TEXTBOOK READINGS:
- Before you can truly understand earthquakes you must first know
a little bit about earth's internal structure and the processes within
the earth that move and deform the crust. You should read the following
sections of Chapter 2 to gain this background:
- 2.1 Internal Structure of Earth
- 2.2 What We Know about the Internal Structure of Earth
- 2.3 Plate Tectonics Sea-Floor Spreading
- Earthquakes are discussed in Chapter 5 of the textbook. You
should read the chapter carefully because you will be quizzed on what
you have learned at the end of this lesson. Consider taking notes
while you read or highlighting the most important concepts.
- An important focus area for the quiz will be the questions posted
in the "Study Questions Conference". Other important items for
the quiz are the "Key Terms" and "Review Questions" at the
end of the textbook chapter, topics featured in the textbook illustrations,
the topics presented in the web-based readings below, and finally
the concepts that you learned while doing the earthquake activities.
WORLD WIDE WEB READINGS:
- Major
Tectonic Plates of the World: Most of the world's earthquake
activity is concentrated along plate boundaries. This map shows the
location of these boundaries. Compare this map to Figure 3.9 on page
57of your textbook. You will clearly see that the distribution of
earthquakes is not random - they are concentrated along the edges
of the plates.
-
Six Weeks of Earthquakes: This frequently-updated world
map shows earthquake epicenters for about the past six weeks. This
map does not show every earthquake - only selected earthquakes with
a magnitude of 2 or higher. Take a look, you should be able to recognize
earth's major earthquake belts and the outlines of earth's major tectonic
plates.
- Earthquake Survival:
What would you do if the building that you are working in right
now starting shaking, things started falling from shelves, and the
monitor that you are looking at jumped off of the desk? This site,
hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Administration, will help
you learn how to respond. Your job is to learn what you should do
DURING an earthquake. Your exact actions depend upon where you are
- indoors, outdoors, or driving. Learn how to respond in each of these
three situations.
-
Recent Earthquakes Worldwide: Stay up-to-date on world-wide
earthquake activity by watching this website. It features a world
map that shows epicenters for the last 21 earthquakes with magnitudes
greater than 3.
-
Hazard Maps Help Save Lives and Property: The United States Geological
Survey has prepared a series of seismic hazard maps to inform the
public about the relative earthquake risk throughout the United States.
Examine the map and see how the area where you live compares.
-
Locations of U.S. Earthquakes Causing Damage between 1750 and 1996:
Take a look at this map and appreciate that damaging earthquakes
occur throughout the United States. Your home state has likely experienced
at least several of them. This means that everyone, no matter where
you live, should have some knowledge about earthquakes and know what
to do when an earthquake strikes.
- Foreshock/Aftershock
Animation: Here is a simple animation that reveals the
geographic pattern of earthquake foreshocks and earthquake aftershocks.
Watch the animation a couple of times and see if you can recognize
them.
The seismicity map is from the USGS
National Earthquake Information Center .
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