Causes of Earthquakes:

Earthquakes primarily result from geological processes within the Earth. Key causes include:

Tectonic Plate Movements: The Earth’s crust is divided into several tectonic plates. When these plates collide, slide past, or move apart, stress builds up along fault lines. The sudden release of this stress causes earthquakes.

Volcanic Activity: Earthquakes can occur during volcanic eruptions as magma pushes through the Earth’s crust, creating pressure and leading to seismic activity.

Human Activities: Activities such as mining, reservoir-induced seismicity (due to water impoundment), and geothermal energy extraction can induce earthquakes.

Fault Slippage: Over time, accumulated stress along geological faults can lead to slippage, resulting in an earthquake.

Classification of Earthquakes:

Natural Earthquakes:

Tectonic Earthquakes: Caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
Volcanic Earthquakes: Associated with volcanic eruptions.
Induced Earthquakes: Result from human activities, including:

Mining Earthquakes: Triggered by mining operations.
Reservoir-Induced Seismicity: Caused by the filling of large reservoirs.
Micro-Earthquakes: Small magnitude earthquakes, often not felt by humans, detectable only by seismographs.

Tsunami Earthquakes: Undersea earthquakes that can generate tsunamis, leading to widespread destruction.

Understanding these causes and classifications is essential for earthquake preparedness and risk mitigation.