Similarly, 2011 saw a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit offshore Japan, a catastrophe resulting in a 10m high wave that reportedly moved at a speed as great as 800km/hr. The primary wave measured upwards of 50 m, resulting in roughly 230.000 deaths and $10billion USD in damages. In 2004, the world was shocked by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra which devastated locals and vacationers on December 26th. Two of the most devastating tsunamis in recorded history have occurred in the last 20 years. These waves often travel outward from an epicenter, and can have devastating effects on coastlines as the tremendous force of water overwhelms coastlines, drowning anything in its path. A wave from a tsunami can easily reach over 100 feet tall in cases of strong seismic activity, and reach a shoreline with alarming force and speed. Unfortunately, this slowing down does not make them less dangerous, as the wave actually grows in size as its speed decreases. A tsunami wave can travel anywhere from 500 to 800 kilometers per hour, but slow as they reach the shore. Tsunami waves are huge ocean waves that can travel great distances at alarming speed. Tsunamis The tragic sight of the Banda Aceh City destroyed by the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami disaster that happened on December 26, 2004. As recently as October 2019, Cotabato in the Philippines experienced three successive earthquakes, all of which triggered large fatal landslides. This is seen time and time again throughout history. In some cases, entire hillsides with settlements or buildings built into them can fall away, causing loss of life, injury, and mass property damage. In these cases large sections of earth, mud or rock can break free and fall to lower ground. Landslides follow earthquakes as the shaking and shifting of the earth’s surface and crust due to shock waves cause earth on hills, mountains and cliffs to break free or become dislodged. Not only can earthquakes cause immediate and intense damage to the Earth’s surface due to shakes, fractures and faults, but this shifting of the Earth can create ripple effects which cause other geographically destructive phenomena. Whether they are short term or long term, there are a variety of ways in which earthquakes can affect the landscape, wildlife and human life in an impacted area. Not only can the shift itself cause damage and danger in the moment, but this altering of the geographical landscape can cause ripple effects and long lasting consequences for the area. Because of this, earthquakes can have lasting and devastating effects on their surrounding areas. Sometimes, the earth will fold or buckle, and in other cases, sections of earth will lift or drop along fault lines and fissures. Usually, this means that the Earth’s crust is shifted or displaced in some way. When energy waves, also known as seismic energy, ripples through the under layers of the Earth and makes their way to the surface, the energy can be felt in the form of an earthquake. Earthquakes can be one of nature’s most devastating natural disasters, which not only affect the earth at the time of impact, causing damage with seismic waves, but can have lasting effects on the landscape and surrounding areas as the earth shifts, tilts or drops unexpectedly.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |