Earthquake

An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. This can happen when there is a sudden slip on a fault, volcanic activity, or other processes that cause the Earth to shake.

Causes of Earthquakes

Earthquakes can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Tectonic Plate Movements
Volcanic Activity
Human Activities (such as mining or reservoir-induced seismicity)

Effects of Earthquakes

Earthquakes can have a range of effects, including:

Ground Shaking
Surface Rupture
Landslides
Tsunamis (if the earthquake occurs under the ocean)
Structural Damage to Buildings and Infrastructure

Measuring Earthquakes

Earthquakes are measured using instruments called seismographs, and the magnitude of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale or the moment magnitude scale (Mw).

Earthquake Preparedness

It's important to be prepared for earthquakes by having an emergency kit, knowing evacuation routes, and securing heavy furniture and objects that could fall and cause injury during an earthquake.