Biodiversity
Brain
Genetics
Marine BiOLogy
MicrobiOLogy
PaleontOLogy
ZoOLogy
AnthropOLogy
ArchaeOLogy
Astronomy
Climate Change
Earth
Physics
Water
superwaves
tsunamis
titanic waves
Correct!
These enormous waves race across an ocean at hundreds of miles an hour. As they reach shallow waters, they can grow to the size of buildings and cause great damage when they crash on the shore.
Definition: sudden shaking or movement of the Earth's crust
Cause: pressure builds up in rock until the rock breaks
Location: almost anywhere, but most earthquakes occur at plate boundaries
Largest on record: Chile, South America, 1960
Cool fact: The deepest earthquakes occur about 600 km (370 mi) deep, far below the ocean floor.
When earthquakes occur near the coasts, the vibrations can set off huge waves called:
Scientists predict that if the two plates along the San Andreas Fault continue to slide past each other at their current rate, in 15 million years:
Los Angeles will fall into the ocean
Los Angeles will move into Mexico
Los Angeles will be next to San Francisco
Correct!
Most earthquakes in California occur along the San Andreas Fault. Los Angeles sits on the Pacific Plate, which is moving north at about 2.3 inches a year. San Francisco sits on the North American Plate, which is moving south.
All earthquakes cause serious damage.
Fact
OR
Fiction
?
Fiction
Thousands of earthquakes are detected each year. But most are so small people can't even feel them. About 1 in 5 are felt by people. Only 1 in 5,000 do any damage.
An instrument called a "creepmeter" helps scientists track changes and movement in the Earth's crust.
Fact
OR
Fiction
?
Fact
This instrument measures ground movement, or "creep," along a fault line where two plates meet. Another common tool is the seismometer, which records ground vibrations.
“
Although big earthquakes are scary, they make the Earth ring like a bell. And how the Earth rings allows us to understand what's inside.
„
Ed Mathez, Earth scientist