Earthquake

An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is 
the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that createsseismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time.

Here are a few different types of earthquakes.
One type of earthquake is a tectonic earthquake that is caused by breaking rocks. Another type of earthquake is a volcanic earthquake that is caused by volcanic activity. Another type of earthquake is a collapse earthquake that is caused by a ground collapse. The last type of earthquake is an explosion earthquake that is caused by a chemical or nuclear explosion. 

       

A foreshock is an earthquake that occurs before a larger seismic event (the mainshock) and is related to it in both time and space. The designation of an earthquake as foreshock, mainshock or aftershock is only possible after the event.^[1]
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock. Aftershocks are formed as the crust around the displaced fault plane adjusts to the effects of the main shock.

Seismometers are instruments that measure motions of the ground, including those of seismic waves generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and otherseismic sources. Records of seismic waves allow seismologists to map the interior of the Earth, and locate and measure the size of these different sources

• Richter magnitude scale, a measure of the energy of an earthquake

Intensity: The intensity of an earthquake at a particular locality indicates the violence of earth motion produced there by the earthquake. It is determined from reported effects of the tremor on human beings, furniture, buildings, geological structure, etc. Many places, including Hong Kong, have adopted the Modified Marcella Scale (MMS) which classifies earthquake effects into twelve grades. -

• I. Microseismic tremor. Recorded by a single seismograph or by seismographs of the same model, but not by several seismographs of different kinds. The shock felt by an experienced observer.

• II. Extremely feeble tremor. Recorded by several seismographs of different kinds. Felt by a small number of persons at rest.

• III. Feeble tremor. Felt by several persons at rest. Strong enough for the direction or duration to be appreciable.

• IV. Slight tremor. Felt by persons in motion. Disturbance of movable objects, doors, windows, cracking of ceilings.

• V. Moderate tremor. Felt generally by everyone. Disturbance of furniture, ringing of some bells.

• VI. Strong tremor. General awakening of those asleep. General ringing of bells. Oscillation of chandeliers, stopping of clocks, visible agitation of trees and shrubs. Some startled persons leaving their dwellings.

• VII. Very strong tremor. Overthrow of movable objects, fall of plaster, ringing of church bells. General panic. Moderate to heavy damage buildings.

• VIII. Damaging tremor. Fall of chimneys. Cracks in the walls of buildings.

• IX. Devastating tremor. Partial or total destruction of buildings.

• X. Extremely high intensity tremor. Great disaster, ruins, disturbance of the strata, fissures in the ground, rock falls from mountains.

Magnitude: Magnitude is a measure of the amount of energy released during an earthquake. It may be expressed using several magnitude scales. One of these, Used in Southern California, is called the Richter scale. To calculate magnitude, the amplitude of waves on a seismogram is measured, correcting for the distance between the recording instrument and the earthquake epicentre. Since magnitude is representative of the earthquake itself, there is thus only one magnitude per earthquake. 

ROSSI FORREL SCALE: The Rossi–Forel scale was one of the first seismic scales to reflect earthquake intensities. Developed by Michele Stefano Conte de Rossi of Italy and François-Alphonse Forel of Switzerland in the late 19th century, it was used for about two decades until the introduction of the Mercalli intensity scale in 1902.

The 1873 version of the Rossi–Forel scale had 10 intensity levels:

The Richter magnitude scale (often shortened to Richter scale) was developed to assign a single number to quantify the energy released during an earthquake.

The scale is a base-10 logarithmic scale. The magnitude is defined as the logarithm of the ratio of the amplitude of waves measured by a seismograph to an arbitrary small amplitude. An earthquake that measures 5.0 on the Richter scale has a shaking amplitude 10 times larger than one that measures 4.0, and corresponds to a 31.6 times larger release of energy.^[1]

Since the mid-20th century, the use of the Richter magnitude scale has largely been supplanted by the moment magnitude scale (MMS) in many countries. However, the Richter scale is still widely used in Russia and other CIS countries. Earthquake measurements under the moment magnitude scale in the United States—3.5 and up, on the MMS scale—are still usually erroneously referred to as being quoted on the Richter scale by the general public, as well as the media, due to their familiarity with the Richter scale as opposed to the MMS.

-Before an earthquake: Have a battery powered radio, flash light, and first aid kids in your house , Make sure everyone knows where they are kept , Learn first aid; teach how to stop electric main and gas supply , Don’t keep heavy objects in high shelves , Fasten heavy appliances to the floor, and anchor heavy furniture to the walls , Plan for your family for reuniting after an earthquake if anybody separated , Urge your school teachers to discuss earthquake safety in the class rooms, and ask them to conduct drills ,Keep some dry fruits and drinking water. Find out your office has an emergency plan, know your responsibility at your works during an emergency .Keep some dry fruits and drinking water . 

-During an earthquake: Stay calm if you are inside a building, and stay out if you are out of buildings. Many injuries occur as people enter or leave the buildings. If you are indoors , stand against the a wall near the centre of the building, or get under a sturdy table keep some cushion on your head, Stay away from windows and outside doors, if you are in a high rise building stand against a support column. If you are in outdoor stay in the open places , keep away from over head electric wires, and bridges, Don’t use open flames, if you are in a moving vehicle stop away from over bridges and stay inside the vehicle still earthquake stops

-After an earthquake: Check yourself and nearby people for injury, provide first aid, Check electric and gas connection, Turn on your radio or T.V for emergency instructions, reduce the use of phone lines it may be required for conveying some important messages. Stay out of damaged buildings, Wear chapels and gloves to protect against shattered glass and debris. Stay away from water front areas where tsunami could strike even after earthquake. Have one earthquake alarm fixed in your house.

Climate Change

I learned that Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather events).

I want to learn more about Climate Change, the physical evidence, example of climate change, and the harmful effects of it.

I would like to search on the impacts in human-specific impacts of the Climate change and its causes.

I appreciate the fact that Scientists actively work to understand past and future climate by using observations and theoretical models. Borehole temperature profiles, ice cores, floral and faunal records, glacial and periglacial processes, stable isotope and other sediment analyses, and sea level records serve to provide a climate record that spans the geologic past.'

I can apply my learnings and insight by sharing the knowledge I have learned to my family, friends, and my classmates.

Global Warming

I learned that Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century and its projected continuation. 

I want to learn more about what a Global Warming is all about, it's causes and what are the things we needed to do in order to lessen the production of the greenhouse gases that produced by the human activities.

I would like to search on the effects of the Global Warming in human beings and in the Global temperature.

I appreciate the fact that warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are more than 90% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

I can apply my learnings and insight to my daily activities, such as planting trees to lessen the pollution in the air, help in taking care of our mother earth and our nature. I will explain and share the things that I've learn about Global Warming and it's harmful effects.

Intertropical Convergence Zone

I learned that the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ, also known by sailors as the doldrums,is the region that circles the Earth, near the equator, where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together.

I want to learn more about the South Pacific convergence zone,the effects on weather, the role of ITCZ in tropical cyclone formation.

I would like to search on how the variation in the location of the Intertropical Convergence Zone affects the  rainfall in many equatorial nations.

I appreciate the fact that cyclogenesis depends upon low-level vorticity as one of its six requirements, and the ITCZ fills this role as it is a zone of wind change and speed, otherwise known as horizontal wind shear.

I can apply my learnings and insights to my family, friends, and classmates.I can explain to them what is ITCZ all about and share them some knowledge that Ilearned about it.