Environmental Geology Essay

In 2006, seismic research workers can predict the location and direction of earthquakes by merely 10 to 20 minutes before it happens. Researchers use ultrasounds to esteem earthquakes faster. Precise ultrasound images were recorded from the fault which is ruptured and the direction the rupture goes (American play of Physics AIP, 2006). In 2008, seismic researchers can now predict earthquakes with oftentimes more preciseness and preliminary than other previous equipments. A researcher from Rice University named Fenglin Nui and approximately of his colleagues ar currently working on some experiments that can detect earthquake in a much earlier time.The method they use is detecting P-waves with the use of some super sharp instrument called the Seismic Stress Meter. P-waves argon the fastest of all the waves associated with earthquakes (Rice University, 2008). 2. (20 pts) What be the lessons learned from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in china? What argon the lessons learned from the 1985 Mexican earthquake? Discuss. The destructive earthquake that hit Sichuan region in China brought lessons that seismic researchers deem helpful in predicting earthquakes. Sichuan region is located in highly mountainous part that is active and could be attributed to the earthquake sham that happened.Topographic analysis can now help scientists to assess area that has high risks of having earthquakes ( pascal State University, 2008). The destructive earthquakes in Mexico City made a realization for a civil engineers association. They all realized that their make codes where buildings are designed to be built still are of no take with the earthquake intensities in Mexico. A problem arises when the soft clay grade of the setting was struck by the earthquake. The soft clay layer of fuse started to transmit more movements higher than what engineers stand expected.The ground shook buildings in Mexico much commodiouser than what is expected (Peterson, 1986). 3. (15 pts) Dis cuss the 2008/2009 Chaiten volcanic eruptions in jalapeno. What are the implications of this natural disaster on the local residents? Chaiten volcanic eruption was single that local residents never expected to happen. The Chaiten volcano was said to be hibernating(a) for almost 10,000 years now. But surprisingly and unexpectedly, the volcano has shown activity and afterwards a few days it erupted. Many residents were evacuated from near the volcano. About 4000 mint within 6 mile radius from southern region of Chile were evacuated.The town near the volcano was almost buried in ashes on the dot equivalent what happened to Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The sudden eruption after a prospicient sleep gave residents fear of the volcano erupting again at any give time (University of Colorado, 2008). 4. (15 pts) Explain two different measures that can be interpreted to prevent, or at least minimize, the occurrence of landslides. One of the most in effect(p) measures that can be taken to prevent occurrences of landslides is through afforestation. Trees can greatly contribute to minimizing numbers of landslides in many ways.Trees can help watch water from the soil. Water is said to be one of the main mystify of landslides. Another is that trees can hold the soil firmly in the ground also minimizing the landslide occurrences. Another measure that can be utilize to prevent landslides is by creating levees or dykes. In this method, landslides are prevented by building walls usually near rivers which regulates water levels that cause the landslides (Peoples Daily Online, 2000). 5. (10 pts) What is the mechanic paradox implied by long runout landslides? Heavy rain is said to have started landslides.So, one might think that landslides move and accelerate together with water. The long runout landslides are real caused by heavy rains but there is really no water associated with the movement and acceleration of landslides. The movement and acceleration of lan dslides are associated with the pressure vibrations called the acoustic fluidization. As the land slides pressure vibrations were generated making a frictionless effect to the ground which causes the land mass to move like a fluid (Collins and Melosh, 2007).ReferencesAmerican Institute of Physics. (2006, April 1) Real-Time Quake spottingSeismologists Use Ultrasounds to Assess Quakes Faster. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2009 from http//www. sciencedaily. com/videos/2006/0406-realtime_quake_detection. htm Collins, G. and Melosh, H. (2007, July 15). Acoustic Fluidization and the Extraordinary Mobility of Sturzstroms. Retrieved March 27, 2009 from http//amcg. ese. ic. ac. uk/gareth/publications/abstracts/lpsc03b. pdf Pennsylvania State University. (2008, July 24). Chinese Earthquake Provides Lessons For Future. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2009, from http//www. sciencedaily. com