There are four main four types of earthquakes. They are Tectonic, Volcanic, Collapse, and Explosion. The horseshoe-shaped zone surrounding the Pacific Ocean has many subduction zones and is responsible for about 90% of the world’s major earthquakes countries like Japan, Indonesia, Chile, and the Philippines are located along this zone. Earthquake is a natural phenomenon. An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the earth’s surface caused by the movement of tectonic plates. Tectonic plates are large, rigid pieces of the Earth’s crust.
In this article, we will look into the meaning, types, causes, and effects of different types of earthquakes. Let’s start.
Table of Content
What is an Earthquake?
An earthquake is the shaking of the ground caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust. This energy release happens when tectonic plates, which are large slabs of rock that make up the Earth’s surface, move past each other. The movement of these plates can cause the rocks to break and slip, which releases the energy as seismic waves. These waves travel through the Earth’s crust and cause the ground to shake.
Types of Earthquakes
There are four types of Earthquakes:
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Earthquake Type |
About |
|---|---|
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Tectonic earthquake |
Tectonic earthquakes are the most common type of earthquake, responsible for around 90% of the world’s major earthquakes. They occur due to the movement of tectonic plates, which are huge, rigid pieces that make up the Earth’s crust. |
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Volcanic earthquake |
Volcanic earthquakes are triggered by the activity under a Volcano when the molten magma is released from the earth’s crust due to movement in tectonic plates. |
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Collapse Earthquake |
Collapse earthquakes occur when buildings or other structures collapse. These earthquakes are typically very small but can be deadly if they occur in a populated area. |
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Explosion Earthquake |
Explosion Earthquakes happen with a rapid release of energy, by a loud sound and a bright flash of light. They can be caused by various factors, including atomic or nuclear bomb blasts. |
Tectonic Earthquake
Tectonic earthquakes are the most common type of earthquake. It accounts for mostly 90% of all earthquake occurrences. They occur when the Earth’s crust, broken into large, rigid plates, moves against each other. These plates are constantly in motion, driven by forces deep within the Earth’s mantle.
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Cause of Tectonic earthquakes |
Reason |
|---|---|
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Plate movement |
As plates move, they can collide and slide past each other which can cause tectonic movements. |
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Collide |
When plates smash together, one plate may be forced beneath the other, creating a subduction zone. This process can cause intense earthquakes along the boundary. |
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Slide past each other |
Plates moving in opposite directions can grind against each other, creating friction and stress. When this stress builds up and overcomes the rock’s strength, the plates suddenly slip, releasing energy as an earthquake. |
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Pull apart |
As plates move away from each other, they can create rifts or valleys. The stretching and thinning of the crust in these areas can also trigger earthquakes. |
Effects of Tectonic Earthquake
- This is the most common and widespread effect of tectonic earthquakes. The intensity of the shaking can vary depending on the magnitude of the earthquake, the distance from the epicenter.
- Earthquakes can trigger landslides, especially on slopes that are already unstable.
- Underwater earthquakes can generate large waves called tsunamis. Tsunamis can travel long distances at high speeds and cause widespread devastation when they reach land.
Volcanic Earthquake
Volcano earthquakes, distinct from tectonic earthquakes, are tremors caused by activity within the Volcanoes. While less common than tectonic earthquakes, they provide valuable insights into volcanic processes and potential eruptions.
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Types of Volcanic Earthquakes |
About |
|---|---|
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Volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes |
These shallow earthquakes, similar to tectonic earthquakes, occur due to fracturing of rock caused by stress from magma movement or tectonic forces. |
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Long-period (LP) earthquakes |
These low-frequency tremors, lasting from seconds to minutes, are associated with the movement of fluids or the growth of gas bubbles within the magma. |
Effects of Volcanic Earthquake
- Similar to any earthquake, volcanic earthquakes can cause ground shaking, although typically of lower intensity than tectonic earthquakes.
- Earthquakes can sometimes trigger increased volcanic activity, such as tremors, gas emissions, or even eruptions under specific conditions.
Also Read: Volcano Eruption
Collapse Earthquake
Collapse earthquake happens due to many man-made things like building collapse and some natural phenomena like landslides. These kinds of earthquakes are typically very small but can be deadly if they occur in a populated area. Collapse Earthquake is directly or indirectly related to the other types of Earthquakes.
