Earthquakes
By: Parker Werven
How do they happen?
Earthquakes can form from two giant solid plates in the ground are constantly moving against each other. If they cross or intersect by any way it could probably cause an earthquake. Sometimes we can't even feel them, it depends on how deep it is or how high.
Where Do They Happen?
Most earthquakes are of course in the worlds crust but most of them are formed on fault lines sometimes even in water. Once in China there was a killer earthquake in 1556 that killed about 830,000 people!
What damage do they couse?
Earthquakes can be very destructive like one in Alaska (1964) a magnitude 9.2 on the Richter scale! Also in Alaska the same earthquake was so strong it coused fishing boats to flip over or even sink all the way in Louisiana! Over all earthquakes can cause lots and lots of very powerful strokes that can destroy anything.
Earthquake measurements
Earthquakes get measured by a tool called a "richter scale." It measures how strong it is or the magnitude. A measurement -1 to 2 1/2 is not felt. 2 1/2 to 4 is minor. 4 to 5 is small. 5 to 6 is considered moderate. 6 to 7 is called strong. A measurement of 7 to 8 is major. Last but not least 8 and above is called great. That's cool! The largest earthquake measured 9.5 on the Richter scale. That's strong!
How to reduce the impact on humans.
Some ways to reduce the impact on humans is 1. If an earthquake is happening stay away from sharp objects or anything sharp. 2. If you are wearing suitable clothes great, you have a greater chance of not getting cut or scraped. 3. If you are in an earthquake and you are in your house grab a really stable surface and don't let go. So when ever your in an earthquake just listen to the three rules.