LIQUEFACTION
By Anton Antonio
August 25, 2015
This is not to add another worrisome term to the wide array
of terms related to earthquakes… the term is “liquefaction”. This term, however, has to be popularized to
create a higher degree of awareness amongst us.
Liquefaction is a phenomenon in which the strength and
stiffness of soil is reduced by earthquake shaking which could result in
tremendous amounts of damage during an actual earthquake. “Liquefaction is a term used in materials
sciences to refer to any process which either generates a liquid from a solid
or a gas, or generates a non-liquid phase which behaves in accordance with
fluid dynamics. Liquefaction occurs both
as part of natural processes, and in man-made processes used in science and
commerce. For example, “(a) major
commercial application of liquefaction is the liquefaction of air to allow
separation of the constituents, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and the other noble
gasses”, while another application is the conversion of solid coal into liquid
form usable as a substitute for liquid fuels.” (Wikipedia)
More than the commercial application of liquefaction, we
will be more concerned about liquefaction as a geological phenomenon. “In geology, soil liquefaction refers to the
process by which water-saturated, unconsolidated sediments are transformed into
a substance that acts like a liquid, often in an earthquake. By undermining the foundations and base
courses of infrastructure, liquefaction can cause serious damage.” (Wikipedia)
The following is additional researched information on
liquefaction…
“MANILA, Philippines – With the anticipated magnitude 7.2
earthquake triggered by the West Valley Fault along areas in Metro Manila and
nearby provinces, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(Phivolcs) warned residents living in areas where the ground is prone to
liquefaction. During the earthquake
preparedness forum in Malabon organized by the City of Malabon and Assistance
and Cooperation for Community Resilience and Development/ACCORD last June,
Kathleen Papiona of Phivolcs said liquefaction is among the other hazards
caused by earthquake. Other hazards are
ground rupture, ground shaking, fire, landslide and tsunami. “Liquefaction is a phenomenon, when loosely
consolidated sediments soil deposits lost their strength and appeared to flow
as fluids,” Papiona said. Te phenomenon
is triggered by strong ground shaking and is commonly observes near rivers,
bays, and other bodies of water since it occurs in water-saturated soils. Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr. said
coastal areas in the cities of Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Caloocan, Malabon,
Navotas, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Las Pinas and the municipality of Pateros are prone
to liquefaction. Aside from Metro
Manila, Solidum said several areas in the provinces of Pampanga and Nueva Ecija
are also susceptible to liquefaction according to the findings of a 2004 study
conducted by Phivolcs and the Metro Manila Development Authority.” ---
Philstar.com
Last July 30, 2015, the Metro Manila Development Authority
(MMDA) embarked on a project dubbed as “Metro Manila Shake”. This is a very important project aimed at
preparing the “Big City” for the “Big One”… a magnitude 7.0 PLUS earthquake
which is largely being predicted to occur anytime sooner or later. Another phenomenon we have to contend with is
liquefaction.
Thoughts to
promote positive action…
(Please
visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/
and http://twitter.com/EarthCrusader.)
REFERENCE:
Philstar.com, (2015).
“Infographic: Liquefaction Potential Map Metro Manila”. Retrieved on August 26, 2015 from http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/08/09/1486148/infographic-liquefaction-potential-map-metro-manila
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