GEOLOGY 108: Crises of the Earth

Homework #2

Please complete the following for the homework assignment. You should turn in the certificate of completion for the first exercise, and written responses for the remaining questions:

  1. Obtain your "Virtual Seismologist" certificate by locating and determining the magnitude of one of the earthquakes other than "Japan" which will be illustrated in class. Turn in your printed certificate.
  2. So called 'psychics' are commonly quoted in the media with predictions that California will break off along the San Andreas Fault and sink beneath the sea. Is this possible? Why not?
  3. What is the difference in energy release between an EQ of magnitude 3 and one of magnitude 5?
  4. If a magnitude 9 earthquake occurred in the Cascadia subduction zone offshore from the Pacific Northwest, what might happen in Seattle, Portland, and the other onshore sites?
  5. Assess the earthquake hazard in Salt Lake City. Do the same for Houston.

Some helpful resources and overview can be found on the Earthquake hazards web page.

-----LAST MODIFIED: 2/6/01
-----BY: Leeman & Sawyer