...How Plate Tectonics affected Thailand Monique Cano, Rachael Watkins, Micheal Bocanegra, Manuel Rojo, Griselda Hurtado University of Phoenix GLG/150 Exploration of Earth Sciences DB14ELC06, Tiffany Alvarez July 31, 2014 How Plate Tectonics affected Thailand In the early 20th century, there was a theory developed by meteorologist Alfred Wegener that proposed that all of the continents had once been connected in a single supercontinent called Pangaea. The theory of Plate Tectonics is the theory that the rigid layer of the lithosphere is divided into a couple of dozen plates that move around across the Earth’s surface relative to each other, like slabs on a lake. In geologic terms the word “plate” means a large slab of solid rock and “tectonics” means to build. The words together define how the Earth’s surface is built up of moving plates. The theory says the Earth’s lithosphere is made up of individual plates that are broken into over a dozen large and small pieces of solid rock. The fragments ride next to each other on top of the Earth’s lower mantle that has more fluid. It creates different types of plate boundaries that haves shaped the Earth’s landscape over millions of years. Wegener believed the continents gradually began to drift apart about 300 million years ago. This theory became known as Continental drift. (PBS online 1997) On December 26, 2004 a 9.0 magnitude quake struck under the Indian Ocean near West Coast of the Indonesian...
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...New Planet Jane Doe Some University New Planet Coming into this technologically and scientifically-advanced time has gradually become a constructive and exciting time for scientists and the rest of humankind. In addition to the new technology that has come about, over time there’s no denying that we have uncovered an increasing number of planetary bodies; be it stars and or planets that could possibly sustain life or not at all. Since 2005, scientists have found a vast amount of “super-Earths” which is defined as “…a planet with a mass between 1 and 10 times that of Earth, but less than the mass of the solar systems giant gas planets such as Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter (Live Science, 2011). In some cases the super-Earths are surrounded by water which could verify the likelihood of life forms inhabiting these areas, this information excites astronomers due to the chance that the super-Earths could be fit for the habitation of life in contrast to the gas giants. The search for these Earth-like planets continues to be one of the most sought after missions in the world with new findings every-day in the making, as stated by Keck Observatory, scientists from the Universities of California, Berkeley and Hawaii have come together and mathematically came to the conclusion that 20% of the Sun-like stars in our galaxy have Earth-sized planets that could in fact contain life (Keck Observatory, 2013). The article goes on to state that upon coming to this assumption from the...
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...Plate Tectonics Nicole Anderson GLG/220 Dr. A. Kem Fronabarger November 7, 2011 What is an Earthquake and where do they come from? Many people are unaware of what an actual earthquake is and how they come to be. There are several myths that have been created to help people understand how earthquakes have been produced. In Japan, legend has it the earth is shaken by the movement of a giant catfish hidden in the ground. The Chinese believe that the earth is resting on a giant ox, and in India, one myth suggest that the earth was held in place by four elephants, which were standing on top of a giant turtle, which in turn was standing on top of a giant cobra; whenever one animal moved, the earth is shaking (Zerve, 2000). In the 1960’s we finally found the true cause of earthquakes. The theory of plate tectonics was created. This theory suggests that the earth’s crust consists of “plates” that move relative to one another, and seismic activity is associated mostly with this motion (Zerva, 2000). Most of the earthquake sources are located along the boundaries of these plates. Earthquakes can be very hazardous, so it is important to understand how an earthquake happens and the earthquake preparedness techniques. In order to understand the earthquakes and the tectonic plates, we must first understand the earth and its layers. The earth is made up of three layers: the crust, the mantle and the core (Zerva, 2000). The lithosphere is the crust and upper most solid mantle...
