Understanding Earthquakes
An earthquake is defined as a sudden shaking or trembling of the Earth, usually resulting from disturbances within the Earth's crust due to tectonic plate movements. The Earth’s crust consists of fragmented plates that are continuously moving, and when these plates collide, separate, or slide past one another, they may cause disturbances. These disturbances manifest as earthquakes on the Earth's surface.
Historically, people attributed earthquakes to mythical causes; however, modern science reveals that they are caused primarily by the interactions at the boundaries of these tectonic plates. The concept of fault zones, areas where two plates meet, is crucial to understanding where earthquakes are likely to occur.
In India, particularly vulnerable regions include the Himalayas, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and parts of Southern India. The classification of earthquake strength is measured using the Richter scale, and destructive earthquakes tend to score above 7.0 on this scale, which indicates their potential for widespread damage. Moreover, seismic waves generated by earthquakes can be recorded using a seismograph, allowing scientists to determine the epicenter and magnitude of an earthquake.