Any accident that produces numerous injuries could overwhelm local emergency medical resources. I. Earthquakes 1. Types of Measurement Magnitude - The vibrations of an earthquake can be measured by instruments, or if the shocks are strong enough, by humans and animals. The amplitude of an instrumental recording of an earthquake on a seismograph determines the magnitude. The Richter Scale is the most commonly reported by the media.
Reports describe the degree of ground shaking at a given place.
Earthquake Effects Ground shaking - The vibration of the ground during an earthquake. Surface Faulting - The movement of the two sides of the surface fracture. Ground Failures - Liquefaction results in the collapse of certain granular soils and enhances soil settlement. Land Slides - Rock falls and slides of rock fragments that form on steep slopes. Tsunamis - Water waves caused by sudden vertical movements of the sea floor.