Journal #4 - Earthquakes

Journal #4

            During the past couple of weeks, Dr. Richard had been lecturing in our class about landform and soil and mass wasting. What I found really interesting was when he started talking about geology. Geology is the study of planet Earth, and is typically divided into 2 different areas: Physical and Historical Geology. From what I learned on the PowerPoint, physical geology is the study of the material composition of the earth, while historical geology is the study of the origin of the earth and its evolution throughout the time. Natural hazards and environment issues are some of the problems and issues that are addressed by geology.

            One of the examples of the issues that were talked about that I find really interesting is the topic of earthquakes. An earthquake is also known as a quake tremor or tremblor. It is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust that then creates seismic waves. These waves determine the type and size of experienced over a period of time. Earthquakes are measured using observations from seismometers. If the magnitude of the earthquake is larger than 5 then it is reported for the entire globe. Magnitudes lower than 3 or lower earthquakes are mostly weak and magnitude of 7 and over potentially cause serious damage over large areas, depending on its depth.

            Being from California, I am definitely used to earthquakes. I am used to earthquake drills and know what to do from there. Feeling my bed shake a little at night when an earthquake hits doesn’t really phase me anymore because I’m so used to earthquakes.  But one experience with it that scared me and I would never forget was during the spring of 2010. I remember it was during Easter Sunday. I was in the parking garage with my grandmother when all of a sudden we hear this loud noise, and all I can see were the pipes shaking. I had no idea what was going on after. Until it hit me and I finally realized that we are on the base level of her 10 story building condominium and there is an earthquake. It only probably lasted for a minuet but it honestly felt like forever. I grabbed my grandmother’s hand and we both ran for the gate. It was so scary. It sounds really dramatic but it was one of the scariest earthquakes that I had to experience.

            The earthquake was then called the 2010 Baja California earthquake. It was a magnitude of 7.2 and started 16 miles south of Baja California. It occurred at 3:40 pm on April 4, 2010.  It said to have lasted for a minute and a half. The earthquake was the strongest to rock Southern California in at least 18 years, if not longer. San Diego was said to be situated in a very active seismic zone and surrounded by important faults. An aftershock of 4.4 had been felt throughout southern California.