previous earthquake data and identifying patterns and trends.

Scientists and engineers around the globe gather data through observation and experimentation and use it to describe and understand how the world works. The Earthquakes Living Lab gives students the chance to track earthquakes across the planet and examine where, why and how they are occurring. Using the real-world data in the living lab enables students and teachers to practice analyzing data to solve problems and answer questions, in much the same way that scientists and engineers do every day.

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Describe what a fault is, and how it can cause earthquakes.
• Use USGS online maps to retrieve data.
• Explain how engineers use earthquake data.

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Colorado - science.

Each group needs:

• computer or other device and Internet access
• Microsoft ® Excel ® (or similar application) to calculate the mean, median and mode
• journal or writing paper for each student
• pen or pencil, one per student
• Where Are Earthquakes Happening Right Now? Worksheet , one per group

Students should be able to calculate the mean, median and mode for a set of data. If students are unfamiliar with these concepts, do this portion of the assignment as a class.

Below the Earth's surface is a layer called the lithosphere , which is divided into huge sections called tectonic plates. An earthquake occurs when two tectonic plates , these gigantic blocks of the Earth, suddenly slip past one another on their fault planes . The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) keeps track of earthquakes around the planet. How often do you think an earthquake occurs somewhere on the planet? (Listen to student responses.) Sometimes hundreds of earthquakes occur in a day, although most are too small to be felt.

Engineers use seismographs to collect data about earthquakes. For every earthquake, its duration, direction and intensity are recorded. Why might engineers want to know this information? What types of engineers might use this data the most? How might they use this information? (Listen to student ideas.) Civil engineers, who design and construct buildings and bridges, may use this data to help them design safe structures. For example, in regions with high earthquake activity, civil engineers may design buildings that are not over a certain height limit or include extra support beams and other design elements as safety factors. Engineers and scientists apply their knowledge of the intensity, frequency and location of past earthquakes to do their best to predict the likelihood of future earthquakes and prepare for their occurrence; it's our best attempt to mitigate the effects and prevent loss of life.

Before the Activity

• Make copies of the Where Are Earthquakes Happening Right Now? Worksheet , one per group. The worksheet serves as a student guide for the activity.
• Make arrangements so that each student group has a computer with Internet access and Excel.

With the Students

• Divide the class into student pairs, and have them assemble at their computers with journals/paper and writing instruments.
• Hand out the worksheets to the groups and direct them to read through the instructions. Encourage them to explore all of the Earthquakes Living Lab as they complete the worksheet.
• Before looking at the Earthquakes Living Lab, have pairs complete the Engage section of the worksheet (the first three questions; includes predictions about earthquake location patterns and trends). See details in the Assessment section.

• Direct students to complete the first half of the worksheet (the Explore , Explain and part of the Evaluate sections), which is also summarized below.
• Of the four Earthquakes Living Lab seismic areas, choose the "Chile" box.
• Follow the first link on the right side of the page titled, "Where did earthquakes occur this week?"
• Examine the data on the screen. Note that each circle represents an earthquake that occurred during the last seven days.
• Examine the data and record your answers to the worksheet questions:
• What do the dot colors indicate?
• What does the circle size indicate?
• When you click on a circle, what information is provided?
• Approximately how many earthquakes occurred within the last hour?
• Approximately how many earthquakes occurred within the last day?
• Looking at the website, note the general location and frequency of earthquakes. Record any patterns or trends you see and why you think they are occurring.
• In the upper right corner, click on the small gear-shaped button. From the drop-down options, click on the "Map Layers" button (about halfway down) and turn on the "U.S faults" overlay. Write down what you think "faults" are and why earthquakes are located along some faults but not all along all fault lines. (Example answer, as provided on the Worksheet Example Answers : A fault is a crack in the Earth's crust, resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other. Large faults form from the result of plate tectonic forces. Only active faults cause earthquakes and many faults are inactive. Some fault lines do not have much seismic activity no movement. While most earthquakes occur along fault lines, not all fault lines have earthquakes.)
• For the second part of the worksheet (the rest of the Evaluate and entire Elaborate sections), have students perform a detailed analysis of the first 25 most recent earthquakes listed. Have them use Excel, to calculate the mean, median and mode. Have them record how they think the data would change if they were given an entire year's worth of data. (Example answer: Although the mean, median and mode could change significantly, it is difficult to predict. If several large earthquakes happened in the last week, the mean and median would probably decrease with a year's worth of data. Similarly, they would probably increase if no large earthquakes occurred in the last week. The maximum and minimum, however, would almost certainly change, given data for an entire year.)
• Conclude the activity with a class discussion, as described in the Assessment section.

