The World Health Organization (WHO) expects a significant increase in the death toll after a strong earthquake and aftershocks in southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, which left many buildings in ruins.
Officials said Monday’s magnitude 7.8 quake was the strongest in Turkey this century, with the death toll now at least 900 there and about 550 in Syria.
A few hours later, another strong shock of magnitude 7.7 followed. Here’s what you need to know.
What causes earthquakes?
An earthquake is the result of a sudden movement along a fault – a crack – in the earth’s crust. According to the British Geological Survey, the movement releases stored energy in the form of seismic waves that propagate along the ground and cause the earth’s surface to vibrate.
When subterranean rock suddenly breaks, it causes rapid movement along the fault. According to the Michigan Institute of Technology, this sudden release of energy causes seismic waves that shake the earth.
“During and after an earthquake, plates or boulders start moving—and they keep moving until they get stuck again,” adds Michigan Tech.
The point at which an earthquake starts, known as the hypocenter or focal point, can be many kilometers deep in the earth. The point on the surface directly above the hypocenter is called the epicenter.
Every year there are about 100 earthquakes of magnitude that can cause serious damage around the world.
Can vibrations be predicted?
be a scientist currently not expected when an earthquake occurs, also called an earthquake. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a government agency, an earthquake forecast must accurately reflect the date and time, location, and magnitude.
The USGS says its scientists can only calculate that probability that a strong earthquake will occur in the area within a certain number of years. The agency adds that most earthquakes do not have an identifiable history.
How is the magnitude of an earthquake measured?
Size According to the USHC, this is the most common measure of earthquake strength.
It is usually measured by judge scale, using a formula based on the amplitude of the largest wave caused by an earthquake recorded by a certain type of seismometer and the distance between the earthquake and the seismometer.
However, the Richter scale is no longer considered an accurate measure of the strength of large earthquakes. Today Torque magnitude scaleabbreviated MTuepreferred because it works over a wider range of earthquakes and is applicable worldwide, according to Michigan Tech.
“The moment magnitude scale is based on the total release at the time of the earthquake. He adds that moment is the product of the distance traveled by the beetle and the force required to move it.
“This is derived from simulations of earthquake records at several stations. The moment magnitude estimates are approximately the same as the Richter magnitudes for small and strong earthquakes.
“But only a moment-magnitude scale can accurately measure M8 (read ‘magnitude 8’) and larger events.”
Source: I News
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