EARTH QUAKES

1. EARTHQUAKES Forces That Build and Destroy The Earth By: Ye-Won #16

2. King of Quakes and Queen of Shakes “Ema, can I ask you something? When we play king of quakes and queen of shakes, why’s it called that? Before you tell me lets go in the living room and get some lemonade!” said Ama. “Ama, if you want to learn about earthquakes, you’re too young.” replied Ema. “No-o-o. nobody’s too young to learn! Mrs. Lavallee taught me that.” said Ama not noticing her sister, slightly annoyed. “Okay, fine, fine, fine. An earthquake is a piece of earth’s crust made out of big tectonic plates that are pushing or pulling apart like I don’t know, all the time” said Ema. “Ema, I have to use the ba-” started Ama. “Shhhh! Just listen! An earthquake is the earth’s surface shifting. It can be caused by a sudden shaking and shifting of big sections of the outer part of earth.” said Ema, cutting Ama off. “Ema, are earthquakes dangerous???” asked a scared Ama. “Ho, ho, ho, ho! Yes plenty enough! Plenty dangerous!” said Ema in a disturbing voce. “Ema, I’m scared. How can you protect yourself when a earthquake is happening?” asked Ama. “Ama, I’m no earthquake genius. But you can tell when a earthquake is happening because the ground shakes. But most earthquakes aren’t very big so you can’t even feel it. But on the other hand, if a earthquake is very big, there will be a huge force and you WILL feel it. You WILL notice. There are lots- no no no, THOUSANDS of earthquakes like….. About a year!” said Ema. “Oh my..” said Ama frowning. “But only a few earthquakes in those years are even dangerous. Sometimes, earthquakes happen inside earth’s crust” said Ema. “Ema, I really need to g-” started Ama again. “AND. Earthquakes happen when the edge of the plates slip and slide.” said Ema cutting Ama off again. “Plates move?” asked Ama. “So anyways-” said Ema changing the subject. “Hmph!” grumbled Ama. “ So as I was saying before I got rudely interrupted, earthquakes are one of the MOST strongest and powerful events that happen in the earth. A earthquake is very scary and terrifying.” said Ema, now very serious.

3. King of Quakes and Queen of Shakes (continued) “All?” asked Ama. “Some. Some earthquakes can be stronger than 10,000 times as great as a atomic bomb.” said Ema. “This is getting scarier every moment you know.” said Ama playfully. “Do you want me to strangle you??” asked Ema a little too seriously. “Nuh uh.” replied Ama. “Then be quiet. An earthquake can damage and also lead into death” said Ema. “….. Well goodness gracious!” said Ama. “Don’t worry. And also, during an earthquake, if the force is too strong, the earthquake can change a course of a river.” said Ema. “That isn’t really helping you know… So.. You know when a earthquake is happening because there’s some rapid shaking of the earth?” asked a frightened Ama. “That’s right, birdbrain, you’re finally getting it. It’s very scary but don’t think about it, okay? If it’s too scary, you can go back to your room and do something else you know.” said Ema. “It’s okay.” replied Ama. “Alright. So…… Where were we? Oh! An earthquake is one of the most frightening aftereffects. Like I told you, an earthquake is caused by underground breaking or shifting it’s place. The earthquake’s energy releases strength that was held in for a very long time. An earthquake strikes when the pressure is too big to hold. It is a natural disaster, made by nature.” said Ema. “Like… made by Zues?” asked Ama. “No, you little hedgehog!!” yelled Ema. “Don’t call me that or else I’ll tell mommy!!” threatened Ama. “”Oh? Is that so? After all I taught you? You wouldn’t, you little munchkin!” yelled Ema.

4. King of Quakes and Queen of Shakes(continued) “Hmph! Whatever, just tell me more.” replied Ama slightly (a lot) annoyed. “Tomorrow.. Maybe not, maybe today..” said Ema. “Fine.” replied Ama, satisfied. “…Do you want to play King of Quakes and Queen of Shakes?” asked Ema hopefully. “Sure!!” screamed Ama, surprised. “Ama! You spilled lemonade on me!!!” screamed Ema. “Not my fault!!!” defended Ama. “It is too!!.....Faults??.. Oh yeah!” said Ema, talking to herself. “What?” demanded Ama, bracing herself for attack. “Want to hear about faults?’ asked Ema. “Okay?” replied Ama caught off guard. “Yes or no?” asked Ema. “Yes!” yelled Ama happily. “But first I get to put lemonade in YOUR hair!” yelled Ema with a evil gleam in her eyes. “Noooooooooo!” screamed Ama getting a head start in running away.

