Naturally Occuring Earth Quakes

————————————————- Naturally occurring earthquakes Fault types Tectonic earthquakes occur anywhere in the earth where there is sufficient stored elastic strain energy to drive fracture propagation along a  fault plane. The sides of a fault move past each other smoothly and  aseismically  only if there are no irregularities or  asperities  along the fault surface that increase the frictional resistance. Most fault surfaces do have such asperities and this leads to a form of  stick-slip behaviour.Once the fault has locked, continued relative motion between the plates leads to increasing stress and therefore, stored strain energy in the volume around the fault surface. This continues until the stress has risen sufficiently to break through the asperity, suddenly allowing sliding over the locked portion of the fault, releasing the  stored energy. This energy is rel eased as a combination of radiated elastic  strain  seismic waves, frictional heating of the fault surface, and cracking of the rock, thus causing an earthquake.This process of gradual build-up of strain and stress punctuated by occasional sudden earthquake failure is referred to as the  elastic-rebound theory. It is estimated that only 10 percent or less of an earthquake's total energy is radiated as seismic energy. Most of the earthquake's energy is used to power the earthquake  fracture  growth or is converted into heat generated by friction. Therefore, earthquakes lower the Earth's available  elastic potential energy  and raise its temperature, though these changes are negligible compared to the conductive and convective flow of heat out from the  Earth's deep interior. 2] Earthquake fault types Main article:  Fault (geology) There are three main types of fault that may cause an earthquake: normal, reverse (thrust) and strike-slip. Normal and reverse faulting a re examples of dip-slip, where the displacement along the fault is in the direction of  dip  and movement on them involves a vertical component. Normal faults occur mainly in areas where the crust is being  extended  such as a  divergent boundary. Reverse faults occur in areas where the crust is being  shortened  such as at a convergent boundary. Strike-slip faultsare teep structures where the two sides of the fault slip horizontally past each other; transform boundaries are a particular type of strike-slip fault. Many earthquakes are caused by movement on faults that have components of both dip-slip and strike-slip; this is known as oblique slip. Reverse faults, particularly those along  convergent plate boundaries  are associated with the most powerful earthquakes, including almost all of those of magnitude 8 or more. Strike-slip faults, particularly continental  transforms  can produce major earthquakes up to about magnitude 8.Earthquakes associated with nor mal faults are generally less than magnitude 7. This is so because the energy released in an earthquake, and thus its magnitude, is proportional to the area of the fault that ruptures[3]  and the stress drop. Therefore, the longer the length and the wider the width of the faulted area, the larger the resulting magnitude. The topmost, brittle part of the Earth’s crust, and the cool slabs of the tectonic plates that are descending down into the hot mantle, are the only parts of our planet which can store elastic energy and release it in fault ruptures.Rocks hotter than about 300 degrees Celsius flow in response to stress; they do not rupture in earthquakes. [4][5]  The maximum observed lengths of ruptures and mapped faults, which may break in one go are approximately 1000  km. Examples are the earthquakes in  Chile, 1960;  Alaska, 1957;  Sumatra, 2004, all in subduction zones. The longest earthquake ruptures on strike-slip faults, like the  San Andreas Fault  (1 857, 1906), the  North Anatolian Fault  in Turkey (1939) and theDenali Fault  in Alaska (2002), are about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins, and those along normal faults are even shorter.Aerial photo of the San Andreas Fault in the  Carrizo Plain, northwest of Los Angeles The most important parameter controlling the maximum earthquake magnitude on a fault is however not the maximum available length, but the available width because the latter varies by a factor of 20. Along converging plate margins, the dip angle of the rupture plane is very shallow, typically about 10 degrees. [6]  Thus the width of the plane within the top brittle crust of the Earth can become 50 to 100  km (Tohoku, 2011;  Alaska, 1964), making the most powerful earthquakes possible.Strike-slip faults tend to be oriented near vertically, resulting in an approximate width of 10  km within the brittle crust,[7]  thus earthquakes with magnitudes much larger than 8 are not possible. Maximum magnitudes along many normal faults are even more limited because many of them are located along spreading centers, as in Iceland, where the thickness of the brittle layer is only about 6  km. [8][9] In addition, there exists a hierarchy of stress level in the three fault types. Thrust faults are generated by the highest, strike slip by intermediate, and normal faults by the lowest stress levels. 10]  This can easily be understood by considering the direction of the greatest principal stress, the direction of the force that ‘pushes’ the rock mass during the faulting. In the case of normal faults, the rock mass is pushed down in a vertical direction, thus the pushing force (greatest  principal stress) equals the weight of the rock mass itself. In the case of thrusting, the rock mass ‘escapes’ in the direction of the least principal stress, namely upward, lifting the rock mass up, thus the overburden equals the  least  p rincipal stress.Strike-slip faulting is intermediate between the other two types described above. This difference in stress regime in the three faulting environments can contribute to differences in stress drop during faulting, which contributes to differences in the radiated energy, regardless of fault dimensions. Earthquakes away from plate boundaries Main article:  Intraplate earthquake Where plate boundaries occur within  continental lithosphere, deformation is spread out over a much larger area than the plate boundary itself.In the case of the  San Andreas fault  continental transform, many earthquakes occur away from the plate boundary and are related to strains developed within the broader zone of deformation caused by major irregularities in the fault trace (e. g. , the â€Å"Big bend† region). The  Northridge earthquake  was associated with movement on a blind thrust within such a zone. Another example is the strongly oblique convergent plate boundary bet ween the  Arabian  and  Eurasian plates  where it runs through the northwestern part of the  Zagros  mountains.The deformation associated with this plate boundary is partitioned into nearly pure thrust sense movements perpendicular to the boundary over a wide zone to the southwest and nearly pure strike-slip motion along the Main Recent Fault close to the actual plate boundary itself. This is demonstrated by earthquake  focal mechanisms. [11] All tectonic plates have internal stress fields caused by their interactions with neighbouring plates and sedimentary loading or unloading (e. g. deglaciation[12]).These stresses may be sufficient to cause failure along existing fault planes, giving rise to  intraplate earthquakes. [13] Shallow-focus and deep-focus earthquakes Main article:  Depth of focus (tectonics) The majority of tectonic earthquakes originate at the ring of fire in depths not exceeding tens of kilometers. Earthquakes occurring at a depth of less than 70  km are classified as ‘shallow-focus' earthquakes, while those with a focal-depth between 70 and 300  km are commonly termed ‘mid-focus' or ‘intermediate-depth' earthquakes.In  subduction zones, where older and colder  oceanic crust  descends beneath another tectonic plate,  deep-focus earthquakes  may occur at much greater depths (ranging from 300 up to 700  kilometers). [14]  These seismically active areas of subduction are known as  Wadati-Benioff zones. Deep-focus earthquakes occur at a depth where the subducted  lithosphere  should no longer be brittle, due to the high temperature and pressure. A possible mechanism for the generation of deep-focus earthquakes is faulting caused by  olivine  undergoing a  phase transition  into a  spinel  structure. 15] Earthquakes and volcanic activity Earthquakes often occur in volcanic regions and are caused there, both by  tectonic  faults and the movement of  magma  in  volcanoe s. Such earthquakes can serve as an early warning of volcanic eruptions, as during the  Mount St. Helens  eruption of 1980. [16]  Earthquake swarms can serve as markers for the location of the flowing magma throughout the volcanoes. These swarms can be recorded by seismometers and  tiltmeters  (a device that measures ground slope) and used as sensors to predict imminent or upcoming eruptions. [17] Rupture dynamicsA tectonic earthquake begins by an initial rupture at a point on the fault surface, a process known as nucleation. The scale of the nucleation zone is uncertain, with some evidence, such as the rupture dimensions of the smallest earthquakes, suggesting that it is smaller than 100 m while other evidence, such as a slow component revealed by low-frequency spectra of some earthquakes, suggest that it is larger. The possibility that the nucleation involves some sort of preparation process is supported by the observation that about 40% of earthquakes are preceded by fo reshocks.Once the rupture has initiated it begins to propagate along the fault surface. The mechanics of this process are poorly understood, partly because it is difficult to recreate the high sliding velocities in a laboratory. Also the effects of strong ground motion make it very difficult to record information close to a nucleation zone. [18] Rupture propagation is generally modeled using a  fracture mechanics  approach, likening the rupture to a propagating mixed mode shear crack. The rupture velocity is a function of the fracture energy in the volume around the crack tip, increasing with decreasing fracture energy.The velocity of rupture propagation is orders of magnitude faster than the displacement velocity across the fault. Earthquake ruptures typically propagate at velocities that are in the range 70–90% of the S-wave velocity and this is independent of earthquake size. A small subset of earthquake ruptures appear to have propagated at speeds greater than the S-w ave velocity. These  supershear earthquakes  have all been observed during large strike-slip events. The unusually wide zone of coseismic damage caused by the  2001 Kunlun earthquake  has been attributed to the effects of the  sonic boom  developed in such earthquakes.Some earthquake ruptures travel at unusually low velocities and are referred to as  slow earthquakes. A particularly dangerous form of slow earthquake is the  tsunami earthquake, observed where the relatively low felt intensities, caused by the slow propagation speed of some great earthquakes, fail to alert the population of the neighbouring coast, as in the  1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake. [18] Tidal forces See also:  Earthquake prediction#Tides Research work has shown a robust correlation between small tidally induced forces and non-volcanic tremor activity. 