Earthquake

### Earthquakes

Earthquakes are natural phenomena characterized by the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere. This release of energy generates seismic waves, which travel through the Earth's interior and along its surface. Earthquakes can cause significant damage to buildings, infrastructure, and can lead to secondary disasters such as tsunamis.

### Major Earthquakes and Their Impact

1. **1906 San Francisco Earthquake**:

   - **Context**: Occurred on April 18, 1906, along the San Andreas Fault. It is one of the most significant earthquakes in U.S. history.

   - **Impact**: The earthquake and subsequent fires destroyed over 80% of San Francisco. The event led to significant advancements in earthquake engineering and urban planning.

   - **Notable Details**: Enrico Caruso performed in "Carmen" the night before; significant fires followed the quake, exacerbated by ruptured gas lines.

2. **1755 Lisbon Earthquake**:

   - **Context**: Struck Lisbon, Portugal, on November 1, 1755, during All Saints' Day, a major religious holiday.

   - **Impact**: The earthquake, tsunami, and resulting fires caused widespread destruction and an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 deaths. It led to significant changes in philosophical and theological thought across Europe.

   - **Notable Details**: Inspired Voltaire’s critique of optimism in "Candide"; Marquis of Pombal led the reconstruction efforts, implementing new building codes.

3. **1923 Great Kanto Earthquake**:

   - **Context**: Hit the Kanto Plain on September 1, 1923, affecting Tokyo and Yokohama.

   - **Impact**: Approximately 140,000 people died due to the earthquake and resulting fires. It also led to a massacre of ethnic Koreans amidst rumors that they were causing unrest.

   - **Notable Details**: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel in Tokyo famously survived with minimal damage; the disaster influenced Japan's urban redevelopment.

4. **2011 Tohoku Earthquake**:

   - **Context**: Occurred on March 11, 2011, off the coast of Japan.

   - **Impact**: It was a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the most powerful recorded in Japan, and caused a massive tsunami. The disaster led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

   - **Notable Details**: The tsunami waves reached heights of up to 40 meters, leading to extensive loss of life and property damage.

5. **1556 Shaanxi Earthquake**:

   - **Context**: Took place in Shaanxi Province, China, on January 23, 1556.

   - **Impact**: It is considered the deadliest earthquake in recorded history, with an estimated death toll of around 830,000.

   - **Notable Details**: The earthquake led to the collapse of caves in which many people lived, contributing to the high death toll.

### Key Concepts in Earthquake Study

- **Seismic Waves**: Earthquakes produce different types of waves, including primary (P) waves, which are compressional, and secondary (S) waves, which are shear waves. Surface waves, such as Love and Rayleigh waves, cause most of the damage observed during an earthquake.

- **Magnitude and Intensity**: 

   - **Magnitude** measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, commonly reported using the Richter scale or the moment magnitude scale.

   - **Intensity** measures the effects of an earthquake at different locations on the surface, commonly using the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale.

- **Epicenter and Hypocenter**:

   - **Epicenter**: The point on the Earth's surface directly above the earthquake’s hypocenter (or focus).

   - **Hypocenter**: The actual location within the Earth where the earthquake begins.

- **Elastic Rebound Theory**: Proposed by Harry Fielding Reid after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, this theory describes how stress builds up in the Earth's crust and is released when rocks snap back to their original shape, causing an earthquake.

### Common Clues in Quizbowl Questions

1. **Historical and Famous Earthquakes**:

   - **San Francisco Earthquake (1906)**: Known for the catastrophic fire that followed and its association with the San Andreas Fault.

   - **Lisbon Earthquake (1755)**: Led to philosophical debates about the nature of good and evil and influenced urban reconstruction efforts led by the Marquis of Pombal.

   - **Great Kanto Earthquake (1923)**: Noted for the subsequent massacre of Koreans and the survival of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel.

2. **Scientific Terminology and Measurement**:

   - **Seismic Waves**: Includes P-waves and S-waves, which help locate the epicenter, and surface waves that cause significant damage.

   - **Richter Scale**: A logarithmic scale formerly used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

   - **Elastic Rebound Theory**: Explains how energy stored in the Earth's crust is released during an earthquake.

3. **Cultural and Social Impacts**:

   - **Voltaire’s Candide**: The 1755 Lisbon Earthquake inspired Voltaire to critique the philosophy of optimism.

   - **Urban Planning and Engineering**: Major earthquakes have led to advancements in building codes and earthquake-resistant design.

### Related Quizbowl Facts

1. The __1__ San Francisco earthquake in 1906 caused massive fires that destroyed most of the city.

2. The __2__ Earthquake of 1755 significantly impacted the city and led to philosophical debates about the nature of good and evil.

3. The __3__ Earthquake of 1923 devastated Tokyo and Yokohama and led to widespread fires and the massacre of ethnic Koreans.

4. The __4__ Earthquake of 2011 triggered a massive tsunami and caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

5. The __5__ Earthquake in 1556 is the deadliest in recorded history, with an estimated 830,000 deaths.

Answers:

1. 1906

2. Lisbon

3. Great Kanto

4. Tohoku

5. Shaanxi

Based on the quiz bowl questions related to earthquakes, here are the repeated references and clues along with their frequency counts:

1. **San Francisco Earthquake of 1906** (16 occurrences)

   - The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.9 and caused massive destruction across San Francisco. Following the quake, fires broke out and raged for days, exacerbating the damage. Over 80% of the city was destroyed, including the famous Chinatown. Notable figures involved were **Enrico Caruso**, an Italian opera singer present at the time, and **Eugene Schmitz**, the city's mayor. The disaster also marked a significant chapter in California's history, symbolized by the **Bear Flag** representing California's resilience and rebirth.

2. **Lisbon Earthquake of 1755** (14 occurrences)

   - Often referenced in connection with the Marquis of Pombal, Voltaire’s "Candide," and the subsequent rebuilding efforts in Lisbon.

3. **Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923** (10 occurrences)

   - Noted for the destruction in Tokyo and Yokohama, the survival of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel, and the massacre of Koreans in its aftermath.

4. **Richter Scale** (9 occurrences)

   - This scale for measuring the magnitude of earthquakes is a common reference point.

5. **Elastic Rebound Theory** (7 occurrences)

   - This theory explains how energy is released during earthquakes.

6. **Measurement and Prediction Methods (Seismometers, P and S waves, Triangulation)** (6 occurrences)

   - Seismometers and methods of predicting and locating earthquakes, such as using P and S waves and triangulation.

7. **Voltaire’s "Candide" and the Lisbon Earthquake** (5 occurrences)

   - This connection is frequently highlighted in literature questions.

8. **Earthquake Scales (Mercalli, Moment Magnitude)** (5 occurrences)

   - Different scales used to measure the intensity and magnitude of earthquakes.

9. **Tsunami Connection** (5 occurrences)

   - Earthquakes as causes of tsunamis, including the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.

10. **Deep-Focus Earthquakes and Wadati-Benioff Zones** (4 occurrences)

    - Earthquakes occurring at significant depths and related to subduction zones.

These elements capture the critical aspects of earthquake events and their significance in various contexts, including historical disasters, scientific measurement, and literary references.