5. It’s my fault! Stay out of this!! “It’s MY fault??? You must be out of your mind!! It was YOUR fault! Hey, before we get into a bigger argument, let me tell you a little bit about faults. But really, It’s really your fault that my hair is all sticky.” said Ema. “So what? You put lemonade in my hair too.” defended Ama. “Barely!!” said Ema defensively. “Whatever! Just tell me about faults!” said Ama. “Sure, tell me about it, Einstein!” replied Ema sarcastically. “Just tell me!” yelled Ama. “Okay! Jeesh.. So.. Um.. An earthquake-well actually, most earthquakes happen along a fault. Faults occur in the weak part of earth’s rock.” said Ema. “Ema, what’s a fault? You never told me that. “A fault is a fracture in earth’s outer shell. It’s like…let’s see.. A section of where rocks slide past each other again and again.” said Ema. “What does a fault look like, Ema??” asked Ama, curiously. “Well….. I actually never saw one before because most faults lie under earth’s surface. But some faults are visible.” replied Ema. “But you never saw.” said Ama. “Be quiet you little sock-headed-monster!!!” yelled Ema. “Sure, Sweet-sister-darling-bratty-cake.” snapped Ama. “Look, do you want to hear or not???” asked Ema. “Fine.” agreed Ama. “Earthquakes happen when a rock has too much stress and the rock like.. Snaps and breaks into another position.” said Ema. “I think you said that, Ema.” said Ama.

6. It’s my fault! Stay out of this!(continued) “Okay.. If you EVER interrupt me again, I’ll lock you up in a cell and drag you to California.” threatened Ema. “What does California have to do with earthquakes?” asked Ama. “Lot’s- no, MILLIONS of earthquakes occur in California.” said Ema. “You’re too evil…..” said Ama. “Exactly. So now go stuff a sock up your throat. Okay.. So.. A fault boarder doesn’t always form straight angles or right angles and changes directions when the surface changes. A vertical inclination is called a dip.” said Ema. “Nachos?” asked Ama. “Pack up, we’re going to California.” threatened Ema. “………….” no answer from Ama. “Good. So that reminds me. There are different types of faults. Let me name a few. A normal fault, a reverse fault, a strike slip fault, and a oblique fault and a dip-slip fault and a dip-slip reverse fault. Quite a lot. Okay! Let’s review! What is a fault?” tested Ema. “You never said we would have a test on this!” Ama whined. “Just guess” said Ema. “A person who did it?” guessed Ama. “Wow… and I’m the Queen of England.. A fault is one area where there is a lot of stress and broken rocks past each other and that causes a crack in the earth’s surface.” said Ema. “Eh- my hair’s still sticky.” said Ama changing the subject. “It’s your fault!” yelled Ema. “WHAT?! You stuck lemonade in MY hair!! Oh! Whatever!! It’s your fault so I’ll stay out of it.” said Ama. “Hey! By the way, have you seen my ruler???” asked Ema. “…..” no answer from Ama again.

7. It’s my fault! Stay out of this!(continued) “Give it back you little monster!!!” yelled Ema. “Let’s watch TV!” yelled Ama out of nowhere “Sure! Hey! Turn on the alien invasion channel!!!” said Ema. “Okay!” replied Ama.

