6.3 Earthquakes in Turkey

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 2

What does this image have to do with Chapter 6?

6.3 Earthquakes in Turkey

Turkey is geologically active!

It contains: 

• Earthquakes 
  
• Volcanoes 
  
• Volcanic tuff landscapes 
  
• Limestone terraces  

This is mainly because of plate tectonics - what are these again?

Plate tectonics

• The Earth's surface is made up of large plates (like pieces of a jigsaw).
• These plates are constantly travelling at a few centimetres per year.
  
• The ocean floors are spreading from the centre and sinking at the edges.
  
• Convection currents beneath the plates move the plates in different directions
  

Why do earthquakes occur in Turkey?

Active Earth

The earthquakes in Turkey can be explained by plate tectonics: 

• African and Arabian plates collide with Eurasian plate.
  
• The Anatolian plate in-between is pushed west.
  
• Tension in the Earth’s crust along the North Anatolian Fault.
  

Izmit - 1999

7.4 on the Richter Scale

17,000 lives lost

Istanbul - 20??

?? on the Richter Scale

??????? lives lost

01:47

Why is population density an important factor to think of when talking about Earthquakes?

02:06

What is the name given to the neighbourhoods where the houses were built by the residents themselves?

02:43

Why will there be so many deaths & casualties in Istanbul if an Earthquake was to occur?

03:44

What can be done to reduce the number of deaths & casualties?

What can be done?

Earthquake-proof buildings in urban renewal programmes

(can you remember this from B1?!)

Also earthquakes in south-east Turkey, near East Anatolian Fault.

Volcanism

Turkey was affected by volcanism (gas, ash, lava & rock escapes through openings in the earth) in the past.

  

Great Ararat and Small Ararat in Eastern Turkey.

How natural ‘chimneys’ formed in Cappadocia: 

1. Ash and debris (tuff) and lava were thrown out during an eruption.
   
2. The soft tuff disappeared at many places because of erosion.
   
3. Lumps of hard lava protected the underlying tuff.
   
4. Natural pillars formed.
   

How the limestone terraces of Pamukkale formed:

1. Hot spring water rose from faults deep in the Earth.
   
2. There was lime in the water.
   
3.  The lime was left behind on the surface.
   
4. It formed layers (terraces) on the mountain slope.
   

Knowledge check:
Why are people worried about Istanbul?

1. It is likely that it will flood
2. It is likely that there will be a tropical storm there
3. It is likely that there will be a big earthquake there
4. It is likely that a volcano will erupt there

Why is it likely that a large earthquake will happen in Istanbul?

1. It is near volcanoes
2. It is along a plate tectonic boundary
3. It has not happened there for a while
4. It is a megacity

Why will loss of life/damage be high in Istanbul?

1. People live in self build neighbourhoods
2. It has a high population density
3. There are not many earthquake proof structures
4. All of the above

Which of the following does not relate to the term 'volcanism'

1. richter scale
2. gas
3. lava
4. ash

Which place is shown in the image?

Which sedimentary rock has been created in this location?

Independent work/homework

• Create a key term list for 6.3
• Complete the workbook tasks for 6.3
• Create a mini-summary/use the fill in the gap sheet for 6.3
• Do not forget about the SO assignment!