Energy and its Effects
This was a common sight in downtown Christchurch. It is sad to see so much damage and to think that many people were injured.
As we explore Christchurch today, we are constantly reminded of the terrible year that this wonderful city has had. Christchurch has experienced three major earthquakes recently. The first occurred on September 4, 2010. That was a 7.1 magnitude quake, followed by earthquakes on February 22, 2011 and June 13, 2011. Prior to that, Christchurch had not felt the effects of a major earthquake in 80 years.
This crumbled wall remains as evidence of the earthquake. The energy simply vibrated the bricks loose.
Earthquakes are energy traveling through the earth's surface as vibrations. Energy starts deep within the Earth, close to the core and travels outward through the different layers of our planet. The outer surface of planet Earth is called the crust. As the energy travels through the crust, it causes the Earth's surface to vibrate. These vibrations cause the molecules that make up the ground to vibrate in an organized way, sort of like a stadium wave at a baseball game. Because of these organized vibrations, the energy travels very quickly and the effects can be very scary. Scientists call these vibrations energy waves, and in this case mechanical waves. In truth, the ground moves a lot like ripples on water and the buildings on top of the ground receive energy like a seagull bobbing up and down in ocean waves.
Everywhere there are small examples of how the energy moved through the ground and buildings. This sidewalk looks like a ripple on the water.
The problems really begin when the vibrations travel through human-made structures like roads and buildings. Depending upon the age and way a building was constructed, it may not remain standing. Many of the older buildings in downtown Christchurch have been heavily damaged and deemed unsafe for people. It is really sad to see that some of the buildings I visited back in 2005 are no longer here.
Many of the older construction churches faired poorly in the earthquakes. It is a really interesting example of how modern architecture is being built to withstand earthquakes.
Now, a few months since the June quake, Christchurch is rebuilding. The building you see here in the background was the hotel I stayed at in 2005. It was completely destroyed.
This church was destroyed by the mechanical wave moving through the ground. The energy wave had a devastating effect.
My heart is breaking for the wonderful people of Christchurch. This is an amazing city, full of the arts, delicious food, and wonderful people. To see how they have been affected by the earthquakes is a tragedy. There are simply no words to express the sorrow...
Every building in Christchurch had to be inspected for structural integrity, meaning that it is okay for people to live or work in.
Even many months after the earthquakes, roads in many parts of the city are still closed. This is affecting Christchurch's economy and citizens a lot.
I was really touched by this sign of hope that the people of Christchurch will rise from these events.