Exam 7: Earthquakes and the Earths Structure

Modern seismologists typically use which scale to most accurately assess the total amount of energy released in an earthquake? __________________

____ is a continuous, slow movement of solid rock along a fault, usually not causing large earthquakes.

Rock deforms ____ under small amounts of stress and returns to its original shape and size when the stress is removed such as folds.

The initial rupture point of an earthquake (below Earth's surface) is the ____.

If rock exceeds the limit beyond which it cannot deform elastically, what will happen to the rock? _____________

If you were a seismologist, you would study ________________ from a seismograph in order to evaluate an earthquake's body and surface wave characteristics.

The deflection of S-waves in what specific part of the Earth's interior proved that the outer core is liquid and causes the Earth's magnetic field to form?

When a wave passes from one material to another, it ____ (bends) and sometimes ____ (bounces back).

The Mohorovicic discontinuity was identified through the passage of seismic waves between the ____ and the ____.

Explain why the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake lasted for up to 10 minutes.

Explain why the core has a much higher density as compared to the crust and mantle.

If a geologist found evidence of tsunami deposits, submergence of coastal forests from ground displacement, fault rupture, results from computer models and historic documents about an ancient earthquake that occurred in 1700, this would be sufficient data to determine an earthquake occurred at that time.

Explain why seismic waves speed up at discontinuities such as the Moho and slow back down in the mantle.

Explain why moment magnitude is preferred by most seismologists to calculate the energy released in an earthquake as compared to Richter scale.

____________________ ____________________ are elastic waves that travel through rock and are produced by earthquakes.

____________________ are compressional waves and can travel through gases, liquids, and solids.

____ are not considered a reliable tool for short-term prediction of earthquakes because they precede only about half of earthquakes and many times, are not followed by a large quake.

Discuss which type of surface wave causes more damage to human structures and the surface.

The New Madrid fault zone in the United States is thought to be caused by ____.

A seismologist would expect more damage to occur from _____________ waves rather than body waves because these seismic waves shake and bounce structures at the surface.