19][20][21][22] Earthquake clusters Most earthquakes form part of a sequence, related to each other in terms of location and time. [23]  Mos t earthquake clusters consist of small tremors that cause little to no damage, but there is a theory that earthquakes can recur in a regular pattern. [24] Aftershocks Main article:  Aftershock An aftershock is an earthquake that occurs after a previous earthquake, the mainshock. An aftershock is in the same region of the main shock but always of a smaller magnitude.If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a  foreshock. Aftershocks are formed as the crust around the displaced  fault plane  adjusts to the effects of the main shock. [23] Earthquake swarms Main article:  Earthquake swarm Earthquake swarms are sequences of earthquakes striking in a specific area within a short period of time. They are different from earthquakes followed by a series of  aftershocks  by the fact that no single earthquake in the sequence is obviously the main shock, therefore none have notabl e higher magnitudes than the other.An example of an earthquake swarm is the 2004 activity atYellowstone National Park. [25] Earthquake storms Main article:  Earthquake storm Sometimes a series of earthquakes occur in a sort of  earthquake storm, where the earthquakes strike a fault in clusters, each triggered by the shaking or stress redistribution of the previous earthquakes. Similar to  aftershocks  but on adjacent segments of fault, these storms occur over the course of years, and with some of the later earthquakes as damaging as the early ones.Such a pattern was observed in the sequence of about a dozen earthquakes that struck the  North Anatolian Fault  in Turkey in the 20th century and has been inferred for older anomalous clusters of large earthquakes in the Middle East. [26][27] ————————————————- Size and frequency of occurrence It is estimated that aro und 500,000 earthquakes occur each year, detectable with current instrumentation. About 100,000 of these can be felt. [28][29]  Minor earthquakes occur nearly constantly around the world in places like  California  and  Alaska  in the U. S. , as well as n  Mexico,  Guatemala,  Chile,  Peru,  Indonesia,  Iran,  Pakistan, the  Azores  in  Portugal,  Turkey,  New Zealand,  Greece,Italy, and  Japan, but earthquakes can occur almost anywhere, including  New York City,  London, and  Australia. [30]  Larger earthquakes occur less frequently, the relationship being  exponential; for example, roughly ten times as many earthquakes larger than magnitude 4 occur in a particular time period than earthquakes larger than magnitude 5. In the (low seismicity) United Kingdom, for example, it has been calculated that the average recurrences are: an earthquake of 3. –4. 6 every year, an earthquake of 4. 7–5. 5 every 10  years, and an earth quake of 5. 6 or larger every 100  years. [31]  This is an example of the  Gutenberg-Richter law. The  Messina earthquake  and tsunami took as many as 200,000 lives on December 28, 1908 in  Sicily  and  Calabria. [32] The number of seismic stations has increased from about 350 in 1931 to many thousands today. As a result, many more earthquakes are reported than in the past, but this is because of the vast improvement in instrumentation, rather than an increase in the number of earthquakes.The  United States Geological Survey  estimates that, since 1900, there have been an average of 18 major earthquakes (magnitude 7. 0–7. 9) and one great earthquake (magnitude 8. 0 or greater) per year, and that this average has been relatively stable. [33]  In recent years, the number of major earthquakes per year has decreased, though this is probably a statistical fluctuation rather than a systematic trend. [citation needed]  More detailed statistics on the size and frequency of earthquakes is available from the  United States Geological Survey  (USGS). 34]  A recent increase in the number of major earthquakes has been noted, which could be explained by a cyclical pattern of periods of intense tectonic activity, interspersed with longer periods of low-intensity. However, accurate recordings of earthquakes only began in the early 1900s, so it is too early to categorically state that this is the case. [35] Most of the world's earthquakes (90%, and 81% of the largest) take place in the 40,000  km long, horseshoe-shaped zone called the circum-Pacific seismic belt, known as the  Pacific Ring of Fire, which for the most part bounds the  Pacific Plate. 36][37]  Massive earthquakes tend to occur along other plate boundaries, too, such as along the  Himalayan Mountains. [38] With the rapid growth of  mega-cities  such as  Mexico City,  Tokyo  and  Tehran, in areas of high  seismic risk, some seismologists are warning that a single quake may claim the lives of up to 3  million people. [39] ————————————————- Induced seismicity Main article:  Induced seismicity While most earthquakes are caused by movement of the Earth's  tectonic plates, human activity can also produce earthquakes.Four main activities contribute to this phenomenon: storing large amounts of water behind a  dam  (and possibly building an extremely heavy  building), drilling and injecting liquid into  wells, and by  coal mining  and  oil drilling. [40]  Perhaps the best known example is the  2008 Sichuan earthquake  in China's  Sichuan Province  in May; this tremor resulted in 69,227 fatalities and is the  19th deadliest earthquake of all time. The  Zipingpu Dam  is believed to have fluctuated the pressure of the fault 1,650 feet (503  m) away; this pressure probably increased the power of t he earthquake and accelerated the rate of movement for the fault. 41]  The greatest earthquake in Australia's history is also claimed to be induced by humanity, through coal mining. The city of Newcastle  was built over a large sector of coal mining areas. The earthquake has been reported to be spawned from a fault that reactivated due to the millions of tonnes of rock removed in the mining process. [42] ————————————————- Measuring and locating earthquakes Main article:  Seismology Earthquakes can be recorded by seismometers up to great distances, because  seismic waves  travel through the whole  Earth's interior.The absolute magnitude of a quake is conventionally reported by numbers on the  Moment magnitude scale  (formerly Richter scale, magnitude 7 causing serious damage over large areas), whereas the felt magnitude is reported using the modifiedMercalli intensity scale  (intensity II–XII). Every tremor produces different types of seismic waves, which travel through rock with different velocities: * Longitudinal  P-waves  (shock- or pressure waves) * Transverse  S-waves  (both body waves) * Surface waves  Ã¢â‚¬â€ (Rayleigh  and  Love  waves) Propagation velocity  of the seismic waves ranges from approx.   km/s up to 13  km/s, depending on the  density  and  elasticity  of the medium. In the Earth's interior the shock- or P waves travel much faster than the S waves (approx. relation 1. 7  : 1). The differences in  travel time  from the  epicentre  to the observatory are a measure of the distance and can be used to image both sources of quakes and structures within the Earth. Also the depth of the  hypocenter  can be computed roughly. In solid rock P-waves travel at about 6 to 7  km per second; the velocity increases within the deep mantle to ~13  km/s.The velocity of S-waves ranges from 2–3  km/s in light sediments and 4–5  km/s in the Earth's crust up to 7  km/s in the deep mantle. As a consequence, the first waves of a distant earthquake arrive at an observatory via the Earth's mantle. Rule of thumb: On the average, the kilometer distance to the earthquake is the number of seconds between the P and S wave  times 8. [43]  Slight deviations are caused by inhomogeneities of subsurface structure. By such analyses of seismograms the Earth's core was located in 1913 by  Beno Gutenberg.Earthquakes are not only categorized by their magnitude but also by the place where they occur. The world is divided into 754  Flinn-Engdahl regions  (F-E regions), which are based on political and geographical boundaries as well as seismic activity. More active zones are divided into smaller F-E regions whereas less active zones belong to larger F-E regions. ———————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Effects of earthquakes 1755 copper engraving depicting  Lisbonin ruins and in flames after the  1755 Lisbon earthquake, which killed an estimated 60,000 people. A  tsunami  overwhelms the ships in the harbor.The effects of earthquakes include, but are not limited to, the following: Shaking and ground rupture Damaged buildings in  Port-au-Prince,Haiti, January 2010. Shaking and ground rupture are the main effects created by earthquakes, principally resulting in more or less severe damage to buildings and other rigid structures. The severity of the local effects depends on the complex combination of the earthquake  magnitude, the distance from the  epicenter, and the local geological and geomorphological conditions, which may amplify or reduce  wave propagation. [44]  The ground-shaking is measured by  ground acceleration.Specific local geological, geomorphological, and geostructural features can induce high levels of shakin g on the ground surface even from low-intensity earthquakes. This effect is called site or local amplification. It is principally due to the transfer of the  seismic  motion from hard deep soils to soft superficial soils and to effects of seismic energy focalization owing to typical geometrical setting of the deposits. Ground rupture is a visible breaking and displacement of the Earth's surface along the trace of the fault, which may be of the order of several metres in the case of major earthquakes.Ground rupture is a major risk for large engineering structures such as  dams, bridges and  nuclear power stations  and requires careful mapping of existing faults to identify any which are likely to break the ground surface within the life of the structure. [45] Landslides and avalanches Main article:  Landslide Earthquakes, along with severe storms, volcanic activity, coastal wave attack, and wildfires, can produce slope instability leading to landslides, a major geological hazard. Landslide danger may persist while emergency personnel are attempting rescue. [46] FiresFires of the  1906 San Francisco earthquake Earthquakes can cause  fires  by damaging  electrical power  or gas lines. In the event of water mains rupturing and a loss of pressure, it may also become difficult to stop the spread of a fire once it has started. For example, more deaths in the  1906 San Francisco earthquake  were caused by fire than by the earthquake itself. [47] Soil liquefaction Main article:  Soil liquefaction Soil liquefaction occurs when, because of the shaking, water-saturated  granular  material (such as sand) temporarily loses its strength and transforms from a  solid  to a  liquid.Soil liquefaction may cause rigid structures, like buildings and bridges, to tilt or sink into the liquefied deposits. This can be a devastating effect of earthquakes. For example, in the  1964 Alaska earthquake, soil liquefaction caused many buildings to sink into the ground, eventually collapsing upon themselves. [48] Tsunami The tsunami of the  2004 Indian Ocean earthquake A large ferry boat rests inland amidst destroyed houses after a 9. 