Effects on AtmosphereAtmosphere (air) :
The Earth’s atmosphere can be effected from an earthquake catastrophe by the release of methane gas from underwater seabed passages where these gases have been trapped. Methane is made from the decaying of organic materials and can be commonly found in deep sea reservoirs. When an earthquake strikes, it opens up these passageways containing gas emissions that’ve been stuck in the earth’s floor and are freed allowing the toxic gases into the atmosphere, slowly trapping and increasing the heat . Although methane gas is soluble in water, combining with seawater, it creates a cement type of compound named gas hydrates which produces a barrier against further seepage. Earthquakes however, break open this gas-hydrate barrier freeing the remaining gas underneath. |
Effects on BiosphereBiosphere (living things) :
Earth’s biosphere containing all living things and organisms are the most commonly impacted of all spheres by earthquakes. The intense vibrations not only causes loss to human life but can cause landslides, tsunamis, liquifying of soil and soil movement to the Earth’s system. The shakings emerging from beneath the Earth causes soil and foundation materials under structures to weaken and forceful alterations to finer grained soils. From the decreasing strength in foundations, earthquakes can create unstable slopes leading to landslides a serious geographical hazard. Liquefaction can appear when sandy soil absorbed with water transforms into liquid mud, and on a larger scale can further progress onto raging mud slides. Animal behavior prior to an earthquake effects the biosphere, studies from Chinese scientists on past events have discovered unusual behavior from animals showing signs of restlessness and disorientation before the striking on the event due to the change in magnetic field. An earthquake’s extent of impact on the biosphere consists of human death, destroys agriculture, crops and plant life and will disrupt the overall natural ecosystem. |
Effects on HydrosphereHydrosphere (water) :
The extent of impact of an earthquake in water regions are quite severe and extreme, this includes the formation of death destructing tsunamis . If an earthquake occurs underwater this can lead to enormous tidal waves called tsunamis, where they begin low in deep water but as they travel towards shallow water and land, the column of water underneath the wave grows and increases in height as it comes towards land due to the mass of water and energy stored within the wave. The gradually become larger and higher in size but decrease in depth as they enter shallow waters and then strike causing grief and annihilation to coastal communities hundreds of kilometers from the earthquake site. Tsunamis have the mighty power to wipe out, flood, destruct, drown and kill, just as deadly as an earthquake. |
Effects on lithosphereLithosphere (land):
On land, the lithosphere is made up of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle where the earthquake tremors travel up to and the trembling results in ground rupturing creating new lakes which increase the underwater ground flow from springs and dislocates stream channels. Earthquakes along fault lines may result in significantly large cracks along the like the San Andreas continental transform fault extending to 1300km across California. The impact on the lithosphere also includes landslides due to the softening of soil and rocks moving down slopes, there may be avalanches, fires and damage to forestry and buildings. |