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... January 30, 2011 Stephen Hallin The changing plate interactions and shifting plate junctures, helps us to understand the sedimentary basins. Although plate tectonics is mostly about the horizontal movements of the lithosphere, it also involves large vertical movements which accounts for changes of the crust thickness. Thick sedimentation has to have an initial depression or progressive subsidence to proceed; the auxiliary vertical movements are what mostly control the sedimentary basins (how they evolve). Geographic changes related to the governing horizontal movements also affect patterns of sedimentation strongly. Therefore, sedimentation can be viewed as the result of a succession of discrete plate tectonic settings, and plate interactions whose effects blend into a continuum of development. Sedimentary rocks are composed from deposits of material worn away from pre-existing rocks. “The word sedimentary comes from the Latin word sedimentum, which means settling. They come from the cementation of sediments that result from the erosion of older rocks. The characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks is their stratification or layering. Examples of sedimentary rock include; chalk, coal, limestone, sandstone, and shale” (Geology Circle, N/D). The disintegration of igneous or metamorphic rocks (and their re-solidification sedimentation) forms these rocks. They form layer-upon-layer in a somewhat horizontal plate. Once...
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...how and why earthquakes occur. Studying where, how, and why the earth shakes can give people more knowledge into preparing for and recovering from earthquake disasters. Although scientists cannot predict short-term forecasting with any true accuracy, they can determine which areas are at risk of experiencing a substantial earthquake through long-term forecasting (Murck, Skinner, & Mackenzie, 2008). Earthquakes are a result of two tectonic plates moving past one another. Because the plates do not slide past each other smoothly often the edges of the plates, or plate boundaries, stick together whereas the rest of the block continues to move (Wald, 2009). The plate boundaries are comprised of numerous faults, and it is along the faults where the majority of earthquakes occur (Murck, Skinner, & Mackenzie, 2008). The energy that normally forces the plates to the move past one another begins to store until the power of the parts of the plates still in motion overcome the friction caused by the parts that are stuck and release the plate (Wald, 2009). The result is a release of the stored energy that then radiates as seismic waves in all directions (Murck, Skinner, & Mackenzie, 2008). The amount of pent up energy determines the size of the earthquake and the resulting seismic waves. When the seismic waves reach the Earth's surface the ground shakes as the Earth continues to move through the wave (Wald, 2009). The destruction caused by an earthquake is the consequence...
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...to her west. Along the North and Northwest, and through the Black Sea she has the following countries bordering: Russia, Ukraine, and Romania. To the East she has the following countries bordering: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. Finally to the South she has Syria and Iraq bordering her. Lastly, the following bodies of water divide her and they include: the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus (Index Mundi. com, 2013). Izmir, just like the entire country of Turkey, has many disadvantages primarily due to their geological weakness known as the Aegean plate boundaries (Komuscu, 1995). Turkey sits literally amid two massive tectonic plates. The Eurasia and The Africa/Arabia, which are inevitably hurtling into one another, from the north towards the south. The Anatolian plate, where the Turkish mainland lies, is being clutched upwardly near the Aegean Sea (Kutluca A. K., 2004). Both plates are located directly below Turkey and thus lead to this country’s massive history of avalanches, floods, landslides, droughts and earthquakes (Orhon, 1991). A 7.2 Mw earthquake had once...
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...of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and/or plate movements. It has 452 volcanoes and is home to over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes. It is sometimes called the circum-Pacific belt or the circum-Pacific seismic belt. About 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire. The next most seismically active region (5–6% of earthquakes and 17% of the world's largest earthquakes) is the Alpide belt, which extends from Java to Sumatra through theHimalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the third most prominent earthquake belt. The Ring of Fire is a direct result of plate tectonics and the movement and collisions of lithospheric plates. The eastern section of the ring is the result of the Nazca Plate and the Cocos Plate being subducted beneath the westward moving South American Plate. The Cocos Plate is being subducted beneath the Caribbean Plate, in Central America. A portion of the Pacific Plate along with the small Juan de Fuca Plate are being subducted beneath the North American Plate. Along the northern portion, the northwestward-moving Pacific plate is being subducted beneath the Aleutian Islandsarc. Farther west, the Pacific plate is being subducted along the Kamchatka Peninsula arcs on south past Japan. The southern portion is more complex, with a number of smaller tectonic plates in collision with the Pacific...
