Earthquake

An earthquake is the shaking of the earth’s surface caused by rapid movement of the earth’s crust or outer layer which is made up of tectonic plates. These plates are in continuous motion which results in stresses and ruptures that release energy in the form of seismic waves. The destruction that an earthquake causes depends on its magnitude and duration. Earthquake is one of the most catastrophic natural disasters and can trigger other disasters such as floods, tsunamis, landslides and avalanches. Massive loss of life and infrastructure occurs due to the collapse of buildings, and damage to roads, bridges, canals and power supplies.

National Geographic: Earthquakes 101

Find out what causes earthquakes, why they’re so deadly, and what’s being done to help buildings sustain their hits.

Himal Southasia – Natural Event, Manmade Disaster

This short documentary ‘Natural Event, Manmade Disaster’, examines the aftermath of the earthquake nine months after it devastated Nepal. Contributors Kunda Dixit and Kai Weise discuss reconstruction efforts and the current state of preparedness.

Solmaz Mohadjer: How to Disarm Earthquakes

As a child Solmaz Mohadjer wore shoes in bed to be ready for a quick escape from earthquakes. Now as a geoscientist, she chases earthquakes and rockfalls with high precision measuring instruments. Together with her team, she works to detect and measure subtle movements and changes in Earth’s surface and their implications for earthquake and rockfall hazards. Inspired by school children in mountain communities of central Asia, she started the initiative ParsQuake to bridge the information gap between scientists and the public in regions of high geohazards risk exposure.

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