Readings and Articles
For this section, please:
-
Chapter 3, Section 3.8: Rock Strength and Deformation;
- Read Chapter 5: Introduction to Natural Hazards. Focus on the following sections:
- 5.1: Natural Disasters: Loss of Life and Property Damages, Why Natural Processes Are Sometimes Hazards, Magnitude and Frequency (see “A Closer Look” on page 145 in the 5th edition or pages 138-139 in the 4th edition for more help with this concept), and Death and Damage Caused by Natural Hazards.
- 5.2: Risk Assessment;
- 5.3; and
- 5.5: Population Increase and Hazardous Events.
- Read Chapter 6: Earthquakes and Related Phenomena. Where the textbook and lecture overlap, the textbook provides additional detail on the content.
- Focus on earthquake magnitude and what magnitude measures, and how earthquake intensity is measured (and how these two forms of measurement are different).
- Don't worry about tectonic creep or slow earthquakes.
- Focus on section 6.7: Earthquake Shaking; especially, the sections on seismic wave frequency, material amplification, directivity, and ground acceleration during earthquakes. Relate these to the module notes on earthquake energy and damage.
- Focus on section 6.8: Earthquake Cycle.
- On pages 192-204, the book describes further background on the case studies in the lecture.
- For section 6.14, just briefly summarize human adaptations to earthquake warnings and hazards.
- Listen to the news story "Will a Major Quake Hit the Midwest" Geology researcher Harvey Henson of Southern Illinois University describes to NPR News TV spots he produced to alert the public to the possibility of a major earthquake in the American Midwest. Click the "Listen" button after you click the link.
- Briefly take a look at the USGS Latest Earthquakes page. Be able to answer this question in general terms: Where are earthquakes currently occurring in the US?
-
Listen to these two news stories: "Will a Major Quake Hit the Midwest:" Geology researcher Harvey Henson of Southern Illinois University describes to NPR News TV spots he produced to alert the public to the possibility of a major earthquake in the American Midwest. “Expert: Third World Poised for Quake Catastrophe:” Geologist Ross Stein talks about why third world countries are at a high risk for loss of life and property due to earthquake hazards. Click the "Listen" button after you click the links.
-
Read the following BBC article: “Haiti Devastation Exposes Shoddy Construction:” Experts say it is no surprise that shoddy construction contributed to the level of destruction in Haiti…
Additional resources you may check out:
- Live Earthquake Monitoring. You can view live seismographic data from several seismographs around the U.S. Click a region, and then select the link for today’s date. The seismograph fills up the page as the day progresses, four lines across the page represent one hour of recording.
- Earthquakes and Hollywood. Will California fall off into the ocean during the next quake? Find out at this website, which explains some Hollywood myths about earthquakes and links to other movie related earthquake information.
- How Earthquakes Happen. This animated set of slides shows how earthquakes occur, from the BBC news service.
In case you are bored this weekend:
- Read The Big One (Houghton Mifflin). This book doesn't talk about California, it talks about Missouri. The most significant earthquake threat in the U.S. is the New Madrid fault zone--a major earthquake in this fault zone would produce $1 trillion in damage and kill hundreds of thousands of Midwesterners. A major quake in California would not be as damaging or deadly.
- Read Earthshaking Science: What We Know (and Don't Know) about Earthquakes by Susan Hough. This book is written for a general audience and explains the science behind earthquake events and the innovations in earthquake prediction.
- Go to Universal Studios, Orlando ($200 roundtrip on Southwest Airlines!) and take the Earthquake: The Big One ride.