Current Event Review

Current Event Review

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines an earthquake as a natural phenomenon that occurs when two plates of the earth slip past one another. In the United States, California and Alaska are the most affected by earthquakes. From the USGS data, there have been two earthquakes this month alone in California. Thisreview will look at the science and mechanics behind the earthquake, the historical context, how it affects people’s lives, and finally how they are managed.

Earthquakes occur all over the globe but mostly hit regions that are along faults and plate edges. Over the years, scientists have established that small earthquakes occur every day while the earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 and higher occur once a year on average. Such quakes occur when two tectonicplates rub against each other which causes a release of energy that causes the seismic waves that are responsible for making the ground shake. It is worth noting that when the two plates are sliding against each other, they tend to stick and do not glide smoothly. The two blocks of rock push against each other but do not move, which causes a build-up in pressure. The earthquake only occurs when these two blocks of rock finally break. Scientists have established that the majority of earthquakes across the globe occur on the faults of tectonic plates. Earthquakes are measured using seismographs which allows seismologists to gauge the magnitude and intensity of the earthquake. It is worth noting that earthquakes have foreshocks and mainshocks. The foreshock is a kind of precursor or prelude to the mainshock, which is the largest earthquake. These mainshocks are in many cases followed by aftershocks which have catastrophic effects..

California has had a long history of earthquakes that have had devastating effects on human life and property. For instance, in 2019, the Ridgecrest area was hit by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake which caused fires and multiple injuries. Seismologists from USGS have noted that California lies on the San Andreas Fault which makes it susceptible to earthquakes. The deadliest earthquake in California occurred in 1906 in San Francisco, which claimed the lives of 3000 people and caused half a billion dollars in property damage. Data from the USGS has indicated that there have been 4.5 and 3.5 earthquakes in Barstow and Castaic, California respectively. Earthquakes are commonplace in California although they vary in magnitude. Earthquakes have had adverse effects on the lives and critical infrastructure of California residents. For instance, the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Ridgecrest cost a billion dollars in damages as well as disrupt the power and water supply, which affected the residents. California residents have invested heavily on structures that can withstand earthquakes to minimize costs and the loss of life. The majority of California residents are educated on earthquake preparedness in terms of how to identify safe spaces, communication plans, and how to check for hazards. The local governments in California have also been working closely with seismologists from the USGS to create an effective alert system to mitigate the effects of earthquakes.

Earthquakes are natural disasters that occur in areas that lie in the faults of tectonic plates. The data from the USGS has indicated that California and Alaska are the states that are the most prone to earthquakes. When the edges of tectonic plates rub against each other, they create pressure which generates a shock after the rocks break. California has been hit by earthquakes that have caused the loss of life and billions of dollars in property damages.