This document summarizes information about seismic waves and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan. It defines an earthquake as occurring when two blocks of earth slip past each other, and explains that they are measured by seismic waves on seismographs. It then discusses the damage caused by earthquakes through collapsing buildings and tsunamis. The document outlines the two types of seismic waves and how P and S waves travel. It also summarizes details about the 2011 Tohoku earthquake such as its magnitude of 9.0 and effects like damage to cities and the environment in Japan.

1. Seismic Waves Aaron Kafkakis Ryan Harris Mrs. Smith Hour: 4 April 8, 2011

2. Basic Background Information What is an earthquake? An Earthquake is what happens when two blocks of Earth suddenly slip or crack past eachother. How are earthquakes measured? Earthquakes are measured in Seismic Waves measured by Seismographs. What does magnitude mean? The size of an Earthquake is called its Magnitude How is magnitude measured? Magnitude is measured by the size of their Seismic Waves.

3. Damage Caused by Earthquakes Buildings suddenly collapse Tsunamis begin to occur Buildings shake and shutter

4. Waves What are earthquake waves called? Seismic Waves What two types of seismic waves are there? Primary and Secondary Waves What two types of body waves are there? Love and Rayleigh Waves

5. Body Waves How do P waves travel? They push and they pull How do S waves travel? They travel side to side, and up and down. Which move faster? P-waves move faster.

6. Elastic Rebound A mechanism used by Geolgists to explain Earthquakes and suface ruptures. The Elastic Rebound occurs in Divergent Boundaries

7. The Tohoku Earthquake This quake occurred at : 5:30 PM This quake occurred In Honshu, Japan. The magnitude of this quake was 9.0

8. Effects on the environment/earth Nuclear Wastes from Power Plants escape into the evironment Many cities and Humans are heavily damaged Large cracks and sinkholes .

9. Effects on the People of Japan People do not have power from destroyed power plants. Tsunamis flood cities in Japan. Houses and buildings are toppled over.

10. Effects on the Economy of Japan Many offices shut down and people lost jobs. Food and water become scarce and polluted. Fires burn down buildings and kill hundreds.

11. GPS Sensors One interesting fact about this earthquake is that it moved several GPS sensors. This will require all of the GPS sensors to be rearranged. How does elastic rebound explain this movement? Because the boundaries at the Elastic Rebound point shifted, moving Japan.

12. Tsunamis What is a tsunami? A giant wave usually caused by an earthquake. How do tsunami waves appear at sea? After an earthquake hits, the waves cause the water to rise up and move. How high can tsunami waves be? About 50 to 250 feet high. How fast can tsunami waves move? One hundred MPH in deep ocean water.

13. Websites Used http://www.diigo.com/user/richardsj/earthquake http://www.google.com/