Earthquakes

Unit Four – Earthquakes

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are a reminder of the immense power of mother nature and the energy of the earth. An earthquake occurs when one block of the earth slides under another creating pressure and releasing energy that translates into ground movement or shakes. These blocks are called tectonic plates and the edges are called plates boundaries. These plate boundaries are made up of faults which is where the majority of earthquakes take place (U.S. Geological Survey, 2011).

In the United States, most of the earthquakes occur in the west coast, especially in California and Alaska. Also, where the states of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky meet. The state of Alaska has an extensive history of earthquakes. In fact, according to the U.S. Geological Survey the state of Alaska averages more earthquakes than the other 49 states combined and one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Alaska experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost every year, and a magnitude 8 or greater earthquake on average every 14 years (U.S. Geological Survey, 2011). The largest recorded earthquake to date in the U.S was a magnitude 9.2 in Alaska on Good Friday, March 28, 1964 UTC.

The U.S. Geological Survey map shows daily earthquakes activity around the world. Most of them occur in the west coast of the Americas where the North American Plate meets with the Juan de Fuca and Cocos Plates and also where the South American Plate convenes with the Nazca Plate, and where the Pacific Plate meets with the Filipino and Australian Plates which is perhaps one of the most seismic area in the world.

I don't think I would be willing to live in an area conducive to earthquake, although I lived In Venezuela for a big part of my life. After experiencing an earthquake in 2009, while I was visiting my home country, I realized that living in Florida and dealing with hurricanes was not as bad as earthquakes. If I were forced to relocate to an...