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Aftershocks are minor earthquakes that occur after a major one along the same fault. They can be unpredictable and cause damage to weakened structures. People should be prepared for aftershocks and evacuate buildings after earthquakes to avoid potential collapse.
Aftershocks are minor earthquakes that occur after a major one, along the same fault. They can be unsettling for people who have experienced the initial earthquake because they don’t always fit into a recognizable pattern or system, jolting people and homes without warning. Because, like all earthquakes, they cannot be predicted, people experiencing an earthquake should be prepared for little ones to follow up and take steps to prepare, including removing family members and pets from unsafe structures.
An earthquake is caused by stress under the earth’s crust. There are several types of earthquakes and they vary in intensity from very minor earthquakes that are barely felt to severe ones that cause large amounts of damage and can trigger tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. The real sensation of movement of the earth is caused by seismic waves, measured on the Richter scale. The Richter scale classifies the intensity in magnitude 10: an earthquake that measures four, for example, is 10 times more intense than a three. Aftershocks follow almost all earthquakes, as the ground stabilizes and adjusts, and can sometimes be very severe.
Aftershocks occur along the same fault line where the initial quake occurred and can go on for months. The longer the delay, the more difficult it can be to distinguish between an aftershock and a completely new earthquake. Seismologists look at the earthquake epicenter, seismic history of the area, and fault type to determine whether or not a new earthquake is related to a previous one. Generally, the longer the time period after a major earthquake, the less likely these smaller earthquakes are, although a major seismic event in a normally calm area can spur large aftershocks for months.
Typically, aftershocks are less strong than the initial quake, but they can still do a lot of damage, especially to structures. Structures weakened by the original earthquake can collapse, which places great strain on compromised support beams. For this reason, people are encouraged to evacuate buildings after an earthquake, in case subsequent earthquakes cause the building to fall. After a major earthquake, buildings, causeways, and bridges should be inspected to determine whether or not they are safe, and people should be alert for falling trees and power lines.
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