Gaiya’s hypothesis points to the earth as a living. The elements that support human life on earth, starting with the lithosphere and ending with hydrogen, argue that the earth is also like a living being, it’s just that this hypothesis cannot be scientifically proven. But to say that the earth is old is not only to brag. Just as the human body is aging and experiencing a functional decline, it is most often affected by the disease. The same goes for the earth on which humans live.
It is undeniable that since the beginning of 2023, earthquakes have affected many regions of the earth. In Indonesia, throughout 2023, there have been at least 11 large-scale earthquakes, the last of which occurred in Jayapura with a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter scale. Meanwhile, at the global level, Turkey and Syria are still struggling to recover from the earthquake that killed as many as 36,000 people on February 14, with estimates of physical damage not yet calculated. Natural disasters like earthquakes, which have become more and more massive in recent times, have, of course, increased self-consciousness in society. Aside from this fear, earthquakes also cause a lot of damage and loss, both on goods and lives. Natural earthquakes are never caused by man. Yet humans can still learn this. In 2023, seismic registers will be completed with the results of the earth’s natural activity.
The reason that the land is old may always be a valid argument today. This old earth makes the tectonic forces that exist below the Earth’s surface stronger. These tectonic forces can set off earthquakes when the plates of the earth cooled.
The causes and effects of the earthquake
Small-scale earthquakes are not always innocuous, but large-scale earthquakes are certainly more dangerous. The structure of the soil and the area of a site influence how earthquakes may damage the site.
Earthquakes are vibrations or shocks which come from inside the earth. The natural cause is the movement of the terrestrial crust. The Earth consists of many different layers, which consist of the heart of the Earth (liquid or solid), the mantle, the Earth’s crust, and the lithosphere. Each layer has different properties and features. The lithosphere is the outermost layer and is made up of tectonic plates that come and go. When tectonic plaques move, they cause earthquakes. Earthquakes can also happen due to volcanic activity, where magma from inside the earth enters the surface.
An earthquake is a natural phenomenon that may cause serious environmental damage. Earthquakes have the potential to cause a variety of impacts, not only damage to physical structures, but also damage to the environment. Earthquakes can cause a variety of negative environmental effects, including pollution and damage to ecosystems.
First, earthquakes have the potential to contaminate the environment. Earthquakes will cause the breakdown of physical structures such as buildings, roads, and bridges, which will cause hazardous materials such as asbestos, chemicals, and waste to spread into the environment and cause environmental pollution. In addition, earthquakes can also lead to dangerous gas leaks, such as poisonous and irritating gases. It can irritate the respiratory tract, nervous system and skin and cause poisoning.
Second, earthquakes can wreak havoc on the ecosystem. Earthquakes can cause turbulence in sea water, which can lead to loss of habitat and even death of marine animals. This can result in the loss of valuable habitats that contain many organisms. What’s more, earthquakes can also cause damage to forests, especially on mountain slopes. Earthquakes have the potential to destroy trees in forests, resulting in the loss of habitat for many wildlife.
Third, earthquakes may cause environmental damage as a result of tsunamis. Tsunamis are large oceanic waves due to earthquakes. Tsunamis can wreak havoc on the environment. Tsunamis can destroy buildings, bridges and roads, resulting in environmental damage. In addition, tsunamis may also cause damage to the ecosystem, such as loss of habitat for birds, fish and other animals.
Fourth, earthquakes can harm the environment because of landslides. A landslide is a natural process in which the ground, rock and other materials are washed away by water or wind. Earthquakes have the potential to cause avalanches and environmental damage. Landslides may flood areas adjacent to the landslide site, resulting in the death of plants and animals in the area. Landslides can also result in the release of hazardous waste into the environment, which can cause further damage to the environment.
Fifth, earthquakes can wreak havoc on the environment. Lahars is a blend of water, rock, earth and other materials from volcanic eruptions. Lahars can cause great environmental damage. Lahars can cause flooding of surrounding areas, which can make the soil infertile and cause habitat loss for wild animals. In addition, lava can also cause the release of hazardous materials into the environment, which can cause greater environmental damage.
The impact of environmental damage due to earthquakes is very dangerous and can cause irreplaceable losses. Environmental damage due to earthquakes can cause habitat losses for animals, infertility in the soil, and environmental pollution. Therefore, it is important to make efforts to prevent and control the impact of environmental damage due to earthquakes. These efforts include raising awareness of the impact of earthquakes, installing earthquake information delivery systems, and developing technology to minimize the impact of environmental damage. This is important to do to reduce the impact of environmental damage due to earthquakes that may occur in the future.
Can Human Manage the Earthquake?
At least very strong earthquakes occurred between the years 1900 and 2000. The largest earthquake of the 20th century, measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale, struck Chile in 1860. Earthquakes increased in frequency after that. Even though earthquakes are more frequent now than they were a century ago, nobody can stop them or come up with any strategies to stop them from happening. All that people can do to reduce losses is make an effort to adjust to earthquake conditions and keep researching earthquake incidents. And the dangers. Seismological experts have frequently offered predictions about earthquakes based on research. It’s only the human habit that’s human nature to reflect and become more watchful after the bad things happened.