fault plane: The surface where tectonic plates slip past one another.

lithosphere: The outermost rigid layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle. This layer of the Earth is composed of tectonic plates and is where earthquakes occur.

seismograph: An instrument that measures motions of the ground, including those of seismic waves generated by earthquakes. Also called seismometer. The instrument detects and documents the intensity, direction and duration of ground vibrations, which are used to determine the strength or magnitude of earthquakes or other seismic events.

tectonic plates: Large sections of the Earth's crust (lithosphere layer) that move, float and sometimes fracture, and whose interaction causes much of the planet's seismic activity.

Pre-Activity Assessment

Predictions : Before student pairs look at the Earthquakes Living Lab, direct them to complete the Engage section of the Where Are Earthquakes Happening Right Now? Worksheet , which asks them to apply their prior knowledge to identify regions of the world and the U.S. where earthquakes occur. From what they know, they are asked to make predictions about what might be patterns or trends in earthquake locations. Review their answers to assess their base knowledge of the subject matter. Students will revisit their predictions later in the activity.

Activity-Embedded Assessment

Data Analysis : Student pairs complete worksheets by using the Earthquakes living lab interface to locate recent earthquakes, as well as perform statistical analysis on the 25 most recent earthquakes listed. After working with the data, they make predictions on how their analysis results (mean, median, mode, and maximum and minimum magnitude values) might be different based on a full year of earthquake data.

Post-Activity Assessment

Sharing Information/Class Discussion : Lead a class discussion to share students' answers, observations and conclusions. Refer to the Where Are Earthquakes Happening Right Now? Worksheet Example Answers . Go around the classroom, having different pairs share their answers for each worksheet question. Do we have a consensus on where earthquakes are most likely to occur? Do you see any discrepancies in the numerical data? Would the mean and median increase or decrease given a year's worth of data? How might engineers use this data?

Have student groups explore the other three regions (Southern California, Japan and San Francisco) and concepts presented in the Earthquakes Living Lab.

• For lower grades, work through the mean, median and mode calculations as a class, or skip that section.
• For upper grades, have students work individually, perform more in-depth statistical analysis such as finding standard deviation and variance, and graph their data (activity vs. time, earthquakes vs. area, etc.)

Students learn what causes earthquakes, how we measure and locate them, and their effects and consequences. Through the online Earthquakes Living Lab, student pairs explore various types of seismic waves and the differences between shear waves and compressional waves.

Students learn about the causes, composition and types of volcanoes. They begin with an overview of the Earth's interior and how volcanoes form. Once students know how volcanoes function, they learn how engineers predict eruptions.

They make a model of a seismograph—a measuring device that records an earthquake on a seismogram. Students also investigate which structural designs are most likely to survive an earthquake.

Students learn about the structure of the earth and how an earthquake happens. In one activity, students make a model of the earth including all of its layers. In a teacher-led demonstration, students learn about continental drift. In another activity, students create models demonstrating the di...

Other Related Information

This activity is designed around the Earthquakes Living Lab, a resource and online interface that uses real-time U.S. Geological Survey seismic data from around the world. The living lab presents earthquake information through a focus on four active seismic areas and historic earthquakes in those areas. The real-world earthquake data is viewable via a graphical interface using a scaling map.

Contributors

Supporting program, acknowledgements.

This curriculum was created with the support of National Science Foundation grant no. DUE 0532684. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Last modified: November 7, 2018

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