HomeArticles*IssuesThe Breathing Earth

The Breathing Earth

Engr. Carlos M. Villaraza helps us to understand the law of nature, in regard to earthquakes which is his line of expertise.

In Greek mythology, Poseidon is the god of earthquakes. Whenever he is in a bad mood and strikes the ground with a trident, it causes earthquakes. In Japanese mythology, Namazu, a giant catfish, causes earthquakes. In the Philippines, we have the legend of Bernardo Carpio. Trapped between two rocks in the mountains of Montalban, he cannot escape due to the spell cast by an “engkantado” (shaman). Whenever an earthquake occurs in the area, it is caused by Bernardo trying to free himself from the mountain.

Science helps us unlock the mystery of creation and understand the laws of nature better. There are so many other related mysteries in creation that we can discover if we look beyond things. Earthquakes are signs that the earth is still alive and breathing. These are features which can be termed simply as “safety valves,” designed for our own good. Once earthquakes no longer occur, two possible things may happen: the earth will be gradually absorbed by the sun or it may be thrown out of its orbit.

These can be explained mathematically by centrifugal and centripetal forces.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.

And there was evening, and there was morning, the first day. (GEN 1:1-10) Earthquakes are necessary and are a part of God’s creative action. The movement of tectonic plates, releases the stresses caused by the “breathing” of the earth. From these, mountains are built and the ecosystem is maintained. We have the volcanoes that release the built-up pressure underneath the earth

(See Figure 1).

The process involved is similar to the valve of the pressure cooker that releases steam within upon reaching a certain pressure. Tsunamis are also good for balancing the distribution of micro-organisms. If these are not redistributed, then many other sea creatures and plants will die. Don’t we also stir the coffee with milk and sugar so we can enjoy its taste?

Earthquakes are caused by the movement of the earth’s crust. On the earth’s surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and sometimes displacing the ground. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed may be displaced sufficiently to cause a tsunami.

Earthquakes do not kill, but buildings do. Buildings collapse because of improper design or poor construction. How can this be prevented? Let’s hire good structural engineers who can design houses and buildings well. Here we can see the importance of education and the corresponding responsibility of the young to study well. Knowledge does not come
like magic. God can only reveal the mystery of His creation if we are sensitive to doing His Will moment by moment. It is only then that He can make us participate in His creative work.

Choose contractors who have experience in building structures properly and who are honest. Unnecessary cost cutting can result in serious consequences after an earthquake – your house may be severely damaged enough that it needs to be rebuilt. Many of the structures that collapsed during earthquakes could have withstood these natural events if the contractors did not cut costs amounting to only 5% at the most.
What do we need to do now?

If you are in doubt, call a structural engineer to make a “Rapid Evaluation” of your building. If it is a house, you can do it yourself by going to the webpage of PHIVOLCS and download “How Safe is my House?” If your house is not safe, do call a structural engineer to make a “Rapid Evaluation”!

Earthquake engineering has advanced so rapidly that we can prevent disasters by following the Building Code. Generally, we will experience at least three major earthquakes in our lifetime here in the Philippines. How about the “Big One” which we often hear about when Bernardo Carpio awakes? We have enough time to prepare for this.

So, ACT NOW! It is not expensive.

Carlito Villaraza

*Carlos M. Villaraza is an Earthquake Engineering Consultant and has been involved in the review of the earthquake provisions of the National Structural Code of the Philippines since 1987, the APEC Building Code Harmonization (1996-2002) and the ISO (2000). A graduate of B.S. Civil Engineering from the University of Santo Tomas – Manila (1976), he received his Post-Graduate Diploma in Earthquake Engineering from the International Institute for Seismology and Earthquake Engineering in Japan (1986). (Refer to WEBSITE: www. geoseedphil.com)

DONATE TO NEW CITY PRESS PH

New City Press Philippines offers all its articles for free; we would appreciate a small donation to help us continue serving you with relevant content.

For donations please click the donate button. 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here


Must Read