Department of Earth Science |Northeastern Illinois University

INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SCIENCE
ESCI 121

Homework: Earthquake Maps in Living Color  (Due at class time, Thursday, October 24, 2008)                                                        Dr. Sanders

In this assignment, you will use the resources of the US Geological Survey to plot a color map showing the foci of recent earthquakes in a specific area.  You will write a brief (one page or less) report on your findings, addressing specific questions.

Assigned areas:

We will research the areas that we've studied earlier this semester, plus a few new areas.  Each student is assigned an area as shown in the document at this link.

Finding Information:

Go to the Earth Science Department home page and click "Terrific Links" (in the right hand column). 

At the top left, click “Earthquake Watch!”

In the blue boxes at left, click “Search EQ Database”

Under "Select the Search Area", select "Rectangular Area". 

Select “Generate Map”

Scroll down, and enter the latitude and longitude of the rectangle you have chosen.  NOTE:  If you are working in the western hemisphere, longitudes have to be entered as negative numbers!  If you are working in the southern hemisphere, latitudes have to be entered as negative numbers!

Click “Submit Search”

Wait for a minute or two; it takes awhile.  Eventually a map of earthquake foci will appear.

Check the map and see if it shows what you wanted it to.  To enlarge or reduce the area, go back one page, and enter new latitude/longitude coordinates.  Check again to be sure the area shows what you wanted it to.  Spend some time here, tweaking your coordinates to produce the best possible map.  In some cases, you might decide to print two maps to show clearly what you want. 

Print out THREE COPIES of the map (and this is important...) in color!!!!!!!!   This is important!  Print three copies in color!!!!!!!!  Seriously, the three copies of the map must be in color!!!!!  

On the three color copies of the map, write in large letters what the name of the mapped area is (e.g., Japan, Hawaii, etc.).

Writing your report:

    Format:  Your report must be typed in 12-point font or larger.  No particular line spacing is required, however, there is a one page limit.
    Writing: Your report must be written in complete sentences. 
    No plagiarism: The report must be written by you, in your own words.  You will not receive credit for material written by others!  Do not copy and paste information from web pages or any other source; write in your own words to show your own understanding of the material.  Be aware of the NEIU policy on academic misconduct.

Your report should include the following information, in this order (use this numbering in your answers):

1.  Give the name and location of your earthquake area, including the latitude and longitude coordinates you used to produce your map.. 

2.  Briefly describe the distribution of earthquake foci that you see on the map.  For example, do you see randomly scattered earthquakes?  Or do they follow a pattern of some sort? 

3.  Examine the focal depths of the earthquakes in your area.  How deep are the deepest?  If you have more than one color of dots indicating depth, do the colors follow some sort of pattern?  Explain.

4.  What is the geotectonic environment of your area?  (For example, is your area situated on or near a plate boundary?  In the middle of a plate, with no boundaries nearby?  If near a boundary, what type of boundary is it?  What type(s) of plates are involved--continental or oceanic?) 

5.  Explain why the earthquakes on your map show the distribution that they do (both in terms of their locations and their depths).

6. Print out the world map that appears at this link.  Plot your study area on the map.

Put your name on all five pages.  Staple your write-up to the world map, but leave the three copies of the earthquake focus map separate.  All five pages are due at class time; late homework will not be accepted.