0  earthquakeand subsequent tsunami struck Japan in March 2011. Main article:  Tsunami Tsunamis are long-wavelength, long-period sea waves produced by the sudden or abrupt movement of large volumes of water.In the open ocean the distance between wave crests can surpass 100 kilometers (62  mi), and the wave periods can vary from five minutes to one hour. Such tsunamis travel 600-800  kilometers per hour (373–497 miles per hour), depending on water depth. Large waves produced by an earthquake or a submarine landslide can overrun nearby coastal areas in a matter of minutes. Tsunamis can also travel thousands of kilometers across open ocean and wreak destruction on far shores hours after the earthquake that generated them. [49] Ordinarily, subduction earthquakes under magnitude 7. on the Richter scale do not cause tsunamis, although some instances of this have been recorded. Most destructive tsunamis are caused by earthquakes of magnitude 7. 5 or more. [49] Floods Main article:  Flood A flood is an overflow of any amount of water that reaches land. [50]  Floods occur usually when the volume of water within a body of water, such as a river or lake, exceeds the total capacity of the formation, and as a result some of the water flows or sits outside of the normal perimeter of the body. However, floods may be secondary effects of earthquakes, if dams are damaged.Earthquakes may cause landslips to dam rivers, which collapse and cause floods. [51] The terrain below the  Sarez Lake  in  Tajikistan  is in danger of catastrophic flood if the  landslide dam  formed by the earthquake, known as the  Usoi Dam, were to fail during a future earthquake. Impact projections suggest the flood could affect roughly 5  million people. [52] Human impacts An earthquake may cause injury and loss of life, road and bridge damage, general  property damage  (which may or may not be covered by  earthquake insurance), and collapse or destabilization (potentially leading to future collapse) of buildings.The aftermath may bring  disease, lack of basic necessities, and higher insurance premiums. ————————————————- Major earthquakes Earthquakes of magnitude 8. 0 and greater since 1900. The apparent 3D volumes of the bubbles are linearly proportional to their respective fatalities. [53] Main article:  List of earthquakes One of the most devastating earthquakes in recorded history occurred on 23 January 1556 in the  Shaanxi  province, China, killing more than 830,000 people (see  1556 Shaanxi earthquake). 54]  Most of the population in the area at the time lived in  yaodongs, artificial caves in  loess  cliffs, many of which co llapsed during the catastrophe with great loss of life. The  1976 Tangshan earthquake, with a death toll estimated to be between 240,000 to 655,000, is believed to be the largest earthquake of the 20th century by death toll. [55] The  1960 Chilean Earthquake  is the largest earthquake that has been measured on a seismograph, reaching 9. 5 magnitude on 22 May 1960. [28][29]  Its epicenter was near Canete, Chile.The energy released was approximately twice that of the next most powerful earthquake, the  Good Friday Earthquake, which was centered in  Prince William Sound, Alaska. [56][57]  The ten largest recorded earthquakes have all been  megathrust earthquakes; however, of these ten, only the  2004 Indian Ocean earthquake  is simultaneously one of the deadliest earthquakes in history. Earthquakes that caused the greatest loss of life, while powerful, were deadly because of their proximity to either heavily populated areas or the ocean, where earthquakes often crea te  tsunamis  that can devastate communities thousands of kilometers away.Regions most at risk for great loss of life include those where earthquakes are relatively rare but powerful, and poor regions with lax, unenforced, or nonexistent seismic building codes. ————————————————- Prediction Main article:  Earthquake prediction Many methods have been developed for predicting the time and place in which earthquakes will occur. Despite considerable research efforts by  seismologists, scientifically reproducible predictions cannot yet be made to a specific day or month. 58]  However, for well-understood faults the probability that a segment may rupture during the next few decades can be estimated. [59] Earthquake warning systems  have been developed that can provide regional notification of an earthquake in progress, but before the ground surface has begun to move, potentially allowing people within the system's range to seek shelter before the earthquake's impact is felt. ————————————————- Preparedness The objective of  earthquake engineering  is to foresee the impact of earthquakes on buildings and other structures and to design such structures to minimize the risk of damage.Existing structures can be modified by  seismic retrofitting  to improve their resistance to earthquakes. Earthquake insurance  can provide building owners with financial protection against losses resulting from earthquakes. Emergency management  strategies can be employed by a government or organization to mitigate risks and prepare for consequences. ————————————————- Historical views An image from a 1557 book From the lifetime of the Gre ek philosopher  Anaxagoras  in the 5th century BCE to the 14th century CE, earthquakes were usually attributed to â€Å"air (vapors) in the cavities of the Earth. [60]  Thales  of Miletus, who lived from 625–547 (BCE) was the only documented person who believed that earthquakes were caused by tension between the earth and water. [60]  Other theories existed, including the Greek philosopher Anaxamines' (585–526 BCE) beliefs that short incline episodes of dryness and wetness caused seismic activity. The Greek philosopher Democritus (460–371 BCE) blamed water in general for earthquakes. [60]  Pliny the Elder  called earthquakes â€Å"underground thunderstorms. â€Å"[60] ————————————————- Earthquakes in culture Mythology and religionIn  Norse mythology, earthquakes were explained as the violent struggling of the god  Loki. When Loki,à ‚  god  of mischief and strife, murdered  Baldr, god of beauty and light, he was punished by being bound in a cave with a poisonous serpent placed above his head dripping venom. Loki's wife  Sigyn  stood by him with a bowl to catch the poison, but whenever she had to empty the bowl the poison dripped on Loki's face, forcing him to jerk his head away and thrash against his bonds, which caused the earth to tremble. [61] In  Greek mythology,  Poseidon  was the cause and god of earthquakes.When he was in a bad mood, he struck the ground with a  trident, causing earthquakes and other calamities. He also used earthquakes to punish and inflict fear upon people as revenge. [62] In  Japanese mythology,  Namazu  (? ) is a giant  catfish  who causes earthquakes. Namazu lives in the mud beneath the earth, and is guarded by the god  Kashima  who restrains the fish with a stone. When Kashima lets his guard fall, Namazu thrashes about, causing violent earthquakes. Pop ular culture In modern  popular culture, the portrayal of earthquakes is shaped by the memory of great cities laid waste, such as  Kobe in 1995  or  San Francisco in 1906. 63]  Fictional earthquakes tend to strike suddenly and without warning. [63]  For this reason, stories about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath, as in  Short Walk to Daylight  (1972),  The Ragged Edge  (1968) or  Aftershock: Earthquake in New York  (1998). [63]  A notable example is Heinrich von Kleist's classic novella,  The Earthquake in Chile, which describes the destruction of Santiago in 1647. Haruki Murakami's short fiction collection  after the quake  depicts the consequences of the Kobe earthquake of 1995.The most popular single earthquake in fiction is the hypothetical â€Å"Big One† expected of  California's  San Andreas Fault  someday, as depicted in the novels  Richter 10  (1996) and  Goodbye California  (1977) among other works. [63]  Jacob M. Appel's widely anthologized short story,  A Comparative Seismology, features a con artist who convinces an elderly woman that an apocalyptic earthquake is imminent. [64]  In  Pleasure Boating in Lituya Bay, one of the stories in  Jim Shepard's  Like You'd Understand, Anyway, the â€Å"Big One† leads to an even more devastating tsunami.In the film  2012  (2009), solar flares (geologically implausibly) affecting the Earth's core caused massive destabilization of the Earth's crust layers. This created destruction planet-wide with earthquakes and tsunamis, foreseen by the  Mayan  culture and myth surrounding the last year noted in the  Mesoamerican calendar  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  2012. Contemporary depictions of earthquakes in film are variable in the manner in which they reflect human psychological reactions to the actual trauma that can be caused to directly afflicted families and their loved ones. 65]  Disaster mental health response research emphasizes the need to be aware of the different roles of loss of family and key community members, loss of home and familiar surroundings, loss of essential supplies and services to maintain survival. [66][67]  Particularly for children, the clear availability of caregiving adults who are able to protect, nourish, and clothe them in the aftermath of the earthquake, and to help them make sense of what has befallen them has been shown even more important to their emotional and physical health than the simple giving of provisions. 68]  As was observed after other disasters involving destruction and loss of life and their media depictions, such as those of the 2001 World Trade Center Attacks or Hurricane Katrina—and has been recently observed in the  2010 Haiti earthquake, it is also important not to pathologize the reactions to loss and displacement or disruption of governmental administration and services, but rather to validate these reactions, to support constructive problem-solving and reflection as to how one might improve the conditions of those affected. [69]

African American Contributions to American History Essay