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Causes of Collapse Earthquakes |
About |
|---|---|
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Landslides |
Ground shaking slopes, causing rock and soil to collapse. These collapses can generate their seismic signals, but wouldn’t be classified as separate “collapse earthquakes.” |
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Building collapses |
Strong shaking can damage or destroy buildings, leading to their collapse. While the collapse itself doesn’t generate an earthquake, it can create seismic noise and vibrations |
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Withdrawal of fluids |
Removing fluids like water, oil, or gas from underground reservoirs can create cavities, leading to subsidence and potentially triggering small earthquakes. |
Effects of Collapse Earthquake
- Stronger earthquakes are more likely to cause buildings to collapse.
- Older buildings may be more susceptible to collapse than newer buildings that have been built to meet more stringent earthquake codes.
- Buildings built on soft soils are more likely to collapse than those built on rock.
Explosion Earthquake
Explosion Earthquakes happen due to heavy and powerful bomb explosions and detonations like dynamite, and atomic and nuclear bombs. It happens mostly of man-made things and it is also directly or indirectly related to other earthquakes like Volcanic, Collapse and technological earthquakes.
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Explosions |
Earthquakes |
|---|---|
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These are rapid releases of energy, often can be felt by a loud sound and a bright flash of light. They can be caused by various factors like chemical reactions, physical processes, or nuclear reactions. |
These are caused by the sudden movement of tectonic plates, the large slabs of rock forming the Earth’s crust. The movement can be triggered by built-up stress, volcanic activity, or landslides. |
Effects of Explosion Earthquake
- Primarily generate a powerful air blast that can damage structures and injure people.
- May also cause ground shaking in the immediate vicinity, but this is typically much weaker than an earthquake and localized to a small area.
- Explosions can cause buildings and other structures to collapse or suffer significant damage from the air blast and potential ground shaking.
Method of Triangulation to Detect the Center of the Earthquake
The triangulation method is used by the Seismologist to find out the epicenter of the earthquake means the origin of the earthquake. These kind of methods can be very helpful to predict earthquakes and be prepared in advance for the upcoming disaster.
How Triangulation Method Works
There are four steps and process of Triangulation Method. Below are the steps:
- Seismograph Network: Triangulation method heavily depends upon the Seismograph Network. It is series of devices that are placed all around the globe on land area. Its functions is to record the land vibration caused by the Earthquake .
- Arrival Time Difference: The Sismograph placed all around the world record the waves in two forms, one is in P-waves and second one is S-waves generated by the earthquake. The difference between the P-waves and S-waves confirms the earthquake and the size of earthquake.
- Distance and Calculation: After the record from Sismograph P- wave and S- wave, the speed of the waves and the difference of the waves are measured. It heps to calculate the epicenter of the earthquake.
- Triangulation: After knowing data from the Seismographs, scientists can now create circles around the calculated area of epicenter. The points where intersect each other can be be the exact or near by the origin of earthquake.
Conclusion on Types of Earthquakes
Earthquake is a natural phenomenon. An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the earth’s surface caused by the movement of tectonic plates. There are four types of earthquakes the first one is Techtonic Earthquakes it is the most prevalent, arising from the movement of tectonic plates, second is Volcanic Earthquakes Which is Associated with volcanic activity, providing insights into potential eruption, Third one is Collapse Earthquakes resulting in from the sudden collapse of the ground due to factors like fluid withdrawal or volcanic activity. In recent years Earthquakes have been seen in many countries like Japan.
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FAQs on Types of Earthquakes
What are the three biggest Earthquakes in History?
- Valdivia, Chile 22 May 1960 (magnitude 9.5)
- Prince William Sound, Alaska 28 March 1964 (magnitude 9.2)
- Sumatra, Indonesia 26 December 2004 (magnitude 9.1)
What is the largest Earthquake?
The largest earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude 9.5 on May 22, 1960 in Chile on a fault that is almost 1,000 miles long a “megaquake” in its own right.
How powerful is 9.5 Earthquake?
On May 22, 1960, the most powerful earthquake recorded in the historywas of magnitude 9.5—struck southern Chile. Estimates were the rupture zone stretched anywhere from 500 kilometers (311 miles) to almost 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) along the country’s coast.
Which country has suffered with most Earthquakes?
Japan has the most recorded earthquakes in the world as it sits on a highly active seismic area. Japan is near the Pacific Ring of Fire which makes it highly vulnerable to catastrophic earthquakes.
What was the magnitude of Japan recent Earthquake?
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the most recent earthquake in Japan occurred on February 16, 2024, at 06:31 JST with a magnitude of 2.8. This earthquake occurred in the Area along Mountains of Southern Miyazaki Prefecture.