Armenian Earthquake
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Natural Process of the Armenian Earthquake
5/28/2011
Joshua V. Dever
Salt Lake Community College
Armenian Earthquake
All around our planet earth under the surface are things known as tectonic plates. A
tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock,
generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere.
(http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/tectonic.html) There are two types of Tectonic plates called
oceanic and continental. The Oceanic crust is made of basalt which is denser than continental
crust which is made up of granite. When tectonic plates come into contact with one another the
oceanic crust will subdue under the continental crust because of the difference in density
between the two. That is not always the case; sometimes they will collide and become stuck
together. The plates that become stuck push together and become strained. Straining causes the
tectonic plates to fold and bend, which causes an extreme amount of pressure. When the pressure
becomes too much for the plates it may cause them to snap causing bursts of immense energy.
This energy is known as the “elastic rebound theory,” If a stretched rubber band is broken or
cut, elastic energy stored in the rubber band during the stretching will suddenly be released.
Similarly, the crust of the earth can gradually store elastic stress that is released suddenly
during an earthquake. ( http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/18april/reid.php)
What caused the earthquake in Armenia was obviously the built up pressure between two
tectonic plates, but! What kind of fault line did it occur on? They call it the “South Caucasus
fault line,” which is a “normal fault.” Normal faults are mostly around divergent plate
boundaries. When earthquakes occur on a normal fault the footwall (lower plate) is forced
upward, while the hanging wall (upper plate) is forced downward. This can create a series of
valleys called a “graben” and mountains called a “horst.” A fine example of where has a normal
fault would be right here in Utah along the Wasatch Front.
How earthquakes are predicted, well… There not predicted, Scientist’s have not been
able to predict an earthquake, but have been able to use sophisticated equipment such as lasers
and satellites to predict how faults are moving. We can’t predict an earthquake but do know what
areas are at high risk of having an earthquake. Areas at high risk in the United States include
California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii. Earthquakes are also at very high risk in
the rocky mountain area. The “New Madrid Seismic Zone” (part of the central United States), as
well in parts of the eastern seaboard, mainly in South Carolina.
Armenia was devastated by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on the 7 th day of December in
the year 1988. It completely destroyed their city and left their buildings reduced to nothing but
rubble. It killed 25,000 Armenian people with its severity; the old buildings that were destroyed
were not built to withstand such a high velocity earthquake of that magnitude. Within a few
days after the quake the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev turned to the United States for
humanitarian help the first such request since World War II occurred. Other countries such as
Britain, France, Germany and many others sent humanitarian aide such as rescue equipment
search teams and medical supplies.
The secondary affects it had was there buildings, and housing were destroyed, and the
casualties from the quake. There were healthcare problems but no serious disease and the
drinking water wasn’t polluted. The healthcare consisted of broken bones, internal bleeding etc
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Armenian Earthquake
In conclusion today Armenia is fine, they have rebuilt/updated there buildings to withstand
earthquakes. And they have over came that event just fine and are now a great nation.
Here is a video from back when this occurred: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr4tjP0U-Mo
Here is a picture:
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Armenian Earthquake
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Works Cited
(http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/tectonic.html)
written by: J M.Watson