Earthquakes,Volcanoes,and Tsunamis

Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis, written by Elizabeth Austin.

《地震、火山与海啸》，伊丽莎白·奥斯汀 著

Introduction. The ground and the ocean are usually peaceful, but forces deep within the earth can suddenly cause earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis. In this book, you will read about these events and the forces that cause them.

引言 大地和海洋通常十分平静，但地球深处的力量会突然引发地震、火山和海啸 在这本书里，你会了解这些地质活动以及引发它们的地球力量

Deep within the Earth, the top layer of Earth is made of giant pieces of rock, like the pieces of a puzzle. The pieces of rock, called plates, make up continents and ocean floors. Where the plates come together, there are often cracks and gaps called faults.

地球最外层由一块块巨大的岩石构成，就像拼图的碎片一样 这些岩石块叫做板块，组成了大陆和海底 板块交汇的地方常常存在裂缝和缺口，我们称之为断层

Underneath the plates, the earth is very hot. It is so hot that rock melts into a liquid called magma. The plates float on top of this liquid magma. The magma is always moving, dragging the plates around with it. At the edges of the moving plates, three different things can happen. If the plates are moving against each other, one plate slides over or under the other plate. Figure 1. If the plates are moving past each other, the edges of the plates grind together. Figure 2. And if the plates are moving apart, they make a gap where magma comes out. Figure 3.

板块下方的地球内部温度非常高 温度高到岩石熔化成一种叫做岩浆的液体 板块就漂浮在液态岩浆的上方 岩浆始终在流动，带动着板块四处移动 移动的板块边缘会发生三种不同的情况 如果板块相向运动，一个板块会滑到另一个板块的上方或者下方 图1 如果板块交错擦过，板块边缘会相互摩擦挤压 图2 如果板块相互分离，就会形成缺口，岩浆从这里涌出 图3

Earthquakes, terrible trembling. Sometimes the plates get caught on each other and cannot move. The pressure and energy build up. Then, suddenly, the rocks give way. The ground shakes. Far above, people feel an earthquake.

地震，可怕的抖动 有时候板块会卡在一起，无法移动 压力和能量不断积聚 接着，岩石突然承受不住断裂开来 地面开始摇晃 生活在地面上的人们就感受到了地震

Some earthquakes are small and harmless, but sometimes the shaking is so strong that buildings crumble, bridges collapse, and large cracks open in the ground.

有些地震很轻微，不会造成伤害，但有时震动会极为强烈，导致建筑碎裂、桥梁坍塌，地面裂开巨大的口子