The majority of deaths and injuries from earthquakes are actually caused by the collapse of building and structures. By improving the ability of architecture to survive major earthquakes, losses can be effectively reduced.
Examples:
Earthquake-resistant buildings
More attention should be paid to the material used to construct buildings. For example, clay bricks make the most vulnerable buildings, killing 50,000 people when such houses collasped in Peru in 1970. They should have been built with steel framing or other ductile material so energy can be absorbed. Earthquake dampers should also be used to reduce shaking.
Another method is fitting base isolation bearings. It can help reduce the vibration of the building as it is decoupled from the ground motion, deflecting the energy instead of absorbing it.
Hazard mapping
Proper planning is essential to avoid damage to property and loss of life. Hazard mapping and land-use planning should be paired to work on avoiding the placement of population centres in the immediate vicinity of areas most likely to be damaged.
Evacuation measures
It is necessary to have planned evacuation routes in order to move people away from risk hazard areas in case anything happens.
Education (like this blog!)
This last and most important method alleviates the impact of an earthquake disaster on people, and promotes awareness in the first place. Warnings and alarms can be better understood, and there would be less mayhem and panic overall.
Environmentalists Blogged:9:22 AM
Earthquakes destroy homes and livelihoods, also claiming countless lives. In order to lessen the impact of earthquakes, scientists are carrying out earthquake monitoring and prediction, in the hopes of being able to warn people when and where the next earthquake will strike, and thereby minimise loss of life and property.
Some methods of earthquake monitoring:
- Seismic monitoring
Seismometers are used to measure ground vibrations caused by movements in the earth which might signify the coming of earthquakes.
-Tilt meters
These are used to detect secular plate subduction, slow earthquakes, long-period seismic waves, or any other changes in the slope of the ground that may hint at earthquakes.
-Recurrence interval prediction
Geo-scientists study historical earthquake events and geological records to pinpoint the frequency and size of an earthquake that is similar to one that has happened before.
Environmentalists Blogged:8:18 AM
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
What is an Earthquake?
An earthquake is the shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth caused by underground movement along a fault plane or by volcanic activity. It is the result of sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust which creates seismic waves, which are recorded with a seismometer. The magnitude is recorded and categorised with the Richter scale, while the intensity is measured on the Mercalli scale.
What causes an Earthquake? How does it occur?
The majority of earthquakes happen due to plate tectonics; the plates moving towards, away from, or past each other, causing frictional stress. When this stress exceeds a certain level, a sudden failure occurs, following which the violent displacement of the crust will release energy, triggering an earthquake.
The seismic waves, which is essentially stored-up energy, can be classified into two categories: Body waves and Surface waves. Body waves travel through the interior of the earth, and can be further sorted into two types: P waves, and S waves. P waves are compressional waves, meaning they deform rocks by changing its volume, alternately compressing and expanding matter. S waves are shear waves, and deforms material by change of shape, adopting a side-to-side sliding motion. Surface waves occur when P and S waves reach the earth's surface, therefore travelling along the surface, and causing the ground to ripple. There are also two types of Surface waves: Rayleigh waves (which cause vertical ground movement), and Love waves (which cause horizontal ground movement).
Environmentalists Blogged:7:56 AM
Monday, April 28, 2008
Hi people!
Just a quick introduction:
This blog is started by Catharina Cheung and Kirti Dodani. We are utilising it for our Geography mini project (how's this for creative eh?). We are students of 08A3, under Mr Desmond Tan, and from Millennia Institute. Our mini project is on earthquakes, and we're supposed to educate the general public on its nature and destructive powers.
There. よろしくおねがいします! :D
Environmentalists Blogged:7:19 AM
THE.ENVIRONMENTALISTs
Catharina and Kirti.
Class of 08A3.
Millennia Institute.
THE.SHOUTOUT
Come on, don't be an idiot.
Left like it is, the world will die out in about 50 years or so.
Even if you don't feel the urge to become a treehugger all of a sudden,
the least that can be done is to be aware.
Go to THE MESSAGE, adopt a tree, and spread the care, aite?
This blogskin's graphics and concept is solely done by R.wan.F Design. No materials should be taken without permission.
With the help of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Black1e google, notepad, photobucket,blogspot and of cos, blogskin.