Tectonic Hazards and the Haiti Earthquake

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Tectonic Hazards:

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. They don't just slide smoothly; the rocks catch on each other. The rocks are still pushing against each other, but not moving. After a while, the rocks break because of all the pressure that's built up. When the rocks break, the earthquake occurs. During the earthquake and afterward, the plates or blocks of rock start moving, and they continue to move until they get stuck again. The spot underground where the rock breaks is called the focus of the earthquake. The place right above the focus (on top of the ground) is called the epicentre of the earthquake.

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Haiti Earthquake:

What?
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake

When?
12th January 2010 at 16.53 local time (21.53 GMT).

Where?
The earthquake occurred 18.457°N, 72.533°W. The focus of the earthquake was 13km (8.1 miles) below the surface of the earth.


The short term effects of the Haiti earthquake are
· Buildings being destroyed, roads and docks. Making it difficult to get aid to the people who need it. Example food, clean drinking water, clothes, cooking utensils, temporally shelters and most importantly drugs and medicines.
· Without clean drinking water and dead bodies rotting in the ...

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