Earthquakes
- Submitted by: tremig
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- Category: Science
- Date Submitted: 01/11/2012 07:55 AM
- Pages: 5
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Earthquakes
What patterns to you see in the distribution of earthquakes across the continental United States?
The most obvious patterns show that more severe earthquakes are notably seen in the western part of the United States along the coastline of California, Washington, and Oregon. The severity tends to ease as you look towards the center of the United States until you reach the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the Central U.S. Here you notice the severity in a smaller area with no coastal fault line. The most severe activity is near the fault lines and eases as you move away from them.
Locate your home on this map and make a note of the relative risk to you by indicating the color where you live. The USGS also reports on earthquakes around the world. Visit this interactive map to find the latest global earthquake data from the past seven days: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/
I currently reside in eastern Iowa and am at minimal risk for an earthquake as I am in the blue area which shows one of the lowest areas for shaking activity at 4-8 % g (g is the acceleration of a falling object due to gravity).
What patterns do you see in the distribution of earthquakes around the world?
The most obvious pattern to me in the distribution of earthquakes around the world is the large amount of activity around islands and coast lines, and the minimal amount of activity on any large land mass. Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state and one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Alaska experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost every year.
Click on one of the earthquakes on the map and make a note of its magnitude and region. Would you be willing to live in one of the red areas on the map? Explain.
Since I have no desire to live outside of the United States I clicked on the Arkansas area (I have family there) with a 2.9 magnitude. I do not feel as if I would live in the red area. Although historically there have not been any...
What patterns to you see in the distribution of earthquakes across the continental United States?
The most obvious patterns show that more severe earthquakes are notably seen in the western part of the United States along the coastline of California, Washington, and Oregon. The severity tends to ease as you look towards the center of the United States until you reach the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the Central U.S. Here you notice the severity in a smaller area with no coastal fault line. The most severe activity is near the fault lines and eases as you move away from them.
Locate your home on this map and make a note of the relative risk to you by indicating the color where you live. The USGS also reports on earthquakes around the world. Visit this interactive map to find the latest global earthquake data from the past seven days: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/
I currently reside in eastern Iowa and am at minimal risk for an earthquake as I am in the blue area which shows one of the lowest areas for shaking activity at 4-8 % g (g is the acceleration of a falling object due to gravity).
What patterns do you see in the distribution of earthquakes around the world?
The most obvious pattern to me in the distribution of earthquakes around the world is the large amount of activity around islands and coast lines, and the minimal amount of activity on any large land mass. Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state and one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Alaska experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost every year.
Click on one of the earthquakes on the map and make a note of its magnitude and region. Would you be willing to live in one of the red areas on the map? Explain.
Since I have no desire to live outside of the United States I clicked on the Arkansas area (I have family there) with a 2.9 magnitude. I do not feel as if I would live in the red area. Although historically there have not been any...