Many blacks contributed to the success of our country in every war that we as a people have ever fought. In order to properly thank them for their heroic effort, I as a Hispanic Caucasian must give credit where credit is due. In order to properly do so, I must begin with the contributions of â€Å"Black America† beginning with the American Revolution and continue up until the World War II. Make no mistake blacks made contributions well past World War II, but in the interest of time and accuracy I must stay within the confines of our earlier history. One main aspect that should be analyzed is the fact that no matter how hard the struggle, blacks have always overcome adversity no matter what the cost. Of course, contributions made by blacks are not limited to war alone, but include a wide spectrum of achievements that have advanced civilization as a whole. My personal respect and thanks go to all people who have served and continue to serve this country at any capacity. But we must never forget the contributions made by our black brothers and sisters who gave their lives fighting for a cause that so greatly affected their lives as well as our well being. Charles Dickens said it best in his book A Tale of Two Cities, â€Å"It was the best of times it was the worst of times†. The American Revolution was a time of great struggle for people of all races. But, Blacks in particular understood the literal meaning of patriot rhetoric, eagerly took up the cause of American freedom, fighting bravely in the early confrontations with the British. Though the revolution freed some blacks and set the country on a course toward the abolition of slavery, political accommodation to plantation owners forestalled emancipation for many blacks in the south for 90 more years. A black man was one of the first martyrs of the patriot cause. Crispus Attucks, apparently a slave who had run away from his owner 20 years before, died in the Boston Massacre in 1770. Though facts were disputed at trials then as now, witnesses said Attucks hit a British officer with a large piece of firewood, grabbed a bayonet and urged the crowd to attack just before the British fired. Attucks and two others were killed while eight were wounded, two mortally. Blacks served at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Peter Salem, a freed slave, stood on the green at Lexington facing the British when the first battle broke out with the shot that was heard around the world. One of the last men wounded in the battle as the British escaped to Boston was Prince Estabrook, a black man from West Lexington. At least 20 blacks, including Peter Salem, were in the ranks two months later when the British attacked an American position outside Boston in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Salem has been honored for firing the shot that killed Major John Pitcairn, the British officer who led the Redcoats when they had attacked his small unit at Lexington. Unable to venture outside Boston and then threatened with cannon surrounding the city, the British left Boston for New York. As the war changed from a Massachusetts endeavor to a broader conflict throughout the colonies, the politics of race changed dramatically. Blacks had been welcomed in the New England militia, but Congress initially decided against having them in the Continental army. Congress needed support from the South if all the colonies were to win their independence from England. Since southern plantation owners wanted to keep their slaves, they were afraid to give guns to blacks. Congress ordered all blacks removed from the army, but black veterans appealed directly to George Washington, who took up their cause with John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress. Blacks serving in the army were allowed to stay, but new enlistments were forbidden. Though the Declaration of Independence declared that â€Å"all men were created equal,† many blacks soon saw more opportunity on the British side. The British governor of Virginia promised immediate freedom and wages to any slave who would join the Kings army. Hundreds flocked to the standard of the governor, Lord Dunmore, but he was denied a base on the land by the American forces and many of the blacks who joined him died of smallpox on overcrowded ships. The loyalty of blacks was a serious issue for the American leaders because blacks made up one-fifth of the two million people in the colonies. With the British soldiers already outnumbering the American troops, and recruitment difficult for the patriots, the northern colonies soon again began to enlist blacks. Rhode Island made up a regiment almost entirely of blacks. As the war continued, colonies as far south as Maryland and Virginia were recruiting free blacks for the American cause. As the war spread into the South, Congress found it needed to recruit slaves. It offered to pay South Carolina slave owners $1,000 for able-bodied male slaves. The slaves would receive no pay, but would be given $50 and their freedom at the end of the war if they served â€Å"well and faithfully. † The South Carolina Assembly threatened to leave the war, dooming the plan in the southernmost colonies. Recruitment of blacks to the American cause continued further north, but the patriots had less success than the British. The offer of immediate freedom extended by Virginia’s unfortunate loyalist governor was eventually made by the British throughout the colonies. Slaves joined the British by the tens of thousands. The fate of the loyalist blacks varied considerably. Some were captured by Americans and either returned to their masters or treated as war loot and sold back into slavery. Approximately 20,000 were with the British at the end of the war, taken to Canada or the Caribbean. Some became the founders of the British colony of Sierra Leone in West Africa. Even though the British offered slaves a better deal, many blacks served on the American side. They made up a sizeable share of the men in the Continental navy, state navies and the large force of American privateers. Blacks had long been in the labor force on ships and at seaports. On the water, then as now, skill counted for more than politics. The precise role of blacks in the revolution is difficult to quantify. Blacks in those days generally did not write. The people who did write early histories of the revolution were whites and concentrated on the efforts of white men. Also, many participants in the revolution were not specifically identified by race in the documents of the time and historians now have no way of knowing whether they were black. When blacks were allowed to serve in the American military, they often did work as laborers, sometimes in addition to regular soldier duties. Usually they were privates, though a few rose to command small groups of men. The words of the Declaration of Independence were taken literally by blacks and some whites. In, 1780, Pennsylvania became the first colony to pass a law phasing out slavery. Children born to slaves after that date were granted their freedom when they reached 28. Other northern states followed. The Superior Court of Massachusetts held in 1783 that slavery violated the state constitution, and New Hampshire also ended slavery by a court ruling. Vermont outlawed slavery and Connecticut and Rhode Island passed gradual emancipation laws. New York outlawed slavery in 1799 and New Jersey followed in 1804. The international slave trade was outlawed in 1808. Progress then came to a stop. A boom in cotton production spread the slave economy into the lower Mississippi Valley. Slave states were careful to control at least half the political power in the federal government, blocking any national movement against slavery until the Civil War. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves in the rebelling territories of the confederacy and authorizing Black enlistment in the Union Army. Since the beginning of the Civil War, free Black people in general, and Black Bostonians in particular, were ready to gather arms on behalf of the Union, yet they were prevented from doing so. Popular racial stereotypes and institutional discrimination against Blacks in the military contributed to the prevailing myth that Black men lacked the intelligence and bravery necessary to serve their country. By the fall of 1862, however, the lack of White Union enlistment and confederate victories at Antietem forced the U. S. government to reconsider its racist policy. As Congress met in October to address the issue of Black enlistment, various troops of Black volunteers had already been organized, including the First South Carolina and the Kansas Colored Troops. It wasn’t until January 26, 1863; however, that secretary of war Edwin Stanton authorized the enlistment of Black troops. As a result, the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer infantry was founded, becoming the first all-Black Union regiment raised in the north. Training began for Black volunteers at Camp Meigs in Reedville, MA on February 21, 1863. Although some members of the community voiced opposition to the prevention of Black men from achieving the rank of colonel or officer, most community activists urged Black men to seize the opportunity to serve in the Union forces. The fear many Black volunteers had about the potential racism of White officers and colonels was calmed when Massachusetts Governor John Andrew assured Bostonians that White officers assigned to the 54th Regiment would be â€Å"young men of military experience, of firm anti-slavery principles, ambitious, superior to a vulgar contempt for color, and having faith in the capacity of colored men for military service. † Andrew held to his word, appointing 25-year-old Robert Gould Shaw as colonel and George P. Hallowell as Lieutenant. The son of wealthy abolitionists, Shaw had been educated in Europe and at Harvard before joining the seventh New York National Guard in 1861. In 1862, when Governor Andrew contacted Shaw’s father about the prospect of commissioning his son as colonel of the soon-to-be organized fifty-fourth, Shaw was an officer in the Second Massachusetts Infantry. Although reluctant to accept the commission, Shaw eventually became colonel. By the time training began at Camp Meigs, Shaw and his officers began work with the soldiers whose bravery would forever change public perception of Black military skill and valor. Black community leaders across the country such as Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown served as recruiting agents for the Union army. As a result, over 1000 volunteers enlisted in the 54th Regiment, a response so overwhelming that Massachusetts organized a second Black regiment, the fifty-fifth. Men of the fifty-fourth represented twenty-four states, the District of Columbia, the West Indies, and Africa. Approximately 25% of them had been slaves, over 50% were literate, and, although as civilians they had worked in forty-six different occupations, the overwhelming majorities (55%) were common laborers. Regardless of origin, occupation, or social class, the men of the 54th Regiment both inspired Boston’s Black community and provided a symbol of pride for abolitionists across the country. Activists such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass visited Camp Meigs to show their support. Although the organization of the 54th Regiment resolved the conflict over Black enlistment in the Union army, the struggle of Black soldiers to gain respect in the military