A tragic hero can be defined simply as the protagonist of a tragedy. The Greek philosopher Aristotle, however, endowed this individual with a number of specific characteristics. The first of which is his ability to evoke fear and pity from an audience.
Earthquakes can negatively affect the environment in a number of ways. The initial shock can trigger landslides, displacing soil and leaving the area vulnerable to erosion. Quakes can also stir up dust, pollen, spores, and other material and disburse it into the air.
Shallow earthquakes cause the most damage because the focus is near the Earth's surface where people live. Just above the focus on the land surface is the earthquake's epicenter (Figure 7.26). It is the epicenter of an earthquake that is reported by scientists and the media.