Earthquake Webquest

Name: ______Date: ______Period: ______

EARTHQUAKE WEBQUEST

Anearthquake(also known astremorsandtemblors) is the result of a sudden release of energy in theEarth's crustthat createsseismic waves. Earthquakes are recorded with aseismometer, also known as a seismograph. Themoment magnitudeof an earthquake is conventionally reported, or the related Richtermagnitude, with magnitude 3 or lower earthquakes being mostlyimperceptibleand magnitude 7 causing serious damage over large areas. Intensity of shaking is also measured on the modifiedMercalli scale.

At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and sometimes displacing the ground. When a large earthquakeepicenteris located offshore, the seabed sometimes suffers sufficient displacement to cause a tsunami. The shaking in earthquakes can also trigger landslides and occasionally volcanic activity.

In its most generic sense, the wordearthquakeis used to describe any seismic event—whether a natural phenomenon or an event caused by humans—that generatesseismic waves. Earthquakes are caused mostly by rupture of geologicalfaults, but also by volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts, and nuclear experiments. An earthquake's point of initial rupture is called itsfocusorhypocenter. The termepicenterrefers to the point at ground level directly above this.

Reuters News Service

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B10X520081202

1.  How deep was the earthquake which struckTaiwanonDecember 1, 2008?

2.  When was the most recent, worse earthquake to strikeTaiwan? Describe it.

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

Use the USGS Latest Earthquake Map to answer the following questions.

1.  When was the most recent earthquake and what was its magnitude?

http://scedc.caltech.edu/recent/

2.Where was the most recent earthquake closest toHemet, CA TODAY? Givea few details.

USGS Archives

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqarchives/

Find Earthquake information by state, and go toNew Jersey.

1.  When and where was the most recent earthquake inNew Jersey?

2.  Go to Historic information and describe the type of damage due to earthquakes typically seen in New Jersey.

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program- North American Map

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/

1.  When and where was the strongest, recent earthquake in theUS since this month?

2.  What was its magnitude?

3.  Describe the earthquake that occurred in the Mid Atlantic in within the past 3 months.

FEMA Earthquake

http://www.fema.gov/earthquake-safety-home

1.  Before an earthquake what kind of shoes does FEMA recommend you purchase?

2.  During an earthquake should you stay indoors or outdoors? Why?

National Geographic: Tsunami 2004

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1227_041226_tsunami.html

1.  How large was the earthquake that caused the 2004 Tsunami in theIndian Ocean?

2.  How tall were the largest waves that struck the coastlines around the earthquakes epicenter?

3.  What type of plate boundary and what kind of fault caused this tsunami?

Japan Earthquake of 2011

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1761942/Japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-of-2011

1.  How large and what time was the Japan earthquake in 2011?

2.  What type of plate boundary and what kind of fault caused this earthquake?

3.  Describe the plate movement and the effects of this earthquake?