Intro to Earthquakes

1
Intro to Earthquakes

• Notesred

2
Studying earthquakes

• The study of earthquakes is called seismology.
• A scientist who studies earthquakes is therefore
  called a seismologist.

3
Where do earthquakes occur?

• Most earthquakes occur on or near tectonic plate
  boundaries.
• However, some earthquakes are caused by other
  geological events such as landslides or
  volcanoes.
• Sections of the Earths crust where boundaries
  are shifting are called faults.

4
Are all earthquakes the same?
Copy this table into your notes
5
How do we record earthquakes?

• Seismologists use machines called seismographs.

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Seismographs

• Seismographs are instruments located at or near
  the surface of the Earth that record seismic
  waves and activity.
• They are built using a highly sensitive needle
  that waves back and forth in response to shaking
  on the surface of the Earth.

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Seismograms

• Different from a seismograph is a seismogram. A
  seismogram is the chart or diagram created by the
  seismograph. It is usually on a long piece of
  chart paper that is removed from the seismograph.
  Draw a sample seismogram in your notes.

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More seismograms

• Here are some more seismograms

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California Earthquakes

• As we have learned, California sits on the plate
  boundary between the Pacific plate and the North
  American plate.
• Because of this, various areas of California have
  a high chance of earthquakes.
• Look at this link to see a map of potential areas
  for earthquakes. What do you notice? How likely
  is a big earthquake in San Diego? Why? What do
  the different colors mean?
• WRITE YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND INFERENCES IN YOUR
  SCIENCE NOTEBOOK

10
United Streaming Videos on Earthquakes

• Video 1 Earthquakes
• Video 2 Our Restless Planet