Inquiry earthquakes and tornadoes

Kia ora

For inquiry we have been working on natural disasters. For the natural disasters we learnt about them first. Then we put are information onto a plan. Then we wrote are information reports on a google doc. We needed 2 information reports on are blog. 

First one: Earthquakes

Earthquakes

An earthquake is when the ground shakes. The tectonic plates make earthquakes. They are like jigsaw

puzzle pieces. There are 20 jigsaw puzzle pieces that move around all the time but we can’t feel it most of

the time.

What are tectonic plates? They are a part of earth under the crust.

If the tectonic plates hit, bump or just slide by each other an earthquake is caused when the tectonic plates

slip by the surface this is called the fault or a fault plane.

There are three different types of earthquakes. The first one is called convergent boundary when one plate

is forced over another. That makes new mountains. The second one is called a divergent boundary when

the plates are drifted apart from each other. It makes new rivers and oceans. The third and last one is

called transform fault and it slips too.

During an earthquake liquefaction is created. It's created by the soil being loosed up during an earthquake

when the tectonic plates move it creates a space between them and then water comes up. When the water

meets the solid dirt turns into mud. In Canterbury we have more liquefaction than would have been

expected because of a combination of factors. 1. Canterbury is built predominantly on sand.2. We are

surrounded by rivers and oceans. 3. Our water table is really high and we have a high annual rainfall.

More liquefaction than would have been expected because of a combination of factors.

What is a seismograph and what does it do? A seismograph tells you how strong the earthquakes are .

Scientists use a seismograph to measure how big the earthquake was and to see if it was strong or not

strong or really tiny. The bigger the number, the more destruction the earthquake causes. A magnitude 4.o

earthquake could shake you home but some people might even notice. A magnitude 9.o and up earthquake

flattens whole cities and causes large amounts of damage.

In conclusion, an earthquake is when the tectonic plates move against each other which causes the ground

to shake and roll. We learned there are three different types of earthquakes. Scientists use a seismograph

to measure how big the earthquake is. Sometimes when big earthquakes happen liquefaction is caused.

Earthquakes are natural disasters that can be very destructive. Also earthquakes are very interesting.

Second one: Tornadoes (Not done)

Tornadoes

Did you know what are tornadoes? Learn more out out in this report.

How are tornadoes are formed? They are formed by a big thunderstorm and cold and warm air

pushing against each other that forms a tornado.

What are the characteristics of a tornado?