Seismic/Eruption Teaching Modules Lawrence W. Braile Sheryl J. Braile Teaching About Earthquakes and Volcanoes Using the Seismic/Eruption Computer Program CSTA, Pasadena Larry Braile

Seismic/Eruption Seismic/Eruption includes up-to-date earthquake and volcanic eruption catalogs and allows the user to display earthquake and volcanic eruption activity in “speeded up real time” on global, regional or local maps that also show the topography of the area in a shaded relief map image. Seismic/Eruption is an interactive program that includes a number of tools that allow the user to analyze earthquake and volcanic eruption data and produce effective displays to illustrate seismicity and volcano patterns. This ppt:

Seismic/Eruption Features 1.View earthquakes and eruptions, select range of dates, magnitudes, color code depth 2.Use standard views provided with program to explore areas and tectonic settings 3.Update earthquake locations from Internet 4.“Make Your Own Map” option 5.Display/add shaded relief topography 6.Make cross-section diagrams and 3-D views 7.Select earthquake data for statistical analysis 8.Save views, export images, make posters

Mini-Poster (created with Seismic/Eruption with some labeling added to exported map image) of California and Nevada Earthquakes. Poster size ~25x28 cm (or larger) after color photocopy enlargement.

Demonstration of some features and capabilities of the Seismic/Eruption software:

Seismic/Eruption Classroom Teaching Strategies Connections to other activities/lessons “Teachable Moment” Student Presentations – “Commercial”, Travel Brochure Student Research Projects/Questions Science Fair Projects

Connections to other activities/lessons Earthquake Location Plate Tectonics Earth Structure Plate Puzzle Seismographs Seismic Waves

Bay Area Earthquakes USGS SIM 2848 Bay Area Earthquakes Seismic-Eruption “Make your own map” option

“Teachable Moment” Within hours after the February 28, 2001 Nisqually earthquake (large blue dot near Olympia), this map illustrating the historical seismicity of the Pacific Northwest was produced. A cross-section was prepared showing the earthquakes in the white rectangle.

“Teachable Moment” Puget Sound Area Coast Approximate boundaries of the upper (seismogenic) part of the subducted slab (Juan de Fuca plate) Olympic Mountains This cross section diagram (vertical axis is depth in km) created using Seismic/Eruption illustrates the plate tectonic setting of the Pacific Northwest and the Nisqually earthquake (white dot).

Student Presentations – “Commercial” Assign students to select a state, region or country and prepare a commercial (with visual aids) encouraging people to visit their area. The commercial should provide information on the plate tectonic, earthquake and volcano “attractions” of the area and the history of these events. Appropriate attention should be given to hazard awareness and safety – “what to do in case of an earthquake”, etc. Earthquake map of Utah created with the “Make Your Own Map” feature of Seismic/Eruption

Student Presentations – Travel Brochure

Science Fair Projects – Extensive Research Kuril and Kamchatka Earthquakes and Volcanoes EQ Cross- Section Eq and Volc. Statistics

Magnitude versus fault length (determined from aftershock zone length) for various earthquakes (Alaska, 1964; Sumatra, 2004; Denali, 2002; Landers, 1992; Loma Prieta, 1989; Northridge, 1994, etc.). Results were quickly obtained using Seismic/Eruption views. Alaska, 1964 Denali, 2002 Landers, 1992 Sumatra, 2004 Magnitude versus fault length Northridge, 1994 Loma Prieta, 1989 Student Research Projects/Questions Magnitude of earthquake is controlled by fault length that ruptures (data for diagram generated using Seismic/Eruption program)

Student Research Projects/Questions After a significant earthquake, how long will the aftershocks last? How large are the aftershocks likely to be? (Feb. 3, 1965, M8.7 Rat Island, Alaska, earthquake)

Research on Earthquakes Frequency of earthquakes

DescriptorMagnitudeAverage Annually Great8 and higher1 ¹ Major ² Strong ² Moderate ² Light ,000 (est.) Minor ,000 (est.) Very Minor ,300,000 (est.) ¹ Based on observations since ² Based on observations since Worldwide earthquakes per year (from USGS):

Worldwide earthquakes per year:

How many M6+ earthquakes each year? 6

Worldwide earthquakes per year: How many M6+ earthquakes each year? 6 ~150

Research on Earthquakes