8. Rulers are like so 60’s classic! “Breaking news, aliens took over Jupiter last Sunday and Jupiter’s citizens were all forced to throw out all rulers. Hey! That reminds me, let me tell you how to measure natural disasters called earthquakes!” said Ema sarcastically. “It- I mean.. Earthquakes are natural disasters?” asked Ama. “Sure, Einstein! Like I told you that!! Where’d you learn that one? Your sister from a couple minutes ago?” said Ema rolling her eyes. “You? But… you can measure earthquakes??” asked Ama. “Yeah! With- wait! Guess!!” said Ema. “…………….. Rulers?” guessed Ama. “Nice one, know-it-all-sister!! Nice one!!!” said Ema in a high and squeaky voice, mimicking her little sister. “Nice what?” asked Ama. “Nice joke!!!” yelled Ema hooting with laughter. “What? I’m only in 2nd grade!!” defended Ama. “Earthquakes are measured with objects called seismographs!” said Ema, not yet recovered from the corny ruler “joke” her sister “told”. “Seismographs?” asked Ama. “Yeah! Seismographs! So stop interrupting me and listen! How seismographs measure earthquakes is that the seismographs has sensors that detect earthquakes that are called seismometers. Seismometers can measure very small earthquakes too. “Sensors? Hey! I’ve got a good joke to tell you!!” said Ama. “Bet it’s corny.. So tell me this “good” joke.” murmured Ema “Knock, knock. Who’s there? Sense. Sense who? Get to your senses and tell me more!” shouted Ama gleefully.

9. Rulers are like so 60’s classic!(continued) “Okay. Since you are like SO anxious to know more, I’ll tell you. So as I was saying that seismographs can measure VERY small earthquakes. Seismographs can measure an earthquake as small as millionth of a meter.” said Ema. “Cool.” commented Ama. So anyways, seismographs measure up and down like north and south and east and west and west and east. Seismogioligsts use sensors that record directions of the earthquake’s movements.” said Ema. “Can you tell me more about a seismograph? Because I’m really confused.” said Ama. “Sure, Ama. A seismograph produces waves-well wavy lines that reflects the size of the earthquake. There are seism waves beneath” said Ema. “Why is everything seis-mo? And did you leave something out you didn’t tell me?” asked Ama. “I’m not a genius, you doofus. And…well.. Let me tell you a bit more about random measure-earthquake stuff then move into the Ritcher scale. Okay.. So.. Seismogioligst know where earthquakes are going to strike but at the same time, they don’t know when. Now let me tell you about the Ritcher scale.” said Ema. “That’s little? I would say puny-bit. But anyways, Ritcher scale sounds like…. Richard!!!” yelled Ama. “Woof!” barked Ema and Ama’s dog, as you may know, Richard. “Sit boy.” commanded Ama. “Okay so, a Richter scale got it’s name after Charles Ritcher who created the Ritcher scale.” said Ema. “I’m hungry!” Ama whined. “Be quiet! My California threat isn’t over yet! So umm… a Ritcher scale well actually.. That is.. Seismogiolist think that a Ritcher scale describing a 7.0 is like.. Greater than on a magnitude moment scale.” said Ema. “Magnitude scale???” asked Ama. “Yes.. So anyways, umm.. A Ritcher scale well before that, Charles Ritcher thought it would be useful to have a numerical scale that compared the size of the earth of small or big. So why do you think that certain scale was named after Charles Ritcher?” quizzed Ema.

10. Rulers are like so 60’s classic!(continued) “Umm.. Because a guy named Charles Ritchter made it?” guessed Ama. “Corrrrrrrr-ect!!! All the one-points on the Ritcher scale is increased by 33 times the amount of energy.” said Ema. “That’s weird..” said Ama. “Right. A Ritcher scale is like….. I don’t know… the measurement of the earth’s intensity.” said Ema. “Okay… so rulers are like not used to measure everything???” asked Ama. “Duhhhh! Rulers are like so 60’s classic!” yelled Ema. “Hey! I was just asking!!” yelled Ama right back. “It’s the heat, Ama, the heat. it’s driving your big sis crazy! I mean, it is like SOOO hot in here. How in the world can you handle it???” asked Ema. “I can’t. Say, want to go to the swimming pool???” asked Ama hopefully. “Sure! Sounds fit to me! Hey! That reminds me!” said Ema. “Again.” mumbled Ama, annoyed. “But I’ll save some more earthquake stuff fore later.” said Ema. “ Okay!” responded Ama. “Meet you by the door!!” yelled Ema. “Okay! On the count of three, one, two, and then.. Here comes THREE!” yelled the two girls at the same time.

