Seismic/Eruption Classroom Teaching Strategies

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Using the Seismic/Eruption Program in
Teaching Larry Braile IRIS GSA Earthquake
Workshop November, 2003

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Seismic/Eruption
Seismic/Eruption includes up-to-date earthquake
and volcanic eruption catalogs and allows the
user to display earthquake and volcanic eruption
activity in speeded up real time on
global, regional or local maps that also show
the topography of
the area in a shaded
relief
map image.

Seismic/Eruption is an
interactive
program that
includes a number of tools

that allow the user to
analyze
earthquake and
volcanic eruption data and

produce effective displays
to
illustrate seismicity and
volcano
patterns.
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Seismic/Eruption Features

1. View earthquakes and eruptions, select range of
   dates, magnitudes, color code depth
2. Use standard views provided with program to
   explore areas and tectonic settings
3. Update earthquake locations from Internet
4. Make Your Own Map option
5. Display/add shaded relief topography
6. Make cross-section diagrams and 3-D views
7. Select earthquake data for statistical analysis
8. Save views, export images, make posters

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Seismic/Eruption Classroom Teaching Strategies
Connections to other activities/lessons Large
Lecture Demonstration Teachable Moment Lab
Exercises Student Research Projects/Questions
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Connections to other
activities/lessons
Seismic Waves
Plate Tectonics
Seismographs
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Plate Puzzle
Earth Structure
Earthquake Location
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Teachable Moment
Within hours after the February 28,
2001 Nisqually earthquake (large blue dot near
Olympia), this map illustrating the historical
seismicity of the Pacific Northwest was produced.
A cross-section was prepared showing the
earthquakes in the white rectangle.
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Teachable Moment
This cross section diagram created using
Seismic/Eruption illustrates the plate tectonic
setting of the Pacific Northwest and the
Nisqually earthquake (white dot).
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Student Research Projects/Questions
Magnitude versus fault length (determined from
aftershock zone length) for various earthquakes
(Alaska, 1964 Denali, 2002 Landers, 1992 Loma
Prieta, 1989 Northridge, 1994, etc.). Results
were quickly obtained using Seismic/Eruption
views. Graph can be logarithmic (as shown) or
linear.
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Student Research Projects/Questions
After a significant earthquake, how long will the
aftershocks last? How large are the aftershocks
likely to be? (Feb. 3, 1965, M8.7 Rat Island,
Alaska, earthquake)
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Science Fair Projects Extensive Research
Kuril and Kamchatka Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Eq and Volc. Statistics
EQ Cross- Section
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Research on Earthquakes
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Research on Earthquakes
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Mini- Posters
Mini-Poster (created with Seismic/Eruption with
some labeling added to exported map image) of
California and Nevada Earthquakes. Poster size
25x28 cm (or larger) after color photocopy
enlargement.
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Be sure to stop at the IRIS Booth

• Pick up FREE slinky, slinky lesson plan, One
  pagers on earthquake topics, two color posters