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| Your task: Imagine you have been commissioned by the STAFFORDSHIRE CONSTABULARY to produce a public information poster on Earthquake Hazards aimed at PRIMARY SCHOOL children. Before hand you need to assess the likelihood of the area being affected by an earthquake. Divide your group so that all the following tasks can be completed. |
1) Using REAL data from the USGS you can plot the location of recent earthquakes in North Staffordshire. Once plotted use the magnitude to draw a proportional circle (e.g. Magnitude 2.3 = radius of circle 2.3cm). Add the date of the quake to the map too.
|
Number |
Date |
Grid Ref |
Magnitude |
Depth (km) |
|
1 |
20/02/1995 |
924415 |
3.3 |
5 |
|
2 |
21/02/1995 |
865485 |
2.2 |
10 |
|
3 |
22/02/1995 |
807426 |
2.3 |
10 |
|
4 |
22/02/1995 |
858491 |
2.3 |
10 |
|
5 |
24/02/1995 |
872460 |
2.2 |
10 |
|
6 |
20/2/1996 |
807404 |
1.9 |
5 |
|
7 |
06/05/1996 |
856485 |
2.8 |
5 |
|
8 |
28/02/98 |
826392 |
1.7 |
1 |
Using your knowledge of the cause of earthquakes try to describe and explain the pattern of quakes mapped
2a) Try to predict the next quake. Plot the Magnitude against Date (01/01/1995 to 31/12/2000) to see if there is a pattern. Be aware of the difficulties that seismologists have in planning for future quakes.
2b) Plot Magnitude against depth as a scattergraph……do you see any correlation……..if so what is it?
3) One area suffers more quakes than any other and there are several Primary schools in the close vicinity. Get to work on trying to help the pupils (aged 9-11) to understand:
1. Why a quake happens
2. What its effects can be
3. How they can prepare.
The work should be produced in the form of a POSTER, which is both informative and colourful.
You have the use of the Internet and printers as well as a booklet outlining how the US have tried to inform children of the threats from Earthquakes. It is often best to make use of as many pictures and as few words as is possible, remember you are trying to get across a serious message but make it fun !
In your poster you must include the following:
ü A brief explanation as to the causes of earthquakes ( Search the following site for details: http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk or http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/)
ü Information on the probable effects of quakes – such as the types of hazard people are likely to experience. (Use the recent reports from the Sentinel Newspaper May7th 1996 (page7) & May 8th 1996 (page10)) or http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk
ü What people can do in advance of a quake to make their homes and workplaces safer.
ü What people should do during a quake.
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/readyearth.html
ü There are a number of reports from the Sentinel for you too look at and make use of too.
Will you be prepared when the BIG ONE next strikes?