was just beginning. Upon arrival in the south, the Black soldiers were often treated as common laborers and the potential for their valor on the battlefield was disregarded. Upon arriving in Georgia on June 11, they were ordered by Col. James Montgomery of the Department of the South to raid the town of Darien. Reports of Black soldiers burning buildings and ravaging the homes of townspeople confirmed stereotypes of Black soldiers as un-trainable brutes. Col. Shaw found the raid on Darien barbarous and distasteful, and sent a letter to Brigadier General George C. Strong, requesting that the men be used in the planned attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina. On July 16, the 54th Regiment fought alongside White soldiers of the 10th Connecticut Infantry in a skirmish on James Island, SC. This battle redeemed the Black soldiers’ fighting ability in the eyes of White skeptics, including General Strong, who commanded the 54th Regiment to lead the assault on Fort Wagner, scheduled for July 18. Strategically, a successful attack on Fort Wagner would allow Union forces to seize control of Charleston Harbor. Located on Morris Island, Fort Wagner protected Battery Gregg overlooking Fort Sumter. Thus, seizure of Fort Wagner was valuable because it enabled the Union to shell Sumter and close the harbor to confederate blockade runners, thereby paving the way for further Union attack on Charleston. Fort Wagner was located at the northern tip of Morris Island, and was controlled by 1700 troops and 17 artillery guns. Depleted to just over 600 men by the skirmish two days previous, the men of the 54th Regiment were ordered to lead the assault on Fort Wagner with the backing of regiments from New York, Connecticut, Maine, and Pennsylvania. Before the charge commenced, Colonel Shaw ordered the regiment to â€Å"prove yourselves as men. † Within 200 feet of the Fort, the confederates began to attack as the brave men of the 54th Regiment struggled through darkness, four-foot deep water, and marshland. Colonel Shaw, accompanied by dwindling numbers of dying men, managed to reach the top of the parapet where a bitter hand-to-hand combat ensued, the Black Union soldiers with bayonets against the White Confederate soldiers with handspikes and gun rammers. Colonel Shaw was mortally wounded with a pierce through the heart, along with a dozen of his men. Meanwhile, members of the 54th Regiment – some wounded, some dying – began to retreat; those who refused to back down were taken prisoner. As the smoke cleared, evidence of Confederate victory was immediately apparent, with 174 Rebel casualties and 1515 Union soldiers dead or wounded. Of the eleven regiments who participated in the Union assault, the fifty-forth Regiment accrued the most casualties, with 256 of their 600 men dead or wounded. Despite the heavy losses, the assault on Fort Wagner proved to the nation and the world the valor of Black soldiers in general and the men of the 54th Regiment in particular. From the ranks of the fifty-forth came stories of unfailing patriotism and undying glory. The men of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, their White officers, colonel, and allies, not only struck a blow for American freedom and unity, they also proved to the nation and the world the valor, bravery, and devotion of African American soldiers. In the sacrifice made by Col. Shaw and his soldiers, Americans witnessed, for the first time, the supremacy of equality over racism, discrimination, and ignorance. Upon his death at Fort Wagner, the body of Col. Shaw was placed in a mass grave on Morris Island along with the bodies of his soldiers. The lack of proper military burial for a man who had distinguished himself as a soldier and as a leader was intended to insult the honor of Shaw and his family, who were deemed as race traitors by Confederates and White unionists alike. However, upon learning that his son had been buried with his black soldiers, Francis Shaw stated, with dignity, that â€Å"We hold that a soldier’s most appropriate burial place is on the field where he has fallen. † This statement and the honor displayed by the Shaw family and veterans of the fifty-fourth helped immortalize Shaw and his men as symbols of the Civil War battle for unity and equality. As a result of the 54th Regiment, over 180,000 Black men enlisted under the Union flag between 1863 and 1865. AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY SERVICE from WWI through WWII. During the global conflicts of the first half of the 20th century, U. S. servicemen fought in Europe for the first time in the nation’s history. African Americans were among the troops committed to combat in World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII), even though they and other black Americans were denied the full blessings of the freedom for which the United States had pledged to fight. Traditional racist views about the use of black troops in combat initially excluded African Americans from the early recruiting efforts and much of the actual combat in both wars. Nonetheless, large numbers of African Americans still volunteered to fight for their country in 1917-18 and 1940-45. Once again, many black servicemen hoped their military contribution and sacrifice would prove to their white countrymen that African Americans desired and deserved a fully participatory role in U. S. society. Unfortunately, the deeply entrenched negative racial attitudes prevalent among much of the white American population, including many of the nation’s top military and civilian leaders, made it very difficult for blacks to serve in the military establishment of this period. African-American servicemen suffered numerous indignities and received little respect from white troops and civilians alike. The historic contributions by blacks to the defense of the United States were usually ignored or downplayed, while combat failures similar to those of whites and violent racial incidents often provoked by whites were exaggerated into a condemnation of all African Americans. In the â€Å"Jim Crow† world of pre-1945 America, black servicemen confronted not only the hostility of enemies abroad but that of enemies at home. African-American soldiers and sailors had two formidable obstacles to deal with: discrimination and segregation. Yet, black servicemen in both world wars repeatedly demonstrated their bravery, loyalty, and ability in combat or in support of frontline troops. Oftentimes, they accomplished these tasks without proper training or adequate equipment. Poor communications and a lack of rapport with their white officers were two additional burdens hampering the effectiveness and efficiency of African Americans in the military. Too frequently, there was little or no recognition or gratitude for their accomplishments. One of the worst slights of both wars was the willingness of the white establishment to allow racism to influence the award of the prestigious Medal of Honor. Although several exceptionally heroic African Americans performed deeds worthy of this honor, not one received at the time the award that their bravery and self-sacrifice deserved. It took over 70 years for the United States to rectify this error for WWI and over 50 years for WWII. Despite the hardships and second-class status, their participation in both wars helped to transform many African-American veterans as well as helped to eventually change the United States. Though still limited by discrimination and segregation at home, their sojourn in Europe during WWI and WWII made many black servicemen aware that the racial attitudes so common among white Americans did not prevail everywhere else. The knowledge that skin color did not preclude dignity and respect made many black veterans unwilling to submit quietly to continuing racial discrimination once they returned to the United States. In addition, the growing importance of black votes beginning in the 1930s and 1940s forced the nation’s political and military leaders to pay more attention to African Americans’ demands, particularly in regard to the military. Although it was a tedious and frustrating process, one too often marked by cosmetic changes rather than real reform, by the end of WWII, the U. S. military establishment slowly began to make some headway against racial discrimination and segregation within its ranks. The stage was set for President Harry S Truman’s landmark executive order of 26 July 1948. Another main contribution of note would be the trails and tribulations of the Tuskegee Airmen. In the 1940’s, it was still believed that Blacks were incapable of flying aircraft. This myth was dispelled with the help of the U. S. Congress. On June 27, 1939 – THE CIVILIAN PILOT TRAINING ACT was passed. This solitary ACT helped to create a reserve of civilian pilots to be called in case of War. Young black pilots were given the opportunity to train with U. S. approved programs located at TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE. The SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT OF 1940 also increased the opportunity for a broader participation of Blacks in the military when it banned discrimination in the selection and training of all American citizens because of race and color. The success of the CIVILIAN PILOT TRAINING ACT helped put the 99TH PURSUIT SQUADRON OF TUSKEGEE on the map. It was said that â€Å"the success of Negro youth in the Army Air Force would be predicated upon the success of the ‘Tuskegee Experiment. ‘† HBO’s docudrama, THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, is a good depiction of this era of Black Americans seeking acceptance as military pilots. Because of the opportunity provided by the Civilian Pilot Training Act, the number of Blacks in the ARMY AIR FORCE jumped from 2,250 in 1941 to over 145,000 by 1944. The two major groups to see combat as AAF men were the 99TH PURSUIT SQUADRON and the 332ND FIGHTER GROUP. Out of the 332nd Group came the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Squadrons under the command of Lieutenant Colonel BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, SR. , who became America’s FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GENERAL on October 25, 1940. By 1944, the 99th was added to the 332nd and participated in campaigns in Sicily, Rome, and Romania. The 99th and 332nd earned many DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS. These historical examples are but a small sample of the many great contributions and sacrifices made by black people in order to secure freedom and prosperity for this great nation. We owe them a debt than can never be fully repaid. If anything these great contributions should curtail any negative or racial thoughts toward such a magnanimous people. You would think that with all that has transpired throughout history, that we as a people could live and coexist together with peace and harmony. My only hope is that with time people will come to realize that we are all not that different from one another and that we can thrive together for a better future for all of us.

