The Great China quake of 1925

By: Sloane W.Per: 5

Earthquake Waves• S wave- a seismic body wave that shakes the ground back and forth

perpendicular to the direction the wave is moving

• P wave- a seismic body wave that shakes the ground back and forth in the same direction

• L wave- a surface wave having a horizontal motion that is transverse (or perpendicular) to the direction the wave is traveling.

Epicenter and Focus

• Epicenter- the point on the earth’s surface vertically above the hypocenter (focus) point in the crust where a seismic rupture begins

• Focus- the point within the earth where an earthquake rupture starts

Mercalli and Richter scales

• Mercalli scale- a scale that measures the intensity of an earthquake

• Richter scale- a scale that measures the magnitude of an earthquake

Picture of the Mercalli/Richter scale

Basic facts

• Had no name• Happened on 3/16/1926• The time was 10:42 P.M.• It happened in Yunnan, China• A place called Talifuwas nearly destroyed.

Magnitude and cause.

• The magnitude of this earthquake was 7.1. It’s cause was a transverse fault. Transverse faults occur when a block of rock fractures, and the two blocks of rock slide past each other, in opposite directions. Compression, tension, and wrenching or twisting all contribute to movement along a transverse fault.

Other facts

• This earthquake caused 5,800 reported deaths. It’s magnitude was higher then another earthquake that happened in that same year. It was in Santa Barbara. The death rate was lower in Santa Barbara than in Yunnan.

Chart Location Deaths Magnitude

Yunnan, China 5800 7.1

Santa Barbara 13 6.3

Bibliography

• www.google.com• www.picsearch.com • My government website worksheet• www.earthquake.usgs.gov • http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/net/hara/

china.htm • http://wiki.answers.com/Q/

What_is_a_transverse_fault • http://www.earthquake.usgs.gov/