Earthquake Location

Lawrence W. Braile

Purdue University

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Activities collection and has been reviewed by 1 other review process (view details)

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Initial Publication Date: July 5, 2007 | Reviewed: October 31, 2012 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

Earthquake location is an interesting and significant aspect of seismology. A number of methods that vary from simple to complex are available for learning about earthquake location. The methods also allow connections to other important concepts in seismology and provide a variety of approaches that address different learning styles and can be used for reinforcement and assessment.

Seismology, Geophysics and Structural Geology, Earthquakes | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

Multiple methods allow use in K-16 courses.
Designed for a geophysics course
Integrates geophysics into a core course in geology
Designed for an introductory geology course

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Variable depending on method selected, basic mathematics to an understanding of least squares method.

How the activity is situated in the course

Sequence of activities; could select one as a stand-alone exercise.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Understanding earthquake location.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Analysis and interpretation of seismograms, understanding Earth structure.

Other skills goals for this activity

Using software applications, obtaining data from the Internet, graphing.

Description of the activity/assignment

Earthquake location is an interesting and significant aspect of seismology. Locating earthquakes is necessary for compiling useful seismicity information, calculating magnitudes, and study of fault zones, Earth structure and the earthquake process. Methods of earthquake location involve understanding of seismic waves, wave propagation, interpretation of seismograms, Earth velocity structure, triangulation, and the concepts (and mathematics) of inverse problems. Because earthquake location can be approached with relatively simple to very complex methods, it can be included in various levels of educational curricula and for "in-depth" study. Progressively developing a deep understanding of concepts, computational techniques and applications (and the capabilities, limitations and uncertainties of these applications) is a characteristic of science and an ‎opportunity to "learn science by doing science." A number of methods that vary from simple to complex are available for learning about earthquake location. The methods also allow connections to other important concepts in seismology and provide a variety of approaches that address different learning styles and can be used for reinforcement and assessment.

Uses online and/or real-time data
Has minimal/no quantitative component