Colloquial language is known to confuse various terms and concepts of science in general. One of these confusions comes from earthquakes. The terms tremors, earthquakes and earthquakes are often confused by general collaboration. There are many doubts about the differences between tremors, earthquakes and earthquakes.
Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you what the differences are between tremors, earthquakes and earthquakes and their consequences.
What is an earthquake
An earthquake is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the Earth suddenly releases energy accumulated inside it. This release of energy causes seismic waves to propagate through the Earth, which in turn causes movements and vibrations on the Earth's surface.
Earthquakes are the result of the interaction of tectonic plates, the large pieces of the Earth's crust that float on the Earth's mantle. These plates are in constant motion due to the convection of hot material inside the Earth. When two plates move against each other, separate or slide, stress builds up in the contact areas. When the accumulated force exceeds the resistance of the rocks, it is suddenly released in the form of an earthquake.
The location where an earthquake originates is called the hypocenter, and the location on the surface directly above the hypocenter is called the epicenter. The magnitude of an earthquake is commonly measured on the Richter scale or moment magnitude scale, and is used to quantify the amount of energy released during the event. Earthquakes can range in magnitude from mild and barely noticeable to extremely destructive.
Earthquakes can have devastating effects in areas close to the epicenter, causing damage to buildings, infrastructure and, in extreme cases, loss of life. Besides, Earthquakes can trigger other natural hazards, such as tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions.
Differences between tremors, earthquakes and earthquakes
Earthquakes
Within the category of earthquakes, the term "earthquake" is more specific. An earthquake is a type of earthquake that is characterized as a natural and geological event, caused by the sudden release of energy accumulated inside the Earth. These energy releases originate from what is called a "fault," which is a zone of fracture or rupture in the Earth's crust.
The energy accumulated in the fault is released when the rocks that are in contact along the fault suddenly move. This displacement causes the release of seismic waves that propagate from the point of origin, called the hypocenter, and reach the Earth's surface at the epicenter. The magnitude of an earthquake It is generally measured on scales such as the Richter scale or the moment magnitude scale, which evaluate the amount of energy released.
Earthquakes can range in magnitude from very mild and barely noticeable to extremely destructive. The intensity of an earthquake at a specific location depends on the distance to the epicenter, the depth of the hypocenter, and the local geology. Earthquakes can trigger other natural hazards, such as tsunamis in coastal areas, landslides, and even volcanic eruptions in volcanically active areas.
Tremors
The term "tremor" is commonly used to refer to seismic movements of lower intensity than earthquakes. In general, An earthquake is a slight shaking or vibration of the Earth that often goes unnoticed by people. Tremors are low-magnitude earthquakes and, unlike earthquakes, generally do not cause significant damage to buildings or infrastructure.
It is important to note that "tremor" is a colloquial term that varies in its use depending on the geographic region. In some areas, it is used to describe any low-intensity seismic event, while in others it is reserved to refer to movements weaker than earthquakes.
For better understanding, the differences between tremors, earthquakes and earthquakes are as follows:
- earthquake: It is the general term used to describe any movement or vibration of the Earth, whether natural or human-induced.
- Earthquake: It is a specific type of earthquake caused by the sudden release of energy accumulated inside the Earth due to the movement of rocks in a geological fault. Earthquakes can vary in magnitude and can be extremely destructive.
- Shaking: It is a colloquial term used to describe low intensity seismic movements. Tremors are generally smaller earthquakes and rarely cause significant damage.
Causes and consequences
Earthquakes can respond to a variety of natural and man-made causes:
- Geological processes. Earth's tectonic plates move beneath the surface, above magma, and often collide with each other, creating seismic waves that reverberate toward the surface. This can also occur when there is volcanic activity.
- Geothermal installation. Human hands can also accidentally cause vibrations, such as microtremors, which often occur when cold water is injected into geothermal reservoirs, and the earth's own heat causes the liquid to boil and create geysers.
- Fracking: There is controversy over the possibility that hydraulic fracturing, or the fracking method, which consists of injecting water and chemical materials into hydrocarbon wells to increase or facilitate the extraction of valuable materials, could increase seismic instability in the area and trigger earthquakes. .
- Nuclear tests. Atomic weapons tests are so destructive that they must be conducted away from human life and wildlife and are therefore usually conducted underground. These explosions are so powerful that they can impact tectonic plates and transmit vibrations that cause small earthquakes.
Regarding the consequences of these events we have the following:
- Urban destruction. Collapses of buildings, houses and other urban incidents are often accompanied by seismic vibrations and often cause large numbers of casualties, especially if people are not prepared or educated about earthquakes.
- Land displacements. High lands such as hills, foothills and mountains can succumb to the force of earthquakes, creating avalanches or avalanches capable of burying entire populations.
- Fires: The collapse of urban or industrial facilities often causes electrical failures or the release of flammable chemicals, which often cause fires.
- Tsunamis: Large earthquakes can transmit their vibrations to seawater, causing artificial agitation of the water, which then creates large waves called tsunamis.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the differences between tremors, earthquakes and earthquakes.