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...Haiti Earthquake of 2010– Vulnerabilities and Resiliency On the 12th of January in 2010 at 4.53 pm Haiti was struck by a massive earthquake that is considered as one of the deadliest earthquakes in the western hemisphere in a century (Chinn, 2011). According to The Haiti Earthquake (2013) it killed 220.000 people, injured 250.000 people and left more than a million homeless. The earthquakes’ characteristics: There are several different aspects of Haiti earthquake that amplified its impact. First of all, Haiti is located on the edge of the Caribbean plate that crushes into the Atlantic plate (The Haiti Earthquake, 2013). This area is known for its tectonic activities as the plates are constantly moving and creating friction between them,...
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...in any number of disasters. Some disasters cause more loss of life than others, and population density affects the death count as well. Prediction of earthquake Long term forecasting founded on the knowledge of place where the earthquakes have taken place previously. In order to study the occurrence of earthquake, the knowledge of the current tectonic setting, geological records and the history records are analyzed critically to establish locations and occurrence intervals of earthquake. Pale seismology and seismic gaps are the most crucial aspect when carrying out analysis. Paleoseismology is the study of the earthquakes that have occurred before. Through the analysis of the offset in layers of sediment near the fault zones, it becomes very easy to predict the occurrence intervals of earthquakes. If it is established that earthquakes have interval recurrence of a hundred years, and there is no available records of earthquakes in the last 100 years, then a long- term forecast is done. Through the effect, effort can be undertaken to minimize seismic risk. (Davis, L. 2008). Seismic gaps It is a zone along an active area that is tectonic with no recent occurrence of an earthquake, also known as elastic strain accumulating a rock. Identification of a seismic gap in a particular region makes it easy to predict the likelihood of large earthquake occurring in that place in future (Madan, K. J. 2010). Short-term...
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...COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY NATURAL CALAMITIES Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods can often come at the least expected time. Others, such as hurricanes and cyclones are increasing in severity and destruction. Typically, the poor are the worst hit for they have the least resources to cope and rebuild. As the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake has made all too clear, natural disasters can be very difficult to predict and fully prepare against, and have incredibly far-reaching consequences for the safety and wellbeing of individuals and communities. As in previous natural disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Australian bushfires in 2009, the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2010 Pakistan floods, the impacts on people and society in affected areas are immediate and overwhelming. Such catastrophes tend to worsen pre-existing problems and inequalities, with vulnerable parts of the population often disproportionately impacted. For instance, initial estimates suggest that 65% of the deaths from the recent disaster in Japan were of people aged 60 or over. The consequences can be felt for many years, with people suffering as refugees or being displaced within their own country, their livelihoods destroyed, and facing long-term health issues. Over the past two years, 700 natural disasters were registered worldwide affecting more than 450 million people, according to a new IMF study. Damages have risen from an estimated...
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...JAPAN’S CULTURE JAPAN’S CULTURE History Japan has a very colorful history filled with rulers such as samurai warriors and emperor kings. The samurai warrior ruled Japan in the twelfth century and was a distinctive social class. The samurai tradition was mainly about war. The samurai tradition consisted of singling out a worthy opponent for a challenge. They would wait until enemy lines were broken and then enter into single combat. People began to develop battlefields to fight and would have battles several times to establish territory. (Clode, 2011) This was the beginning of the fighting and war that continued in Japan for centuries to come. Throughout Japan’s history it saw the rise and fall of many emperors that ruled the country. Through most of the history of Japan they had a policy that their borders were locked to the outside world and they did not allow foreigners in their country. This same policy applied to the Japanese people and they were not allowed to leave the country. The early emperors in Japan ruled the country by engaging in wars and the country was primarily run as an imperial and military rule. (Facts About Japan, 2013) After many years of declaring war on countries in nineteen thirty seven Japan declared war on China. This war led to the nineteen forty two attack that Japan launched in the United States on Pearl Harbor. After almost eight years of war atomic bombs were dropped on Japan bringing this war to an end. After Japan surrendered...
