Friday, February 1, 2013

Seismology

Seismology is the study of earthquakes and a seismologist is a scientist who studies earthquakes and other activity that happens under the earth's surface. 

A seismologist may use a machine called a seismograph to measure earthquake shocks. This will help sense when and where an earthquake might happen. There are hundreds of seismographs all around the world sensing the movement on and under the earth's surface. 

When and why does an earthquake happen? 

The earth's surface is covered with large land masses called tectonic plates. An earthquake happens when the constantly moving plates rub against each other. The different plates rubbing against each other may break or they might happen just because the plates are rubbing and they make a fast movement. 

Interesting facts:
-Every 30 seconds a new earthquake happens somewhere in the world. They usually don't cause much damage but sometimes they really do. 

-There are earthquakes on the moon! They're actually called "moonquakes!"

-An earthquake can cause a tsunami. 
Here is my drawing of plates rubbing against each other:

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