Earthquakes primarily occur due to the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface.
Most earthquakes occur along plate boundaries, where these massive sections of the Earth's crust interact.
Plate Boundaries
Subduction zones, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another, are common epicenters for powerful earthquakes.
Subduction Zones
Faults and Stress Accumulation
Earth's crust is not smooth; it's broken into faults. Stress builds up along these faults until it's released in the form of an earthquake.
Elastic Rebound Theory
Earthquakes are the result of stored elastic energy in rocks being suddenly released, causing them to snap back to their original shape.
Seismic Waves
Energy released during an earthquake travels in the form of seismic waves, which shake the ground.
Focus and Epicenter
The point within the Earth where the earthquake originates is called the focus, while the point directly above it on the Earth's surface is the epicenter.
Magnitude and Intensity
Earthquakes are measured by magnitude (Richter scale) and intensity (Modified Mercalli scale), reflecting their size and impact.
Natural and Human-Induced
Earthquakes can be natural or induced by human activities like mining, reservoir-induced seismicity, and hydraulic fracturing.
Ring of Fire
The Pacific Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone with a high frequency of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to multiple tectonic plate interactions.