http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-earthquakes/ Earthquakes and Why They Happen The ground shakes, buildings tumble and the earth heaves and cracks. Serious earthquakes are terrifying and dangerous, but are rare in the U.S. But why do earthquakes happen? The earth is made up of four layers – the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. The mantle and crust are a thin skin compared to the other layers. The mantle is about 1,750 miles thick, while the crust is only about 8 miles thick. This thin skin is broken into pieces called tectonic plates. The plates are like puzzle pieces, floating on top of the Earth’s inner core. Sometimes the pieces slide under or against each other and become stuck. Fun Facts for Kids on Earthquakes – Image of a Road Damaged by Earthquake When the pieces slide apart, they create tremendous force. This force causes the earth to shake and ripple. Over 80 percent of the earth’s earthquakes happen in the Pacific Ocean, in a place known as the “Ring of Fire.” Annually, around 10,000 people die in earthquakes every year. Most of the deaths happen when people are trapped in falling buildings. After an earthquake, mudslides, fires and tsunamis can also hurt people. Yes, that link does say easy science for kids. Since earthquakes are happening frequently again these past few days and we now have a Science and Nature section of the Forum...I wanted to start a tread about earthquakes. I don't know much in the area of Science and I don't know much about earthquakes either so I wanted to find a website that would use simple language to tell me about them. Plus I hope some of you will be able to share some interesting things you know about earthquakes too. So just think of the link above for all of us Big Kids! My first question is: Has anybody on this Forum ever experienced an earthquake? I first became interested in earthquakes when I saw the movie Earthquake with Charleston Heston and Ava Gardner. But even back then it was more the movie about earthquakes that drew my interest...and not the scientific explanations of the how and why of them. In school Science was not one of my favorite subjects either so even though I probably did learn some things about earthquakes during my school years...it just never stuck with me. I never felt the need to know the how and why of some things.I just knew if something happened, then it was real...and that's all that really mattered to me when it came to earthquakes. As I've gotten older though I find I am much more curious about the how and why of things. And the more often things like earthquakes happen...the more my mind wonders how and why too. I've seen a lot of earthquake movies since my first one...and since Scientists, etc. know so much about them now the movies have become ever more realistic of what earthquakes and humans going through them are really like. All of this makes me more interested in this part of Science today.
Yes ,it was only a small one by comparison to the ones ,we have seen on TV in Last few days We live in South Australia ,we go up to Queensland for a month during winter ..July-- Aug to escape a little of SA's cold days/ nights.. We had just arrived at our rented unit ,last August ,( at lunch Time ) we decided we would have a cup of coffee before venturing out to do a little shopping when the large fridge came out from and banged back into the wall behind it ,pictures on the wall started shaking and banging on the walls ...We both looked at one another ..wide eyed ..oh dear a earth tremor ..so we thought ..but in the next day's press it had headlines Gold Coast experiences 5.7 earth quake I hope if they have any more they get it over and done with before we arrive there this year ..it's a real scary feeling I believe its very rare for that part of Aust to experience earth quakes ,However where we live in SA is right on a major fault line,for earth quakes Quote from added link ............Saturday's quake was the biggest to hit the state since 1918, and 10 to 15 times stronger than the magnitude-5.3 quake that struck south-east Queensland on Thursday. " http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-...wo-days-felt-in-south-east-queensland/6665546
I bet that was scary Kate. I know there is the San Andreas fault line in California which I believe is a major fault line here in America but I did not know Australia had a major fault line too. That's very interesting that you live on that major fault line over there...and just a little anxiety inducing too. Do you have many tall buildings where you live?
Only two story buildings where I actually live in a country town ..I will do s bit more reasearch on Adelaide . and post tomorrow ..but I know our almost complete $$$$$ hospital is alleged to be built right on a major fault line ..and allot of talk about the use of cheap,steel in the new structure ...from O/S when we have a major steel producer in this state ...talk latter hubbies birthday today on way out for lunch
This map shows all the areas where earthquakes can occur in America and what states have the highest hazard of experiencing earthquakes. As you can see all of the West Coast States are in the highest hazard category earthquake probability. In 1663 the European settlers experienced their first earthquake in America.
Here is a map of known World wide Epicenters or fault lines. The earliest recorded evidence of an earthquake has been traced back to 1831 BC in the Shandong province of China, but there is a fairly complete record starting in 780 BC during the Zhou Dynasty in China. It was recognized as early as 350 BC by the Greek scientist Aristotle that soft ground shakes more than hard rock in an earthquake.