11. SPLASH! You’re tsunamaphobiafied! “After you hear this, you’ll have a phobia of water so if you already are afraid of water, better if you plug you’re ears!” said Ema practically pointing at Ama, “Uh huh. And I’m the king of England.” said Ama rolling her eyes. “Hey! I’m just telling the truth here! You can’t even dip your foot in a bathtub full of water, actually, make that 1 mL of water in there.” said Ema sarcastically. “It’s because Bubba the bathtub monster will hunt me down!!! Dawn told me that!” shouted Ama. “Well then tell your friend, Dawn that if she lies to my little sister again, I’ll lock her up in a bathroom with 10 bathtubs in it!” shouted Ema impatiently. “but even Janie and Melissa said it was true and they both get straight A’s including Dawn!” said Ama. “Whatever. You get straight A pluses. So anyways, do you want to learn about tsunamis or not??” asked Ema. “What?” asked Ama just to annoy Ema. “Well technically, second grade, annoying little sisters don’t make such good listeners.” said Ema. “Okay! I’m ready! Tell me now!” said Ama acting all innocent. “Okay. So let’s start with what is a tsunami?? A tsunami is a underwater earthquake. Tsunamis are very dangerous. They are very destructive. You may ask, how do tsunamis happen? And I will have the answer right here. An earthquake occurs-well in tectonic plate oceans. So if a underwater earthquake strikes, a tsunami will come rolling in. you get the idea.” said Ema. “Sure.” short-answered Ama. “So anyways, like I told you, earthquakes cause tsunamis and sometimes tsunamis happen in costal swamp areas. Tsunamis start off with one very big wave and that wave makes a few more and those few make more and more and more and-you get the idea. Some people call tsunamis tidal waves but seismogioligists don’t really think that tidal wave is a good term to describe

12. SPLASH! You’re tsunamaphobiafied!(continued) tsunamis because tidal waves have nothing to do with tidal waves. And also, tsunamis an go up to 500 through 600 meters per hour and higher than 100 meters.” said Ema. “Wow.” commented Ama. “And also, I forgot to tell you but tsunamis aren’t only caused by underwater earthquakes but underwater volcanoes too. Ama, you look really confused. What’s wrong? Do you get this?” asked Ema as a good sister. “Well…… it’s not this part but about the part about tidal waves. What difference if thwre is any makes tidal waves different from tsunamis beside the fact that they both have nothing to do with each other??” asked Ama. “Well… Umm… Oh! I got it! A tsunami’s wave goes straight, doing more damage. A tidal wave’s wave goes in circles, round and round, so there isn’t any damage at all. And also, tidal waves are caused by the forces of the moon and sun, planet and wind, not by underwater earthquakes or volcanoes. Tsunamis occur.. Well… sometimes in the Pacific ocean, caused by the Ring of Fire and the tremors of the underwater.” said Ema. “Ema, what’s the Ring of Fire?” asked Ama. “Well…. To be honest, I’m not all that sure but I think it’s the place where volcanoes erupt. I did my fair study on earthquakes but if you really want to learn about the Ring of Fire, call Kayla Na. you know her phone number because I call her a bunch, right?” asked Ema. “Well.. Not really.. So I guess I’ll be on the phone book but for now, tell me more about tsunamis.” said Ama. “Since I almost gave you all my information on tsunamis, let me give you some information on where tsunamis striked. In 1922, there was a tsunami and it killed millions of poor sea turtles.” said Ema. “Poor sea turtles.” said Ama sadly. “And in 1883, there was a tsunami that killed 36,000 people. And last, there was a tsunami in 1971 that was as high as a nine story building.” said Ema. “Amazing…” said Ama. “What are you thinking of?” asked Ema.

13. SPLASH! You’re tsunamaphobiafied!(continued) “Well.. That tsunamis are either worse or better than being stuck in California with millions of earthquakes.” blabbered Ama. “Want to hear a little bit about California?” asked Ema. “Sure!” shouted Ama so loud that Ema’s ears almost fell off.

