Earthquakes can dramatically change landscapes in several ways, often within seconds. They can trigger landslides, rockfalls, and avalanches, which reshape hillslopes and fill valleys with debris. Earthquakes cause ground rupture along fault lines, creating scarps and offsetting streams, altering local topography by forming new cliffs or modifying existing landforms. They can also induce regional uplift or subsidence, changing coastlines, drainage patterns, and local base levels for erosion. Earthquake shaking may cause soil liquefaction, making the ground behave like a liquid, leading to ground failure and the formation of cracks or fissures. Additionally, undersea earthquakes can trigger tsunamis that reshape shorelines and coastal regions. These changes can create new lakes, alter river courses, and influence long- term landscape evolution by initiating new erosion or deposition cycles.

Key Landscape Changes Caused by Earthquakes

• Landslides and rockfalls reshaping hills and valleys
• Surface ruptures creating scarps and offsets
• Ground uplift or subsidence altering coastlines and topography
• Soil liquefaction causing ground failure
• Creation or alteration of rivers and lakes
• Tsunamis reshaping coastal landscapes

These effects can persist for years or decades, influencing the ongoing process of landscape evolution.