Earthquakes are earthquakes, they correspond to a natural phenomenon that makes up the structure of the planet, since this is not static, on the contrary, is very dynamic and performs several movements, as there is a lot of energy in its interior.
The earthquake is one of the active elements that occur on the planet, in this case it is developed with various intensities that fluctuate according to the energy released measured in scale. In the world the most used scale is the Richter Scale that varies from 0 to 9 degrees, in energy released by the tremor.
Thus, as scale increases, destruction also accompanies it. Next, different scales and the degree of destruction they represent.
Energy released on Richter Scale |
aftermath of the earthquake |
| Less than 3.5 degrees | Concussion that can be registered, but difficult to be noticed, in this case it does not cause damage. |
| 3.5 to 5.4 degrees | Tremor that can be perceived, but that hardly causes destruction. |
| Less than 6.0 degrees | Earthquake with the ability to produce damage with low intensity in buildings with a high quality structure, in poor quality constructions the shock causes great damage. |
| 6.1 to 6.9 degrees | This intensity has an amount of energy capable of generating destruction and damage in an area of 100 kilometers around. |
| 7 to 7.9 degrees | Energy released with high potential that can take buildings off the foundations, in addition to causing cracks in the surface, damage underground sewage and water systems that can be broken. |
| 8 to 8.5 degrees | Large tremor that results in great destruction in buildings in general, in addition to disintegrating bridges, practically no building is able to withstand the energy released. |
| 9 degrees | Total destruction |
| 12 degrees (hypothetically) | It could split the Earth in half. |
From this table it is possible to establish an understanding of the risk that different companies run, no matter how hard you try predict it is not possible to determine when and where a concussion will occur, as it can happen anywhere, without predicting the intensity.
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Every year there are approximately 300,000 tremors across the entire surface of the earth with scales between 2 and 2.9 degrees, while those with greater intensity around 8 degrees occur in periods ranging between 5 and 10 years old.
By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FREITAS, Eduardo de. "Earthquakes and their effects"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/os-terremotos-seus-efeitos.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
