The magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Jishishan, Gansu, was 5 kilometers away from the epicenter of the provincial border in Qinghai Province. The earthquake was felt strongly in many places in Qinghai.
In Jintian Village, Zhongchuan Township, Haidong Minhe County, Qinghai Province, a local sand surge was triggered by an earthquake. What is a sand surge? Where do sand surges come from? Why is it so destructive? Let’s listen to the introduction by Han Yanyan, senior engineer of China Seismological Network Center.
Strong earthquakes can easily cause sand surges
Han Yanyan, senior engineer at the China Seismological Network Center:After many major earthquakes, the so-called "sand surge phenomenon" will appear. After a strong earthquake occurs, due to the vibration of the earth's crust, the water-bearing sand deep underground will undergo a strong liquefaction phenomenon. This liquefied sand layer will be squeezed along certain channels and will directly reach the surface. Forming the "sand surge phenomenon" we see.
The amount of sand inrush is related to the water content of the aquifer and the degree of extrusion deformation
Han Yanyan, senior engineer at the China Seismological Network Center:During the process of extrusion and deformation, there may be more aquifers underground. Sand surges will occur during the extrusion process, which is related to the water content of the underground aquifer and the degree of extrusion deformation, so there may be more or less sand. A large number of sand surges does not necessarily mean that there may be a major earthquake in the future; the absence of sand surges does not mean that the future will be safe; this is not directly related and is just a normal phenomenon.
Source: CCTV News
Editor: Zhao Yang
