Instructor Materials: Overview of Imaging Active Tectonics Module

Outline

The module covers material sequentially, but the units can also often be taught as stand-alone lessons. For instructors who do not wish to use the module in its entirety, suggested pairings are included in the "Context for Use" section on each unit's page.

Unit 1 "If an earthquake happens in the desert and no one lives there, should we care about it?" [How are man-made infrastructure lifelines affected by earthquakes?]

This unit initiates a discussion about the importance of recognizing faults in relation to modern societal infrastructure. Students consider the types of infrastructure necessary to support modern lifestyle, especially for those living in population centers. Students also explore how key infrastructure such as aqueducts, power lines, or oil/gas pipelines, which traverse large distances, may also be susceptible to damage by earthquakes well away from the population centers.

Unit 2 Fault type identification through analysis of geomorphic characteristics

Students predict the most reliable geomorphic features that can be used to identify active faults. Students identify similarities and differences between their spatial predictions, LiDAR images, and Google Earth satellite image observations and propose reasons for any differences or overlaps observed. They consider that the images represent a form of time series that can be used to evaluate the relationship of the earthquake cycle and landscape evolution.

Unit 3 How to see an earthquake from space

In this unit, students will learn the basis for how space geodesy allows the measurement of movements of Earth's surface over wide areas without the need to visit the region in question, and demonstrate the various Earth processes that we are able to measure and monitor in this way. Specifically, we will learn the basics of a technique known as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), and its application to measure where, over what spatial extent, how far, and in what direction, earthquakes have caused the ground to move.

Unit 4 Phenomenology of earthquakes from InSAR data

In this unit, students use the Visible Earthquake interactive InSAR modeling tool to generate plausible fault slip parameters given InSAR data from real earthquakes.

Unit 5 How do earthquakes affect society?

Unit 5 is intended to be a synthesis of the different techniques and concepts covered in the module, as applied to a real-world scenario, emphasizing potential societal impacts. It serves as the module summative assessment.

Making the Module Work

To adapt all or part of the Imaging Active Tectonics module for your classroom you will also want to read through

• Instructor Stories which detail how the module was adapted for use at three different institutions, as well as our guide to
• Using GETSI Modules for Your Course which outlines how to effectively use GETSI modules