PANCAKING – A process that can occur to a building during an earthquake where the supporting walls
of a building fail and cause the upper floors to collapse onto the floors below. This can eventually
result in all of the floors stacking on top of one another.
The FREQUENCY OF VIBRATION of the seismic waves during an earthquake can result in only certain
height buildings being affected. This occurs if an earthquake has the same frequency of vibration as
the natural sway of a particular building. (These buildings tipped over because of this.)
SOIL LIQUEFACTION - A phenomenon that is most often observed in loose (or uncompacted), sandy
soils that are saturated with water. Due to seismic vibrations (earthquakes), the water works its way
up and in between the soil particles causing them to produce a condition that is practically equivalent
to that of quicksand.
3 Requirements that are necessary for liquefaction to occur:
 Loose, granular sediment
 Water saturated soil
 Strong shaking  (Earthquake)
Here is a brief video explaining SOIL LIQUEFACTION  "CLICK HERE"
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The type of ground material can influence the severity of an earthquake.
* Loose, unconsolidated soil (not compacted)  Seismic waves are amplified (made worse)
* Solid rock, more resistant material (compacted)  Seismic waves are muted (not as bad)
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PARTS OF A WAVE
Tsunami – A large ocean wave that is produced due to the displacement (movement) of water. These
waves move very fast in the open ocean (up to 600 mph – that is jet liner speed!). They are very low
in height in the open ocean (the majority of their energy is hidden below the surface). When they
enter into shallow water near the shoreline they rise up and can reach heights of over 100 feet high.
The destructive force is not in the height of the tsunami but rather in the width of the wave and the
huge volume of water it pounds upon the coastline. They are also known as Seismic Sea Waves.
The 4 main ways that these destructive waves can be created (all displace water):

Earthquake with its epicenter on the ocean floor (This is the most common way)

Underwater volcanic eruption

A landslide that occurs underwater or along the shoreline
(This would be the most likely reason one would hit the East Coast of the United States)

Meteorite Impact
In an effort to provide a warning to coastal residents around the Pacific Ocean there is a
warning system that uses a series of seismographs and buoys to detect these destructive
waves. The system is known as the:
S.S.W.W.S.  Seismic Sea Wave Warning System
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You are also responsible for all of the information found in the textbook:
Section 19.4 plus page 552 pages 545-552