Just like with everything else in Creation there are myths and legends about how things came into being. Here are some interesting earthquake myths from around the World. Ancient Myths Greece Thales of Miletos (6th century BC) believed an agitation of the great sea, on which the earth floats, produced earthquakes. Mexican Vaqueros, California El Diablo, an Indian god, made a giant rip in the ground so that he and his cohorts did not have to take the long way around when they wanted to stir up mischief on Earth. Gabrielino Indians, Southern California Long ago, Great Spirit made a beautiful land that turtles carried on their backs in lakes and rivers. One day the turtles began to argue. Three swam east; the other three swam west. The earth shook and cracked. The turtles could not swim far, because their load was heavy. So they made up. But once in a while, the turtles argue again. Each time, the earth shakes. Hindus of India They believed that eight mighty elephants held up the land. When one of them grew weary, it lowered and shook its head, causing an earthquake. Kamchatka, Siberia, Russia A god named Tuli drove an earth-laden sled pulled by dogs. When the dogs stopped to scratch at fleas, the earth shook. Mongolia, China A gigantic frog which carried the world on its back twitched periodically, producing slight quakes. Peru Whenever a god visited the earth to count how many people were there, his footsteps caused earthquakes. To shorten his task, the people ran out of their houses to shout 'I'm here, I'm here!' (incorporating in their myth, the wisdom of leaving flimsy houses during an earthquake). Japan A giant catfish lived in mud beneath the earth. A prankster, it could be restrained only by Kashima, a god who protected the people from earthquakes. So long as Kashima kept a mighty magical rock over the catfish, the earth was still. But when he relaxed, the catfish thrashed about, causing earthquakes.
One of the youtube channels that I subscribe to is called "Dutchsinse", and he is a person from the St. Louis area who follows very closely all of the earthquake activity in the world, and posts videos about what is happening, as well as what he thinks might happen next. He also looks at where fracking is taking place, since that is now causing earthquakes in places that are not usually considered to be dangerous for earthquakes. Volcanoes are also affected by the earthquakes, and vice-versa; so monitoring volcanic activity is an interesting and connected subject. Here is the latest youtube video from Dutchsinse, and I believe that he also has a facebook page and an earthquake group, although I don't follow that one.
The Bible talks about earthquakes. These Scriptures about earthquakes are from the King James Version of the Bible. So being a Christian who believes the Bible has also peeked my interest in earthquakes because the ever increasing frequency of them to Christians is a sign that Christ will be returning to earth to set up His eternal Kingdom. According to the Book of Revelation right before Jesus Christ returns the biggest earthquake of all time will happen. Luke 21:11 - And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Mark 13:8 - For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these [are] the beginnings of sorrows. Revelation 11:13 - And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. Matthew 24:7 - For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. Acts 16:26 - And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. Revelation 6:12-14 - And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;... Revelation 16:18 - And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great. Matthew 28:2 - And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. Isaiah 24:19 - The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. Ezekiel 38:19 - For in my jealousy [and] in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
Here's a video of the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan in 2011. This is the earthquake I remember most of all as probably a lot of you do too.
@Babs Hunt ,our tallest building in Adelaide ,capital city of SA is 31 stories .. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Adelaide
Thanks Kate. Do you really think your almost new hospital is not following earthquake code in their building materials. I guess I should even ask if there is a certain code those materials have to adhere to when the building is erected in an "earthquake zone"... I know they have those kind of codes here in America, but not sure if it is that way in other areas.
By the way @Kate Ellery Love your avatar, my "baby" sister love Minnie and Mickey, has her guest room decorated in a theme of them and spends all her vacation time "visiting" with them in Orlando, Florida. She and her husband plan to "retire" and get jobs at Disney World just so they can live their dream...or would that be "theme?"
Here is a link for the buildings up the Gold Coast ,@Babs Hunt where we experienced the earth quake on August 1 st last year.....https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_on_the_Gold_Coast. Link is for suffers paradise ....known as the Gold Coast ... I believe the Earth Quake we experienced was felt mostly where we were at the time ..they had a few tremors prior to us going up there ,last year ..but we thought nothing of it until the" big " one struck the day we arrived (Saturday 1st Aug) We go up there ,every winter for 4 weeks ...the part of the Gold C where we stay is called Coolangatta, it's on the the New South Wales/ Queensland border....it's approx 20 km south of Surfers P ....it's a much slower pace . For oldies ....(The Winter) daytime temps up there are in mid 20's C ..compared to South Aust daytime winter temps ..10-12 C ..We are just going into winter ..so we will be looking forward to escaping again this year
I'm a big "kid" @Babs Hunt I have a Micky and Minnie in my sewing room ..Hubby and I enjoy ballroom dancing and my avatar is M&M dancing