Earthquakes Types

There are four main four types of earthquakes. They are Tectonic, Volcanic, Collapse, and Explosion. The horseshoe-shapedzone surrounding the Pacific Ocean has many subduction zones and is responsible for about 90% of the world's major earthquakes countries like Japan, Indonesia, Chile, and the Philippines are located along this zone. Earthquake is a natural phenomenon. An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the earth's surface caused by the movement of tectonic plates. Tectonic plates are large, rigid pieces of the Earth's crust.

In this article, we will look into the meaning, types, causes, and effects of different types of earthquakes. Let's start.

What is an Earthquake?

An earthquake is the shaking of the ground caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust. This energy release happens when tectonic plates, which are large slabs of rock that make up the Earth's surface, move past each other. The movement of these plates can cause the rocks to break and slip, which releases the energy as seismic waves. These waves travel through the Earth's crust and cause the ground to shake.

Types of Earthquakes

There are four types of Earthquakes:

Tectonic Earthquake

Tectonic earthquakes are the most common type of earthquake. It accounts for mostly 90% of all earthquake occurrences. They occur when the Earth's crust, broken into large, rigid plates, moves against each other. These plates are constantly in motion, driven by forces deep within the Earth's mantle.

Effects of Tectonic Earthquake

• This is the most common and widespread effect of tectonic earthquakes. The intensity of the shaking can vary depending on the magnitude of the earthquake, the distance from the epicenter.
•  Earthquakes can trigger landslides, especially on slopes that are already unstable.
•  Underwater earthquakes can generate large waves called tsunamis. Tsunamis can travel long distances at high speeds and cause widespread devastation when they reach land.

Volcanic Earthquake

Volcano earthquakes, distinct from tectonic earthquakes, are tremors caused by activity within the Volcanoes. While less common than tectonic earthquakes, they provide valuable insights into volcanic processes and potential eruptions.

Effects of Volcanic Earthquake

• Similar to any earthquake, volcanic earthquakes can cause ground shaking, although typically of lower intensity than tectonic earthquakes.
• Earthquakes can sometimes trigger increased volcanic activity, such as tremors, gas emissions, or even eruptions under specific conditions.

Collapse Earthquake

Collapse earthquake happens due to many man-made things like building collapse and some natural phenomena like landslides. These kinds of earthquakes are typically very small but can be deadly if they occur in a populated area. Collapse Earthquake is directly or indirectly related to the other types of Earthquakes.

Effects of Collapse Earthquake

• Stronger earthquakes are more likely to cause buildings to collapse.
• Older buildings may be more susceptible to collapse than newer buildings that have been built to meet more stringent earthquake codes.
• Buildings built on soft soils are more likely to collapse than those built on rock.

Explosion Earthquake

Explosion Earthquakes happen due to heavy and powerful bomb explosions and detonations like dynamite, and atomic and nuclear bombs. It happens mostly of man-made things and it is also directly or indirectly related to other earthquakes like Volcanic, Collapse and technological earthquakes.

Effects of Explosion Earthquake

• Primarily generate a powerful air blast that can damage structures and injure people.
• May also cause ground shaking in the immediate vicinity, but this is typically much weaker than an earthquake and localized to a small area.
• Explosions can cause buildings and other structures to collapse or suffer significant damage from the air blast and potential ground shaking.

Method of Triangulation to Detect the Center of the Earthquake

The triangulation method is used by the Seismologist to find out the epicenter of the earthquake means the origin of the earthquake. These kind of methods can be very helpful to predict earthquakes and be prepared in advance for the upcoming disaster.

How Triangulation Method Works

There are four steps and process of Triangulation Method. Below are the steps:

• Seismograph Network: Triangulation method heavily depends upon the Seismograph Network. It is series of devices that are placed all around the globe on land area. Its functions is to record the land vibration caused by the Earthquake .
• Arrival Time Difference: The Sismograph placed all around the world record the waves in two forms, one is in P-waves and second one is S-waves generated by the earthquake. The difference between the P-waves and S-waves confirms the earthquake and the size of earthquake.
• Distance and Calculation: After the record from Sismograph P- wave and S- wave, the speed of the waves and the difference of the waves are measured. It heps to calculate the epicenter of the earthquake.
• Triangulation: After knowing data from the Seismographs, scientists can now create circles around the calculated area of epicenter. The points where intersect each other can be be the exact or near by the origin of earthquake.

Conclusion on Types of Earthquakes

Earthquake is a natural phenomenon. An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the earth's surface caused by the movement of tectonic plates. There are four types of earthquakes the first one is Techtonic Earthquakes it is the most prevalent, arising from the movement of tectonic plates, second is Volcanic Earthquakes Which is Associated with volcanic activity, providing insights into potential eruption, Third one is Collapse Earthquakes resulting in from the sudden collapse of the ground due to factors like fluid withdrawal or volcanic activity. In recent years Earthquakes have been seen in many countries like Japan.

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