Natural Hazards

What is an earthquake?

• A volcanic eruption that causes ground shaking.

• The shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere.

• A weather phenomenon that results in strong winds.

• A geological process that forms mountains.

What are faults?

• Faults are breaks in the Earth's lithosphere where blocks of rock have moved past each other.

• Faults are areas where the Earth's crust is thicker than average.

• Faults are regions where volcanic activity is most common.

• Faults are locations where earthquakes never occur.

What is the role of stress in causing earthquakes?

• Stress causes the Earth's crust to become more elastic, preventing earthquakes.

• Stress in the Earth's crust can cause rocks to break or slip along faults, resulting in an earthquake.

• Stress has no effect on the occurrence of earthquakes.

• Stress only affects the surface of the Earth, not the crust.

What causes earthquakes?

• The movement of tectonic plates and the stress that builds up in the Earth's crust.

• Volcanic eruptions and lava flow.

• Meteor impacts and cosmic events.

• Human activities such as mining and drilling.

What is a natural hazard?

• A natural event that has the potential to cause harm to people, property, and the environment.

• A man-made disaster that affects the ecosystem.

• A weather phenomenon that occurs regularly without causing damage.

• An event that only affects wildlife and not human populations.

What is the modified Mercalli scale?

• A scale that measures the magnitude of earthquakes.

• A scale that uses observations to rate the intensity of shaking from an earthquake.

• A scale that predicts future earthquakes based on past data.

• A scale that categorizes earthquakes based on their depth.

What is a volcanic eruption?

• A sudden release of water from a lake

• The release of magma, gas, and ash from a volcano, often causing natural hazards.

• A type of earthquake caused by tectonic movements

• A weather phenomenon involving heavy rainfall

What is the difference between magnitude and intensity of an earthquake?

• Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, while intensity measures the effects of the earthquake at different locations.

• Magnitude and intensity are the same and can be used interchangeably.

• Magnitude is measured on the Richter scale, while intensity is measured on the Mercalli scale only.

• Magnitude refers to the depth of the earthquake, while intensity refers to the duration of shaking.

What is a tsunami?

• A series of ocean waves caused by large disturbances, such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, under the sea.

• A type of tidal wave caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.

• A phenomenon that occurs when a large ship creates waves in the ocean.

• A storm surge caused by hurricanes or tropical storms.

What does the height of the lines on a seismograph indicate?

• The depth of the earthquake's origin.

• The distance from the epicenter.

• The magnitude of an earthquake on the Richter scale.

• The duration of the earthquake.