Earthquakes are caused by vibrations that travel through the Earth's crust. They are measured on scales that indicate their magnitude, or size. The larger the magnitude, the greater the potential damage from ground shaking and seismic waves. This document discusses different types of seismic waves, how the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan was measured, and its effects, which included tsunamis, damage to infrastructure and the environment, and economic impacts.

1. Earthquakes Are Awesome Mathias Vaughan Mrs. Smith 4th April 8, 2011