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European Mens Handball Championship Essay Example for Free

European Mens Handball Championship Essay HANDBALL (also known as team handball, Olympic handball or European handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outfield players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team. The team with the most goals after two periods of 30 minutes[clarification needed] wins. Modern handball is usually played indoors, but outdoor variants exist in the forms of field handball and Czech handball (which were more common in the past) and beach handball (also called sandball). American handball and Gaelic handball are completely different sports to team handball. The game is quite fast and includes body contact as the defenders try to stop the attackers from approaching the goal. Contact is only allowed when the defensive player is completely in front of the offensive player, i.e. between the offensive player and the goal. This is referred to as a player sandwich. Any contact from the side or especially from behind is considered dangerous and is usually met with penalties. When a defender successfully stops an attacking player, the play is stopped and restarted by the attacking team from the spot of the infraction or on the nine meter line. Unlike in basketball where players are allowed to commit only 5 fouls in a game (6 in the NBA), handball players are allowed an unlimited number of faults, which are considered good defence and disruptive to the attacking teams rhythm. Goals are scored quite frequently; usually both teams score at least 20 goals each, and it is not uncommon for both teams to score more than 30 goals. This was not true in the earliest history of the game, when the scores were more akin to that of ice hockey[clarification needed]. But, as offensive play has improved since the late 1980s, particularly the use of counterattacks (fast breaks) after a failed attack from the other team, goal scoring has increased. Origins and development There are records of handball-like games in medieval France, and among the Inuit in Greenland, in the Middle Ages. By the 19th century, there existed similar games of hà ¥ndbold from Denmark, hà ¡zenà ¡ in the Czech Republic, hà ¡dzanà ¡ in Slovakia, gandbol in Ukraine, torball in Germany, as well as versions in Uruguay. The team handball game of today was formed by the end of the 19th century in northern Europe, primarily Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden. Holger Nielsen, a Danish gym teacher, drew up the rules for modern handball (hà ¥ndbold) in 1898 and published them in 1906, and Rasmus Nicolai Ernst, another Danish teacher, did something similar in 1897. Modern Handball is therefore widely considered a game of Danish origins. Another set of team Handball rules was published on 29 October 1917 by Max Heiser, Karl Schelenz, and Erich Konigh from Germany. After 1919 these rules were improved by Karl Schelenz. The first international games were played under these rules, between Germany and Belgium for men in 1925 and between Germany and Austria for women in 1930. In 1926, the Congress of the International Amateur Athletics Federation nominated a committee to draw up international rules for field handball. The International Amateur Handball Federation was formed in 1928, and the International Handball Federation was formed in 1946. Mens field handball was played at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. During the next several decades, indoor handball flourished and evolved in the Scandinavian countries. The sport re-emerged onto the world stage as team handball for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Womens team handball was added at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Due to its popularity in the region, the Eastern European countries that refined the event became the dominant force in the sport when it was reintroduced. The International Handball Federation organized the mens world championship in 1938 and every 4 (sometimes 3) years from World War II to 1995. Since the 1995 world championship in Iceland, the competition has been every two years. The womens world championship has been played since 1957. The IHF also organizes womens and mens junior world championships. By July 2009, the IHF listed 166 member federations approximately 795,000 teams and 19 million players. Rules Unless otherwise noted, the rules described are the official international rules[1] provided by the International Handball Federation (IHF). Summary The handball playing field is similar to an indoor soccer field. Two teams of seven players (six field players plus one goalkeeper) take the field and attempt to score points by putting the game ball into the opposing teams goal. In handling the ball, players are subject to the following restrictions: After receiving the ball, players can only hold the ball for three seconds before passing, dribbling (similar to a basketball dribble), or shooting. After receiving the ball, players can take up to three steps without dribbling. If players dribble, they may take an additional three steps. Players that stop dribbling have three seconds to pass or shoot. They may take three additional steps during this time. No players other than the defending goalkeeper are allowed within the goal line (within 6 meters of the goal). Goalkeepers are allowed outside this line. [edit] Playing field Handball is played on a court 40 by 20 metres (130 Ãâ€" 66 ft), with a goal in the center of each end. The goals are surrounded by a near-semicircular area, called the zone or the crease, defined by a line six meters from the goal. A dashed near-semicircular line nine meters from the goal marks the free-throw line. Each line on the court is part of the area it encompasses. This implies that the middle line belongs to both halves at the same time. Goals Each goal has a rectangular clearance area of three meters in the width and two meters in the height. It are be securely bolted either to the floor or the wall behind. The goal posts and the crossbar are be made out of the same material (e.g. wood or aluminium) and feature a quadratic cross section with a side of 8 cm (3 inches). The three sides of the beams visible from the playing field are be painted alternatingly in two contrasting colors which both have to contrast against the background. The colors on both goals are the same. Each goal has to feature a net. This are be fastened in such a way that a ball thrown into does not leave or pass the goal under normal circumstances. If necessary, a second net may be clasped to the back of the net on the inside. Goal perimeter The goals are surrounded by the crease. This area is delimited by two quarter circles with a radius of six meters around the far corners of each goal post and a connecting line parallel to the goal line. Only the defending goalkeeper is allowed inside this perimeter. However, the court players may catch and touch the ball in the air within it as long as the player starts his jump outside the zone and releases the ball before he lands (landing inside the perimeter is allowed in this case). If a player contacts the ground inside the goal perimeter he are take the most direct path out of it. However, should a player cross the zone in an attempt to gain an advantage (e.g. better position) his team cedes the ball. Similarly, violation of the zone by a defending player is only penalized if he does so to gain an advantage in defending. Substitution area Outside of one long edge of the playing field to both sides of the middle line are the substitution areas for each team. The areas usually contain the benches as seating opportunities. Team officials, substitutes and suspended players are wait within this area. The area always lies to the same side as the teams own goal. During half-time substitution areas are swapped. Any player entering or leaving the play are cross the substitution line which is part of the side line and extends 4.5 meters from the middle line to the teams side. Duration Team timeout. A standard match for all teams of 16 and older has two periods of 30 minutes with a 15 minute half-time. Teams switch sides of the court at halftime, as well as benches. For youths the game duration is: 2 x 25 minutes at ages 12 to 16. 2 x 20 minutes at ages 8 to 12. However, national federations of some countries may differ in their implementation from the official guidelines. If a decision are be reached in a particular match (e.g. in a tournament) and it ends in a draw after regular time, there are at maximum two overtimes of 2 x 5 minutes with a 1 minute break each. Should these not decide the game either, the winning team is determined in a penalty shootout (best-of-5 rounds; if still tied, extra rounds afterwards until won by one team). The referees may call timeout according to their sole discretion, typical reasons are injuries, suspensions or court cleaning. Penalty throws should only trigger a timeout for lengthy delays as a change of the goalkeeper. Each team may call one team timeout (TTO) per period which lasts one minute. This right may only be invoked by team in ball possession. To do so, the representative of the team lays a green card marked by black T on the desk of the timekeeper. The timekeeper then immediately interrupts the game by sounding an acoustic signal and stops the time. Referees A Handball match is led by two equal referees.Namely the goal line referee and the court referee. Some national bodies allow games with only a single referee in special cases like illness on short notice. Should the referees disagree on any occasion, a decision is made on mutual agreement during a short timeout, or, in case of punishments, the more severe of the two comes into effect. The referees are obliged to make their decisions on the basis of their observations of facts.