NEWS

A shallow and strong earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck the Myanmar-India border region

MAHITI FOR PRELIMS

CLASSIFICATION OF EARTHQUAKES

1. BASED ON LOCATION

• Interplate – An interplate earthquake is one that occurs at a plate boundary. They release less stress & are dissipated quickly because of weaker rocks near plate boundaries.
• Intraplate -An intraplate earthquake is an earthquake that occurs in the interior of a tectonic plate. They release more stress

2. BASED ON FOCAL DEPTH

• Shallow focus earthquakes: Earthquakes having a depth of focus 55 km or less are known as shallow earthquakes.
• Intermediate focus earthquakes: Earthquakes having a depth of focus ranging from 55 km to 300 km.
• Deep focus earthquakes: Earthquakes, which have a depth of focus between 300 to 650 km.

3.BASED ON THE CAUSE

• Non Tectonic Earthquakes: These are due to volcanic activities and manmade reasons e.g, nuclear testing, blasts, construction of large dams, deforestation etc
• Tectonic Earthquakes: These are due to sudden slip in the fault of the tectonic plates of the earth.