Exploring Exploring EarthquakesEarthquakesby: Morgan Hundley Maddy Vaccaby: Morgan Hundley Maddy Vacca

PangeaPangea

• There was only one supercontinent.

• It was called Pangea.

• Pangea is a single landmass that broke up 200 million years ago.

• It formed 300 million years ago.

Major plates that effect the U.S.Major plates that effect the U.S.

The North American plate.The North American plate.

The Juan De Fuca plate.The Juan De Fuca plate.

The Pacific plateThe Pacific plate

These are the major plates These are the major plates that effect the U.S.that effect the U.S.

Why California has more Why California has more earthquakes than Floridaearthquakes than Florida

California sits right along the California sits right along the San Andreas Fault.San Andreas Fault.

The San Andreas Fault causes The San Andreas Fault causes earthquakes.earthquakes.

The hazard zone in Illinois is The hazard zone in Illinois is the Wabash Valley Seismic the Wabash Valley Seismic zone.zone.

Also the New Madrid Seismic Also the New Madrid Seismic zone.zone.

The most destructive earthquake in history The most destructive earthquake in history when it occurs and its magnitude and how when it occurs and its magnitude and how

many people diedmany people died The earthquake was 7.6 on The earthquake was 7.6 on

the Richter Scale.the Richter Scale.

It was felt across much of It was felt across much of Pakistan and Northern India.Pakistan and Northern India.

It killed more than 80,000 It killed more than 80,000 people, and injured 70,000. 4 people, and injured 70,000. 4 million people homeless.million people homeless.

It cut off access to some areas It cut off access to some areas for several days- October 8, for several days- October 8, 2005 Pakistan.2005 Pakistan.

Three types of plate boundary’sThree types of plate boundary’s

Convergent plate boundary, Convergent plate boundary, transform boundary, divergent transform boundary, divergent boundary.boundary.

A convergent plate boundary A convergent plate boundary occurs when two plates move occurs when two plates move toward each other.toward each other.

A transform plate boundary A transform plate boundary occurs when two plates move occurs when two plates move past each other in opposite past each other in opposite directions.directions.

A divergent plate boundary A divergent plate boundary occurs when two plates move occurs when two plates move away from each other.away from each other.

Tsunami’s Tsunami’s

Tsunami’s are very long Tsunami’s are very long wave length low amplitude wave length low amplitude gravity waves. gravity waves.

They are caused by a rapid They are caused by a rapid displacement of a large displacement of a large body of water.body of water.

They travel about 500 to They travel about 500 to 600 miles per hour.600 miles per hour.

They can be caused by a They can be caused by a sudden uplift of the sea sudden uplift of the sea floor and the displacement floor and the displacement of water from an of water from an earthquake.earthquake.

Two types of energy waves

The two types of energy waves are Primary waves and Secondary waves.

Primary waves travel first, going all three types of matters (solid, liquid, gas).

While secondary waves come second and only travel through solids.

Secondary waves travel slower, Primary waves travel faster.

How much more energy is released by How much more energy is released by a 7.2 earthquake than a 6.2 a 7.2 earthquake than a 6.2

earthquake?earthquake?• A table shows that a

magnitude of 7.2 earthquake produces 10 times more ground motion than a magnitude 6.2 earthquake.

• It releases about 32 times more energy than a 6.2 magnitude earthquake.

Applications for seismology besides measuring the magnitude and location of earthquakes

Besides measuring the magnitude and location of earthquakes, seismology has reflection and refraction.

It can be used in geophysical exploration to locate layers of varying density.

The most current earthquake

The place that had the most earthquakes was in Heidi, Chili.

It just happened last week.

Earthquake predictions

Earthquake predictions are not possible yet.

Seismologists will attempt to quantify the risk by a particular fault zone.

Rather than state exactly when an earthquake will happen.

How scientists know where an earthquake actually occurred

They know by underground sensors that tell them that earthquakes are coming to a certain or not certain area.