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...and nickel Mantle: composed of oxygen, silicon, magnesium, aluminum Crust: composed of sodium and potassium rich silicate rocks Upper 100-350 km of upper mantle makes up asthenosphere: fluid layer due to heating from core Plate tectonics Earth’s uppermost layer, the lithosphere, broken up into 7 plates due to movement of asthenosphere underneath Plate tectonics- name for dynamic interactions of these plates Plate boundaries 3 types: divergent, covergent, and transform Divergent boundaries: tension from deep earth pulls two plates away from each other, allowing lava to upwell through the cracks and create new seafloor Covergent boundaries: two plates coming together as stress pushes plates toward each other- one plate forced under another in a subduction zone Transform boundaries: two plates slide past each other horizontally-frequent cause of destructive forces like earthquakes The nature of earthquakes Cause = abrupt movements on faults Fractures in earths lithosphere Normal fault- block above the fault has moved downward relative to the black below Reverse fault- upper block, above the fault plane, moves up and over the lower block (aka thrust fault) Right lateral strike slip fault- two blocks slide past one another Earths crustal plates move Stress produces strain which cause earthquake Stressed rocks store strain energy Elastic rebound theory Harold F Reid When there is sufficient strain energy in rocks, they may rupture (rubber band) Stored strain energy...
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...the right to produce a cheaper generic version. India’s Intellectual Property Appellate Board has since set aside the decision and has directed the Patent Office to reassess the case. In China, meanwhile, the government has been slashing drug prices to reduce health care costs. Beijing established price ceilings on essential drugs in 2009 and lowered the ceiling by around 30% in 2011, and it has pledged to expand the list of essential drugs to more than 500 medications by 2014. Such moves pose major risks for a multinational company like Pfizer: Lower prices create disincentives for quality control, and China’s hospitals, which rely on drug sales for profits, are pushing inexpensive locally made products. Until 2008 going global seemed to make sense for just about every company in the world. Western markets were extremely competitive, population expansion had slowed and incomes had flattened, and corporate operating costs were rising. Developing nations, by contrast, boasted population growth, rising salaries, relatively low wages, and a welcoming climate for foreign January–February 2014 Harvard Business Review 103 THE GLOBE Map Your Industry The Rise of State Capitalism in Emerging Markets State capitalism, which distorts the workings of free markets and...
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...robotics, elevator to space, clean energy, smart thermostat, and smart contact lens are the unique possibilities to the future and mankind. In the past five years, Google has been known for acquisitioning robotic companies in order to develop their own robotics division; this Research and Development (R&D) laboratory is called Google X. Little is known about Google X and their doings, for security and privacy, just what is permitted and released by their Public Relations office. One of their most important acquisitions was Boston Dynamics who formally worked on robotics projects for the Pentagon (Smith, 2014). Google X is focusing on developing robots to perform the most ordinary of simple tasks around the home and workplace (Mack, 2011). But a more positive aspect is Google’s contribution to the War on Terrorism with their AlphaDog which is currently in training with the Marine Corps. This robot looking dog can be seen as a mule carrying large loads over unfriendly terrain, extremely helpful and import to the Marine mission (Love, 2014). With the much recent procurement of robotic companies there is an underlying tone that suggests that more attention will be pursued in robotics, giving the well-deserved attention needed to boost the...
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...Perspectives Disaster Management in South-east Asia Udai Bhanu Singh * According to the International Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences: South-east Asia is the epicentre of frequent disasters of varying intensity. The damage to life and property caused by these disasters is comparable to that caused by war. Disasters disrupt the national economy and social development. Besides, the world has shrunk and news about the hardship suffered by the people is rapidly disseminated. As such, the management of disasters has become a key concern of governments confronted with an increasingly aware civil society and a shorter reaction time. Often when disaster strikes, it impacts more than one country and sometimes the region as a whole. The intensity and the frequency of such disasters have prompted the ASEAN to evolve its own response mechanism. However, often the scale of the disaster is so huge that only an international response can meet the challenge. In such cases, the international community, acting through the United Nations and its various agencies and other inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies, has provided succour. Although disasters can be natural, technological and conflictrelated, this paper addresses only natural disasters in the region. A natural hazard is an extreme natural phenomenon that threatens human lives, activities or property, or the environment of life. Natural disasters are the destructive consequences of extreme natural hazards, and globally...
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