Week Three: Earhtquakes.

The country I am researching is El Salvador. My country does not lay on one specific tectonic plate but it does have a complex system of plates overriding that are the main cause for it being close to one of the most seismic zones in the world (Article1). This is the reason that this country experiences so many earthquakes. The map below illustrates the impact that the seismic activity has on this country.





  As noted above the fact that the Caribbean plate is overriding the Coco's which both create subduction zones that produce numerous Earthquakes. The Caribbean plate creates Shallow intraplate earthquakes in the earth’s crust, when it is overriding the Cocos plate. On the other hand the Cocos plate produces intraplate earthquakes but at a deeper level in the earth when the plates is sub ducting under the Caribbean plate (Article2).  The largest earthquake in the country’s history sequence actually occurred in 2001 which was a 7.6 magnitude earthquake. Since then the country has recognized that they are in a vulnerable area and are susceptible to natural hazards and earthquakes. They have actually taken measures to make sure that the safety of their people are a top priority. For example, the implementation of disaster risk management development plan to make sure that they have the necessary funds available to render aid to the people effected. Another example is the implementation of public risk and mitigation to teach the people about safety against natural disasters (Article3). Furthermore, the increase in seismic, hydrological meteorological monitoring stations from 95 to 267. Ultimately, this will help them curve future human casualties and infrastructure loss as well as make them stronger as a whole.

Works Cited:

1.       http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Earthquake2001ElSalvador.html

2.      http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/2001/2001_02_13.php

3.      http://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2015/09/22/better-disaster-risk-management-for-el-salvador.print