This theory lead to a belief in earthquake weather, that because a large amount of air was trapped underground, the weather would be hot and calm before an earthquake. A later theory stated that earthquakes occurred in calm, cloudy conditions, and were usually preceded by strong winds, fireballs, and meteors. There is no connection between weather and earthquakes. They are the result of geologic processes within the earth and can happen in any weather and at any time during the year. A seismologist is a person who studies earthquakes and the mechanics of the earth.
Earthquakes release a tremendous amount of energy, which is why they can be so destructive.
The table below shows magnitudes with the approximate amount of TNT needed to release the same amount of energy. The destructive forces of an earthquake depends on many factors. Large earthquakes commonly occur in remote areas of the world, with no buildings or people, and are not destructive. There is no known way to prevent earthquakes, but it is possible to lessen the impact. The amount of devastation from an earthquake can be greatly diminished by building structures using earthquake resistant design, making the interiors of buildings safe from falling objects, and educating people about earthquake safety.