Earthquakes are not associated with the weather but instead are natural disasters. An earthquake is a tremor below the surface of the Earth which causes shaking of the Earth’s crust. Effects of Earthquakes are
Effects of Earthquakes
Earthquakes have constructive and destructive effects.
Constructive Effects of Earthquakes
- Earthquakes help the Earth in releasing its energy.
- As a result of earthquakes, many landforms are built. It also results in changing the coastline. Earthquakes in the Himalayan region have resulted in the formation of various lakes. Further, the formation of bays, estuaries and gulfs because of earthquakes has resulted in better navigation.
Destructive Effects of Earthquakes
- Earthquakes measuring 6 and above on the Richter scale may result in the loss of human lives. About 15,000 people are killed every year because of earthquakes.
- Earthquakes inflict serious damage to buildings, structures, roads, bridges and railways. Submergence: Many coastal areas get submerged in water because of earthquakes. For example, Dwarka in Gujarat now lies submerged in water.
- Powerful earthquakes may change the course of rivers which may render an area infertile.
- After earthquakes, fire may also break out. This may happen when inflammable material is thrown onto broken gas lines. In the earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco, a great fire broke out which proved to be more destructive than the earthquake itself.
- Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes occurring in the sea. These can cause huge destruction in the coastal regions.
Tsunamis
Tsunamis are long, high waves mainly caused by earthquakes. They can also be caused by volcanic eruptions or meteorite impacts. An earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004 triggered a series of tsunamis on 26 December 2004 in which thousands of people were killed in India, Indonesia Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
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Volcanoes
A volcano is a vent or an opening in the Earth’s crust from which hot magma erupts the interior of the Earth. Volcanoes are generally caused because of the following reasons. Read more