Earthquake Research

Created by Science Departments - FHS & GHS

Introduction You will have two days in the Writing Center to research the answers to the following questions.
For each answer, provide as much evidence as possible when applicable.
Number your answers and place them on a separate sheet of paper.
For students who do not finish in class, the web sites may be reached through the Writing Center and FHS Writing Center Web page.

2. View the world map showing the major plates and their boundaries.
     http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/world_density.php
     Where, with respect to plate boundaries, do most Earthquakes occur worldwide?  

3.   Find the most recent quake from the list provided. 
      http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html
      Click on the site name to get more information about that earthquake.
      Scroll down when necessary.

      a. Where and when was the most recent earthquake?

      b.  What was its depth?

      c.  Magnitude?

Select the most recent earthquake with a magnitude greater than 5.0. (Use the list provided from question #3.) Click on the Scientific/Technical TAB at the top of page and go to the Theoretical P-wave travel times LINK.

       d. What is the location and date of the earthquake you have chosen?

      e.  How long did it take the P-waves to travel from the earthquake to the closest seismic station to us?

 4.  Click on the Map TAB and then on the blue Historical Seismicity link.

      a. Is this recent quake unique, or have other quakes occurred in this region? Is this quake near a plate boundary? Explain.

      b.  Provide the depth of quakes in the general area.

5.  Select another earthquake from the list with a magnitude great than 5.0. For additional information, visit the following website:      http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php Provide the following information for this earthquake.
     Provide the following information for the quake you picked.

     a.  Depth

     b.  P wave travel time to the nearest station to us.

     c.  Magnitude

     d.  Location

     e.  Position on tectonic plate/type of boundary, if applicable.
 

United States Information
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqarchives/

6.  Compare the Eastern U.S. with the Central U.S. and the Western U.S.
    a. Which is most active? Provide evidence.

    b. Where is the activity centered for each region?

7.  a. Where are the 3 most earthquake-active states? 
         Check yourself with this link: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/top_states.php

     b. What is your evidence?

8.  a. Compare and contrast quakes in Montana with those in Alaska.  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqarchives/

        Provide as many comparisons as you can.

9. Scroll through the list to find the U.S. earthquake with the highest magnitude.
    http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/10_largest_us.php
   Click on the largest quake and collect the following data:

      a.  Location

      b.  Magnitude

      c.  Date and time

10.  Locate the Isoseismic map which provides intensity.
       http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/events/1964_03_28_iso.php

       a.  Describe a reason for the pattern of Mercalli intensity (destruction).

       b.  What might be the expected damage in Nome? http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/topics/mag_vs_int.php

       c.  What is the intensity? http://www.seis.utah.edu/qfacts/glossary.shtml 

Montana Information
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqarchives/
Scroll down to view possible links from this site.

11.  What is the Intermountain Seismic Belt?  
        http://faculty.weber.edu/bdattilo/shknbk/notes/intrmtnblt.htm
 

12.  a. What portion of Montana receives the largest number of earthquakes?
           http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/montana/seismicity.php

       b. What is the depth of most of these earthquakes?
13.  Near what physical feature(s) in Montana has the largest number of earthquakes occurred?

14.  What have been the two largest historical quakes to occur in Montana?  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqarchives/
        Give the following information for each one: You may get more information by clicking on the earthquake name.
        a.  Site names

        b.  Magnitude

        c.  Intensity

        d.  Date, time, month day

        e.  Presence of after shocks?  Explain.

15.  a. When did the largest magnitude earthquake occur at Flathead Lake?

       b.  What magnitude and intensity was it?
 

To answer the following questions, you will need to read about the Modified Mercalli Scale.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/topics/mercalli.php

16. For the largest quake in Montana,  click on the Isoseismal map.
      http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/events/1959_08_18.php
       a.  Could we have felt the effects of this quake in Kalispell?

       b.  Explain what was experienced.

17.  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqarchives/
       a. When did the latest Earthquake occur in Montana? 

       b. Where was it?

       c. What was its magnitude and depth?
 
 

Individual Research

18.  Provide at least two detailed, interesting facts of your choice, about earthquakes and tell the location of the source
       of information from the web.  Additions to your list beyond the 2 required are worth extra credit.
       If you're interested in the 7.6 Pakistan earthquake that occurred on Oct. 8, 2005 you can  look here!
       http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html