[2] Their judgements are final and can only be appealed against if not in compliance with the rules. The referees (blue shirts) keep both teams between them. The referees position themselves in such a way that the team players are confined between them. They stand diagonally aligned so that each can observe one side line. Depending on their positions one is called field referee and the other goal referee. These positions automatically switch on ball turnover. They physically exchange their positions approximately every 10 minutes (long exchange) and change sides every 5 minutes (short exchange). The IHF defines 18 hand signals for quick visual communication with players and officials. The signal for warning or disqualification is accompanied by a yellow or red card, [3] respectively. The referees also use whistle blows to indicate infractions or restart the play. The referees are supported by a scorekeeper and a timekeeper who attend to formal things like keeping track of goals and suspensions or starting and stopping the clock, respectively. They also have an eye on the benches and notify the referees on substitution errors. Their desk is located in between both substitutions areas. Team players, substitutes and officials Each team consists of 7 players on court and up to 7 substitute players on the bench. One player on the court are be the designated goalkeeper differing in his or her clothing from the rest of the field players. Substitution of players can be done in any number and at any time during game play. An exchange takes place over the substitution line. A prior notification of the referees is not necessary. Some national bodies as the Deutscher Handball Bund (DHB, German Handball Federation) allow substitution in junior teams only when in ball possession or during timeouts. This restriction is intended to prevent early specialization of players to offense or defense. Field players Field players are allowed to touch the ball with any part of their bodies above and including the knee. As in several other team sports, a distinction is made between catching and dribbling. A player who is in possession of the ball may stand stationary for only three seconds and may only take three steps. They are then either shoot, pass or dribble the ball. At any time taking more than three steps is considered travelling and results in a turnover. A player may dribble as many times as he wants (though since passing is faster it is the preferred method of attack) as long as during each dribble his hand contacts only the top of the ball. Therefore basketball-style carrying is completely prohibited, and results in a turnover. After the dribble is picked up, the player has the right to another three seconds or three steps. The ball are then be passed or shot as further holding or dribbling will result in a double dribble turnover and a free throw for the other team. Other offensive infractions that result in a turnover include, charging, setting an illegal screen, or carrying the ball into the six meter zone. [edit] Goalkeeper Only the goalkeeper is allowed to move freely within the goal perimeter, although he may not cross the goal perimeter line while carrying or dribbling the ball. Within the zone, he is allowed to touch the ball with all parts of his body including his feet. The goalkeeper may participate in the normal play of his team mates. As he is then considered as normal field player, he is typically substituted for a regular field player if his team uses this scheme to outnumber the defending players. As this player becomes the designated goalkeeper on the court, he are wear some vest or bib to identify himself as such. If the goalkeeper deflects the ball over the outer goal line, his team stays in possession of the ball in contrast to other sports like football. The goalkeeper resumes the play with a throw from within the zone (goalkeeper throw). Passing to your own goalkeeper results in a turnover. Throwing the ball against the head of the goalkeeper when he is not moving is to be punished by disqualification (red card). Team officials Each team is allowed to have a maximum of four team officials seated on the benches. An official is anybody who is neither player nor substitute. One official are be the designated representative who is usually the team manager. The representative may call team timeout once every period and may address scorekeeper, timekeeper and referees. Other officials typically include physicians or managers. Neither official is allowed to enter the playing court without permission of the referees. Ball A size III handball. The ball is spherical and are either be made of leather or a synthetic material. It is not allowed to have a shiny or slippery surface. As it is intended to be operated by a single hand, the official sizes vary depending on age and gender of the participating teams. Size Resin product used to improve ball handling. Though not officially regulated, the ball is usually resinated. The resin improves the ability of the players to manipulate the ball with a single hand like spinning trick shots. Some indoor arenas prohibit the usage of resin since many products leave sticky stains on the floor. Awarded throws The referees may award a special throw to a team. This usually happens after certain events like scored goals, off-court balls, turnovers, timeouts, etc. All of these special throws require the thrower to obtain a certain position and pose restrictions on the positions of all other players. Sometimes the execution are wait for a whistle blow by the referee. Throw-off A throw-off takes place from the center of the court. The thrower are touch the middle line with one foot and all of the other players are be in the half of their team. The defending players are keep a distance of at least three meters to the thrower. A throw-off occurs at the begin of each period and after the opposing team scored a goal. It are be cleared by the referees. Modern Handball introduced the fast throw-off concept, i. e. the play will be immediately restarted by the referees as soon as the executing team fulfilles its requirements. Many teams leverage this rule to score easy goals before the opposition has time to form a stable defense line. Throw-in The team which did not touch the ball last is awarded a throw-in when the ball fully crosses the side line or touches the ceiling. If the ball crosses the outer goal line, a throw-in is only awarded if the defending field players touched the balls last. Execution requires the thrower to place one foot on the nearest outer line to the cause. All defending players are keep a distance of three meters. However, they are allowed to stand immediately outside their own goal area even when the distance is less. Goalkeeper-throw If ball crosses the outer goal line without interference from the defending team or when deflected by their goalkeeper, a goalkeeper-throw is awarded to the defending team. This is the most common turnover. The goalkeeper resumes the play with a throw from anywhere within his goal area. Free-throw A free-throw restarts the play after an interruption by the referees. It takes places from the spot where the interruption was caused as long as this spot is outside of the free-throw line of the opposing team. In the latter case the throw is deferred to the nearest spot on the free-throw line. Free-throws are the equivalent to free-kicks in association football. The thrower may take a direct attempt for a goal which is, however, not feasible if the defending team organized a defense. A 7-meter throw. 7-meter throw A 7-meter throw is awarded when a clear chance of scoring is illegally prevented anywhere on the court by a opposing team player, official or spectator. It is also awarded when the referees interrupted a legitimate scoring chance for any reason. The thrower steps with one foot behind the 7-meter line with only the defending goalkeeper between him and the goal. The goalkeeper are keep a distance of three meters which is marked by a short tick on the floor. All other players are remain behind the free-throw line until execution. The thrower are await the whistle blow of the referee. A 7-meter throw is the equivalent to a penalty kick in association football, it is, however, far more common and typically occurs several times in a single game. Penalties Yellow card shown in a handball match. Penalties are given to players, in progressive format, for fouls that require more punishment than just a free-throw. Actions directed mainly at the opponent and not the ball (such as reaching around, holding, pushing, hitting, tripping, or jumping into opponent) as well as contact from the side or from behind a player are all considered illegal and subject to penalty. Any infraction that prevents a clear scoring opportunity, will result in a seven-meter penalty shot. Typically the referee will give a warning yellow card for an illegal action, but if the contact was particularly dangerous the referee can forego the warning for an immediate two-minute suspension. A player can only get one warning before receiving a two minute suspension. One player is only permitted two 2-minute suspensions; third time he/she will be shown the red card. A red card results in an ejection from the game and a two minute penalty for the team. A player may receive a red card directly for particularly rough penalties. For instance any contact from behind during a fast break is now being treated with a red card. A red carded player has to leave the playing area completely. A player who is disqualified may be substituted with another player after the two minute penalty is served. A Coach/Official can also be penalized progressively. Any coach/official who receives a 2-minute suspension will have to pull out one of his players for two minutes note: the player is not the one punished and can be substituted in again, because the main penalty is the team playing with a man less than the other. After having lost the ball during an attack, the ball has to be laid down quickly or else the player not following this rule will face a 2-minute suspension. Also gesticulating or verbally questioning the referees order, as well as arguing with the officials decisions, will normally result in a 2-minute suspension. If it is done in a very provocative way, a player can be given a double 2-minute suspension if he/she does not walk straight off the field to the bench after being given a suspension, or if the referee deems the tempo deliberately slow. Illegal substitution, any substitution that does not take place in the specified substitution area or where the entering player enters before the exiting player exits is also punishable with a 2 minute suspension. Gameplay Formations Positions of attacking (red) and defending players (blue), in a 5-1 defense formation. (German captions) Players are typically referred to by the position they are playing. The positions are always denoted from the view of the respective goalkeeper, so that a defender on the right opposes an attacker on the left. However, not all of the following positions may be occupied depending on the formation or potential suspensions. Offense Left and right wingman. These typically excel at ball control and wide jumps from the outside of the goal perimeter to get into a better