Five billion years ago the Earth was formed by a massive conglomeration of space materials. The heat energy released by this event melted the entire planet, and it is still cooling off today. Denser materials like iron (Fe) sank into the core of the Earth, while lighter silicates (Si), other oxygen (O) compounds, and water rose near the surface.
The earth is divided into four main layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. The core is composed mostly of iron (Fe) and is so hot that the outer core is molten, with about 10% sulfur (S). The inner core is under such extreme pressure that it remains solid. Most of the Earth's mass is in the mantle, which is composed of iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O) silicate compounds. At over 1000 degrees C, the mantle is solid but can deform slowly in a plastic manner. The crust is much thinner than any of the other layers, and is composed of the least dense calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) aluminum-silicate minerals. Being relatively cold, the crust is rocky and brittle, so it can fracture in earthquakes. (adapted from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/faq/?faqID=6)
Now what exactly cause the earthquakes?
Depending on whether a neptunist stressed the hollowing and eroding effect of water or a volcanist stressed the activities of firy masses inside the earth, either the collapse of hollowed caves or the sudden burst or slow elevation of the crust by firy magma were preferred as the causes of earthquakes. Some suggest earthquakes are related to electricity or even the position of Earth in relation to other planets. (http://www.univie.ac.at/Wissenschaftstheorie/heat/heat-1/heat002f.htm)
Last year, I have questioned a scientist about the frequency of earthquakes. Basically, he told me that the frequency of earthquakes remains the same in the last few hundred years. In Hong Kong, Protestant pastors often relate the frequency of earthquakes to the end of the world.
四川地震時, 有基督教牧師說什甚麼地震越來越多 又乜野世界沒日 天國將至... 蘇穎智牧師: 末世跡象越來越多顯露出來，天災如四川地震、風災襲台，H1N1流感， 還有多少機會等著我們？ 又甚麼四川民是信佛, 這是神的警告 [1,2].... 大佬呀, 地震年年有, 錦咪天國年年將至? 地球有五億年歴史, "天國將至"都幾耐下. 大家 一起多分析 多思考吧!
[1] http://boxun.com/hero/200806/zhongguogonghedang/2_1.shtml
[2] http://backup-atheist.xanga.com/691218289/%E8%BD%89%E8%BC%89%E6%9F%90%E4%BA%9B%E5%9F%BA%E7%9D%A3%E5%BE%92%E5%B0%8D%E5%9B%9B%E5%B7%9D%E5%9C%B0%E9%9C%87/
[3] http://www.gospelherald.ca/news/gen_1263.htm
Recent Comments