What is an Earthquake?
An earthquake is the quick release of energy from the interior of the Earth that causes seismic energy to be produced, which leads to the shaking of the Earth’s surface. It is also known as a temblor or tremor. Earthquakes can vary in magnitude and intensity from those of a low magnitude that no one can feel to those powerful enough to knock objects and individuals into the air, destroy vital infrastructure, and devastate entire cities.
Epicentre
On the Earth’s surface directly above the hypocenter, there is an epicentre where the earthquake begins underneath the surface.
How do we estimate the magnitude of earthquakes?
The energy of an earthquake travels through the Earth as seismic energy, which is oscillation. Scientists use seismometers to examine seismic waves. Seismological waves underneath are picked up by a seismometer, which records those as zigzag formations.
Scientists may use seismometer data to pinpoint an earthquake’s time, place, and strength. The rocks that the seismic waves passed through are also described in this report. The magnitude or severity of the shock determines how earthquake occurrences are scaled. The Richter scale is the name given to the magnitude scale. The energy unleashed during the earthquake is indicated by the magnitude. The magnitude is given in absolute numbers, ranging from 0 to 10.
Recent Earthquakes Events:
Epicentre: Nepal
After a 6.3 magnitude tremor rocked Nepal this morning, strong tremors were detected in Delhi and other towns around 2 am, causing many people to flee their homes amid the night. The powerful earthquakes were recorded from Gautam Buddha Nagar and Gurugram, which lasted for some seconds.
As per National Center for Seismology, the quake was around 10 kilometres deep. “Earthquake of Magnitude:6.3, Occurred on 09-11-2022, 01:57:24 IST, Lat: 29.24 & Long: 81.06, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nepal,” National Center for Seismology tweeted.
Within five hours, there had been three earthquakes in Nepal. According to National Center for Seismology data, Nepal had its first earthquake on Tuesday at 8:52 pm. It then experienced a second earthquake of 3.5 magnitudes at 9:41 pm. At 1.57 am on Wednesday, the third tremor of 6.3 magnitudes struck the nation; vibrations were registered in Delhi.
Casualties witnessed in Nepal
At least six deaths and five injuries were reported by Kalpana Shrestha, the chief district administrator of Doti, Nepal.
“At least six people were killed and five were injured and were being taken to the hospital. Dozens of houses have been damaged with landslides at various locations across the district,” the official was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
According to India Today, “Expressing my heartfelt condolences to families of those who died in the earthquake, which was centred in the Khaptad region of Far West. I’ve instructed relevant agencies to arrange immediate & proper treatment of the injured & victims,” said Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba.
After the earthquake, #earthquake began hashtag on Twitter with more than 20,000 posts within a half-hour. Some others tweeted that they had never experienced an earthquake this powerful.
