What Is A Tectonic Earthquake? The Following Are The Processes Of Occurrence And The Imposing Impacts

Illustration of tectonic earthquake (photo; Pixabay dock)

YOGYAKARTA - Indonesia is an area prone to natural disasters of earthquakes because it is located at a plate meeting and is in a ring area. Some time ago there was an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 that rocked Cianjur. As a result of the earthquake, many victims died and buildings were damaged to collapse. On Thursday (8/12) morning, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 rocked the Sukabumi area, West Java.

The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said the shock was a tectonic earthquake. What is a tectonic earthquake? Tectonic earthquakes are earthquakes caused by the movement of tectonic plates. This earthquake can cause soil cracks, land subsidence, ground movement, and tsunamis.

Tectonic earthquakes occur due to the presence of two earth plates that shift or move away from each other. The movement will form a new plate between the two. The weight of the new plate is much smaller than the old type of plate.

The new plates formed are under pressure from two old plates. As a result, the plates become moving downwards and give rise to a very large release of energy. In addition to moving away, the movement of the plates that approach each other can also cause earthquake vibrations.

Types of earthquakes are also distinguished based on their depth. Here are the types of earthquakes.

A shallow earthquake is an earthquake with a depth of less than 60 km from the surface of the earth. This type of earthquake will generally cause great damage.

Medium earthquakes are earthquakes from a depth of between 60 km to 300 km below the earth's surface. This type of earthquake will usually cause light damage and feel more vibration.

An earthquake in the interior is an earthquake that is at a depth of more than 300 km below the earth's surface (in the earth's crust). This type of earthquake is generally not too dangerous or the impact is not large.

Earthquakes are also distinguished based on the source. The following types of earthquakes are based on the source.

Volcanic earthquakes occur due to magma activity on a volcano. Magma activity usually occurs before the volcano erupts. Volcano that is in higher activity will experience an explosion that will also cause an earthquake. This type of earthquake rocked the area around the volcano.

Tectonic earthquakes occur due to a shift in two tectonic plates that stay away from each other or approach each other. This type of earthquake often occurs in Indonesia because it is in a plate bed. Tectonic earthquakes can cause considerable damage.

Artificial earthquakes are earthquakes caused by human activity, including nuclear explosions, explosions, or hammers that are hit the earth's surface.

Collision earthquakes are earthquakes caused by the collapse of an area, such as forest or lime mountains and mining areas. Earthquakes of this type are very rare and local in nature.

The impact earthquake was caused by a meteor collision or an asteroid that fell to the earth. This type of earthquake is very rare.

That is an explanation of the tectonic earthquake and the process of its occurrence. Tectonic earthquakes can cause large damage and cause dangerous conditions, such as tsunamis, landslides, ground cracks. These conditions can cause many casualties and damage to buildings.