14. It’s San Andrea’s fault! “Hey! Where you going?” asked Ema. “To study Califormia earthquakes.” responded Ama rolling her eyes. “Califormia earthquakes?” Where’d that come from? Well anyways, let me tell you about CaliforNIa earthquakes. Not CaliforMIa earthquakes.” shot back Ema. “Whatever. Just tell me.” said Ama. “Okay. Let me state one thing: lot’s of earthquakes occur in California. Not Califormia wherever that came from. Why is that? Let me tell you the correct answer. It is because San Andrea’s fault.” said Ema before she was once again interrupted. “San Andreas? My friend’s name is Andrea and there’s a guy in my class named San Frisco.” said Ama. “So anyways, the Pacific plate is slipping north by the North American plate at San Andrea’s fault, inside California. That’s why San Andrea takes the blame. Earthquakes occur in rift zones where two plates are pulling away from each other. Earthquakes also occur-I mean where plates slide past each other, like in California. So like I said, San Andrea’s fault separates from the Pacific plate from the North American. San Andrea is in the Pacific plate and California is inside the North American plate. You got that?” asked Ema. “Sure gots it.” replied Ama. “The Pacific plate moves northwest about 4 inches like every year.” started Ema. “Cool. But it has nothing to do with California earthquakes.” said Ama. “If you know so much, why am I teaching you? Shouldn’t it be you teaching me?” asked Ema obviously annoyed. “Just!” shouted Ama. “Just WHAT?” snapped Ema. “Just tell me.” said Ama quietly. “Okay Miss-I-know-it-all. Seismogioligists thought by the end of the century, a very big earthquake would strike San Andrea.” said Ema. “I’m never going to San Andrea.” announced Ama.

15. It’s San Andrea’s fault!(continued) “ I thought it was California. And besides, you’ll be 100 years old by then, you dummy.” said Ema. “Actually 107, so who’s the real dummy here.” snapped Ama. “Oh, whatever! There was a earthquake in San Andrea in 1906. there was another earthquake in 1906 in San Frisco and it was one of the most deadliest earthquakes” said Ema. “Cool.” commented Ama. “You call that cool? Think of all the dead people that died! What of you were there? You would probably be long gone by then! You are SO careless!” yelled Ema bitterly. “Okay! Fine!! It’s a big tragic! Boo hoo! Long gone people! Just don’t call me a careless person!” said Ama. “Did you hear that?” asked Ema. “Maybe?” said Ama not quite believing her ears. “EARTHQUAKE!” yelled Ema and Ama at the same time.

16. Build, destroy, or BOTH? AHHHHHHHH! Did you even SEE that?! I fell on my knees and I didn’t even do it on purpose! So THIS is what you were talking about! It’s a major earthquake!!!! Scary! It even broke mommy’s best china!! What do we do now?!” blabbered Ama very annoyingly. “Calm down! Ama, please! And earthquakes don’t just build but they destroy too.” said Ema in a very calm voice. “WHAT?! They can build too?! TELL ME MORE! I beg your pardon! Whatever that means. JUST TELL ME MORE!!!” shouted Ama. “But first, Ama, you NEED to calm down. I know it’s your first time but you really need to.” said Ema in a flat voice. “Oi! Oi! Ama will try!!!” said Ama honestly but also playfully. “Good. Now I’ll tell you. Earthquakes can build too like I told you earlier. How this happens is that two earthquakes crash head on. The pressure causes the earthquakes to build up. So the two earthquakes build a mountain in that force.” said Ema. “So.. It’s like two objects push really hard on each other but they are not going anywhere so the pressure builds up and the two objects build into a mountain?” asked Ama. “That’s right, A, you’re finally getting it, aren’t you? But considering the fact that earthquakes destroy too, this fact is pretty amazing… an earthquake doesn’t really destroy though, it just shakes the ground so buildings fall. It’s a little confusing but you get the idea, right?” asked Ema. “Right. But right now, can I call Kayla now?” asked Ama. “Dummy, after an earthquake, the phones are probably dead.” said Ema rolling her eyes. “Can we walk then?” suggested Ama. “Sure, I’m in for a triple play date especially after a earthquake.” replied Ema. “And I’m in for some more knowledge!” shouted Ama. “Oh! And Kayla has the BEST ice cream! Let’s go eat all of it up!” said Ema. “SURE!” shouted Ama.

17. The wonderful glossary of knowledge Visible- Seeable in human eyes Page 5 Jupiter- Another planet in the universe Page 8 Seismogioligst- A scientist who studies earthquakes Page 9 Increased Changing to a higher amount Page 10 Phobia Fear Page 11