shooting angle at the goal. Teams usually try to occupy the left position with a right-handed player and vice versa. Left and right backcourt. Goal attempts by these players are typically made by jumping high and shooting over the defenders. Thus, it is usually advantageous to have tall players for these positions. Center backcourt. A player with experience is preferred on this position who acts as playmaker and the handball equivalent of a basketball point guard. Pivot (left and right, if applicable). This player tends to intermingle with the defense, setting picks and attempting to disrupt the defense formation. This positions requires the least jumping skills but ball control and physical strength are an advantage. Defense Far left and far right. The opponents of the wingmen. Half left and half right. The opponents of the left and right backcourts. Back center (left and right). Opponent of the pivot. Front center. Opponent of the center backcourt, may also be set against another specific backcourt player. Offensive play Attacks are played with all field players on the side of the defenders. Depending on the speed of the attack, one distinguishes between three attack waves with a decreasing chance of success: Womens Handball a jump shot completes a fastbreak. Mens Handball a jump shot (Kiril Lazarov, world record-holder for the number of goals scored in one World Championship) . First Wave First wave attacks are characterized by the absence of defending players around their goal perimeter. The chance of success is very high, as the throwing player is unhindered in his scoring attempt. Such attacks typically occur after an intercepted pass or a steal and if the defending team can switch fast to offense. The far left/far right will usually try to run the attack as they are not as tightly bound in the defense. On a turnover, they immediately sprint forward and receive the ball halfway to the other goal. Thus, these positions are commonly held by quick players.[citation needed] Second Wave If the first wave is not successful and some defending players gained their positions around the zone, the second wave comes into play: The remaining players advance with quick passes to locally outnumber the retreating defenders. If one player manages to step up to the perimeter or catches the ball at this spot he becomes unstoppable by legal defensive means. From this position the chance of success is naturally very high. Second wave attacks became much more important with the fast throw-off rule.[citation needed] Third Wave The time during which the second wave may be successful is very short, as then the defenders closed the gaps around the zone. In the third wave, the attackers use standardized attack patterns usually involving crossing and passing between the back court players who either try to pass the ball through a gap to their pivot, take a jumping shot from the backcourt at the goal, or lure the defense away from a wingman.[citation needed] The third wave evolves into the normal offensive play when all defenders reach not only the zone but gain their accustomed positions. Some teams then substitute specialized offense players. However, this implies that these players are play in the defense should the opposing team be able to switch quickly to offense. The latter is another benefit for fast playing teams.[citation needed] If the attacking team does not make sufficient progress (eventually releasing a shot on goal), the referees can call passive play (since about 1995, the referee gives a passive warning some time before the actual call by holding one hand up in the air, signaling that the attacking team should release a shot soon), turning control over to the other team. A shot on goal or an infringement leading to a yellow card or two minute penalty will mark the start of a new attack, causing the hand to be taken down, but a shot blocked by the defense or a normal free throw will not. If it were not for this rule, it would be easy for an attacking team to stall the game indefinitely, as it is difficult to intercept a pass without at the same time conceding dangerous openings towards the goal.[citation needed] [edit] Defensive play The usual formations of the defense are 6-0, when all the defense players line up between the 6 meter and 9 meter lines to form a wall; the 5-1, when one of the players cruises outside the 9 meter perimeter, usually targeting the center forwards while the other 5 line up on the six meter line; and the lesser common 4-2 when there are two such defenders out front. Very fast teams will also try a 3-3 formation which is close to a switching man-to-man style. The formations vary greatly from country to country and reflect each countrys style of play. 6-0 is sometimes known as flat defense, and all other formations are usually called offensive defense.[citation needed] Organization Handball teams are usually organized as clubs. On a national level, the clubs are associated in federations which organize matches in leagues and tournaments. International bodies The administrative and controlling body for international Handball is the International Handball Federation (IHF). The federation organizes world championships, separate for men and women, held in uneven years.[4] The final round is hosted in one of its member states. Current title holders are France (men)[5] and Russia (women).[6] The IHF is composed of five continental federations which organize continental championships held every other second year. In addition to these competitions between national teams, the federations arrange international tournaments between club teams.[7] The federations and their corresponding tournaments and members are summarized in the following table: International Handball Federation (IHF) Championship World Mens Handball Championship – World Womens Handball Championship Club Super Globe Members Asia – Asian Handball Federation (AHF) Championship Asian Womens Handball Championship – Asian Mens Handball Championship Club Asian Club League Handball Championship Members Afghanistan †¢ Bahrain †¢ Bangladesh †¢ China †¢ Chinese Taipei †¢ Hong Kong †¢ India †¢ Iran †¢ Iraq †¢ Japan †¢ Jordan †¢ Kazakhstan †¢ Kuwait †¢ Kyrgyzstan †¢ Lebanon †¢ Macau †¢ Malaysia †¢ Mongolia †¢ Nepal †¢ North Korea †¢ Oman †¢ Pakistan †¢ Palestinian Authority †¢ Philippines †¢ Qatar †¢ Saudi Arabia †¢ South Korea †¢ Syria †¢ Tajikistan †¢ Thailand †¢ Turkmenistan †¢ United Arab Emirates †¢ Uzbekistan †¢ Vietnam †¢ Yemen Africa – Confà ©dà ©ration Africaine de Handball (CAHB) Championship African Handball Nations Championship Club Champions League – Cup Winners Cup Members Algeria †¢ Angola †¢ Burundi †¢ Benin †¢ Cameroon †¢ Republic of Cape Verde †¢ Central African Republic †¢ Chad †¢ Comoros †¢ Congo †¢ Democratic Republic of the Congo †¢ Djibouti †¢ Egypt †¢ Ethiopia †¢ Gabon †¢ Gambia †¢ Ghana †¢ Guinea †¢ Guinea-Bissau †¢ Ivory Coast †¢ Kenya †¢ Lesotho †¢ Liberia †¢ Libya †¢ Madagascar †¢ Mali †¢ Mauritania †¢ Mauritius †¢ Morocco †¢ Mozambique †¢ Namibia †¢ Nigeria †¢ Niger †¢ Rwanda †¢ Senegal †¢ Seychelles †¢ Sierra Leone †¢ Somalia †¢ South Africa †¢ Sudan †¢ Tanzania †¢ Togo †¢ Tunisia †¢ Uganda †¢ Zambia †¢ Zimbabwe Pan-America – Pan-American Team Handball Federation (PATHF) Championship American Handball Championship Members Argentina †¢ Barbados †¢ Brazil †¢ Canada †¢ Chile †¢ Colombia †¢ Costa Rica †¢ Cuba †¢ Dominican Republic †¢ Ecuador †¢ El Salvador †¢ Greenland †¢ Guatemala †¢ Haiti †¢ Honduras †¢ Mexico †¢ Nicaragua †¢ Panama †¢ Paraguay †¢ Puerto Rico †¢ Trinidad and Tobago †¢ United States †¢ Uruguay †¢ Venezuela Oceania – Oceania Handball Federation (OHF) Championship Oceania Handball Nations Cup Club Oceania Champions Cup Members Australia †¢ Cook Islands †¢ New Zealand †¢ Samoa †¢ Vanuatu †¢ French Polynesia †¢ New Caledonia †¢ Wallis and Futuna Europe – European Handball Federation (EHF) Championship European Womens Handball Championship – European Mens Handball Championship Club Women Champions League †¢ Cup Winners Cup †¢ EHF Cup †¢ Challenge Cup †¢ Champions Trophy Men Champions League †¢ Cup Winners Cup †¢ EHF Cup †¢ Challenge Cup †¢ Champions Trophy Members Albania †¢ Armenia †¢ Austria †¢ Azerbaijan †¢ Belarus †¢ Belgium †¢ Bosnia and Herzegovina †¢ Bulgaria †¢ Croatia †¢ Cyprus †¢ Czech Republic †¢ Denmark †¢ England †¢ Estonia †¢ Faroe Islands †¢ Finland †¢ France †¢ Georgia †¢ Germany †¢ Greece †¢ Hungary †¢ Iceland †¢ Ireland †¢ Israel †¢ Italy †¢ Latvia †¢ Liechtenstein †¢ Lithuania †¢ Luxembourg †¢ Macedonia †¢ Malta †¢ Moldova †¢ Monaco †¢ Montenegro †¢ Netherlands †¢ Norway †¢ Poland †¢ Portugal †¢ Romania †¢ Russia †¢ Scotland †¢ Serbia †¢ Slovakia †¢ Slovenia †¢ Spain †¢ Sweden †¢ Switzerland †¢ Turkey †¢ Ukraine †¢ Great Britain †¢ Kosovo Handball is an olympic sport played during the Summer Olympics.[8] It is also played during the Pan American Games,[9] All-Africa Games,[10] an d Asian Games.[8] National competitions Bosnia and Herzegovina: Handball Championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia: Croatian First League of Handball Czech : Zubr extraliga Denmark: GuldBageren Ligaen, Jack Jones Ligaen France: Ligue Nationale de Handball Germany: Handball-Bundesliga Greece: Greek Mens handball championship Hungary: Nemzeti Bajnoksà ¡g I (men), Nemzeti Bajnoksà ¡g I (women) Iceland: N1 deildin Montenegro: First League (men), First League (women), Second League (women) Poland: Polish Ekstraklasa Mens Handball League, Polish Ekstraklasa Womens Handball League Portugal: Liga Portuguesa de Andebol, Divisà £o de Elite Romania: Liga NaÃ… £ionalÄÆ' (men), Liga NaÃ… £ionalÄÆ' (women) Scotland: Scottish Handball League Serbia: Serbian First League of Handball Slovakia: Slovenskà ¡ hadzanà ¡rska extraliga Slovenia: Slovenian First League of Handball, Handball Cup of Slovenia Spain: Liga ASOBAL, Divisià ³n de Plata de Balonmano Sweden: Elitserien Turkey: Turkish Handball Super League United States: U.S. intercollegiate handball championships Commemorative coins Handball commemorative coin Handball events have been selected as a main motif in numerous collectors coins. One of the recent samples is the â‚ ¬10 Greek Handball commemorative coin, minted in 2003 to commemorate the 2004 Summer Olympics. On the coin, the modern athlete directs the ball in his hands towards his target, while in the background the ancient athlete is just about to throw a ball, in a game known as cheirosphaira, in a representation taken from a black-figure pottery vase of the Archaic period. References : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_handball