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NOvember 2013
L earning A ctivity :
Mapping Quake Risk
Grades 7-12
Today, people are “mapping our world” with
the aid of Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) technology. Mapping can be done in
the field or the lab—even from smartphones.
You can make maps with real-time data about
wildfires, tsunamis, and tornadoes. You can
make maps with imagery collected with visible
light, infrared, and radar data.
GIS helps people solve everyday problems
in Earth science from coastal erosion on the
local beach to global climate change. Why?
Because Earth science happens everywhere, and
analyzing data through maps empowers us to
understand our world and make it a better place.
In this activity, you’ll use GIS to observe
worldwide patterns of earthquakes and
volcanoes and analyze the relationships of those
patterns to tectonic plate boundaries. Then
you’ll identify cities at risk.
Materials
•Computer with Internet access
Procedure
Source: Esri.
Adapted with permission.
Sunday
1. Go online to http://esriurl.com/MOW21map.
You’ll see a map with three layers turned on:
Earthquake Location, PDC Active Hazards,
and Holocene Volcanoes. The check mark
next to the layer name tells you the layer is
turned on and visible on the map. You can
Monday
Tuesday
use the three-button
panel above the layer
names to jump between
map information,
contents, and legend.
2. Turn off the Holocene
Volcanoes layer and PDC
Active Hazards layer so
that only Earthquake
Locations are showing
on the map. Do
earthquakes occur in the
Comparing the population density of southeast Asia to earthquakes, volcanoes, and
places you expect?
plate boundaries in the Our World GIS Education curriculum.
3. Turn on the volcanoes
layer. What patterns do
actual plate boundaries to the ones you
you see in the volcano locations on the map?
hypothesized in the previous step’s question.
4. In the Earthquakes layer, each point is
Record all similarities and differences. Are
symbolized on the map representing its
there any areas where physical features,
magnitude on the Richter scale. Turn on the
plate boundaries, and seismic and volcanic
Top 20 Magnitude Earthquakes layer. How
activities overlap?
do the Top 20 Magnitude locations compare 7. Turn on the Major Cities layer in the table of
to the other Earthquakes layer? Identify
contents. Use the Zoom, Pan, and Identify
three ways.
tools to find cities that have an expected high
5. Earth is always changing. The planet’s
risk or low risk for an earthquake or a volcanic
crust is composed of several tectonic plates
eruption. Name five high-risk cities and five
that are always on the move. The effects
low-risk cities. Remember to turn layers on
of movement are most noticeable at the
and off and move them around as needed.
boundaries between the plates. Based on
the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes,
You or your teacher can explore many
where do you think the plate boundaries are? more topics including geology, climate, and
6. Turn off the Volcanoes layer. Turn on the
population in “Mapping Our World” free,
Earth’s Tectonic Plates layer. Compare the
online at http://esriurl.com/MOWAGI.
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
Happy Birthday!
Alfred Wegener,
German Meteorologist,
Framer of Continental Drift
Theory, Born 1880
3
4
5
6
8
9
15
16
21
22
23
27
28
29
30
Hannukah Begins
(Sundown)
Nov. 27-28, 2013:
Thanksgiving
Nov. 3-6, 2013:
Geoscience Event:
ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual
Meetings, Tampa, Florida
Happy Birthday!
Marie Curie,
Polish Geochemist and
Physicist, Born 1867
Daylight Saving
Time Ends
10
11
12
13
18
14
Happy Birthday!
Charles Lyell,
Scottish Geologist,
“Principles of Geology”
Author, Born 1797
Veterans Day
17
7
Nov. 7-9, 2013:
Geoscience Event: NSTA
Area Conference, National
Science Teachers Association,
Charlotte, North Carolina
19
20
GIS Day
(Geographic Information
Systems Day)
24
25
26
American Geosciences Institute | www.agiweb.org
NOvember 2013
L earning A ctivity :
Mapping Quake Risk
Grades 7-12
Today, people are “mapping our world” with
the aid of Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) technology. Mapping can be done in
the field or the lab—even from smartphones.
You can make maps with real-time data about
wildfires, tsunamis, and tornadoes. You can
make maps with imagery collected with visible
light, infrared, and radar data.
GIS helps people solve everyday problems
in Earth science from coastal erosion on the
local beach to global climate change. Why?
Because Earth science happens everywhere, and
analyzing data through maps empowers us to
understand our world and make it a better place.
In this activity, you’ll use GIS to observe
worldwide patterns of earthquakes and
volcanoes and analyze the relationships of those
patterns to tectonic plate boundaries. Then
you’ll identify cities at risk.
Materials
•Computer with Internet access
Procedure
Source: Esri.
Adapted with permission.
Sunday
1. Go online to http://esriurl.com/MOW21map.
You’ll see a map with three layers turned on:
Earthquake Location, PDC Active Hazards,
and Holocene Volcanoes. The check mark
next to the layer name tells you the layer is
turned on and visible on the map. You can
Monday
Tuesday
use the three-button
panel above the layer
names to jump between
map information,
contents, and legend.
2. Turn off the Holocene
Volcanoes layer and PDC
Active Hazards layer so
that only Earthquake
Locations are showing
on the map. Do
earthquakes occur in the
Comparing the population density of southeast Asia to earthquakes, volcanoes, and
places you expect?
plate boundaries in the Our World GIS Education curriculum.
3. Turn on the volcanoes
layer. What patterns do
actual plate boundaries to the ones you
you see in the volcano locations on the map?
hypothesized in the previous step’s question.
4. In the Earthquakes layer, each point is
Record all similarities and differences. Are
symbolized on the map representing its
there any areas where physical features,
magnitude on the Richter scale. Turn on the
plate boundaries, and seismic and volcanic
Top 20 Magnitude Earthquakes layer. How
activities overlap?
do the Top 20 Magnitude locations compare 7. Turn on the Major Cities layer in the table of
to the other Earthquakes layer? Identify
contents. Use the Zoom, Pan, and Identify
three ways.
tools to find cities that have an expected high
5. Earth is always changing. The planet’s
risk or low risk for an earthquake or a volcanic
crust is composed of several tectonic plates
eruption. Name five high-risk cities and five
that are always on the move. The effects
low-risk cities. Remember to turn layers on
of movement are most noticeable at the
and off and move them around as needed.
boundaries between the plates. Based on
the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes,
You or your teacher can explore many
where do you think the plate boundaries are? more topics including geology, climate, and
6. Turn off the Volcanoes layer. Turn on the
population in “Mapping Our World” free,
Earth’s Tectonic Plates layer. Compare the
online at http://esriurl.com/MOWAGI.
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
Happy Birthday!
Alfred Wegener,
German Meteorologist,
Framer of Continental Drift
Theory, Born 1880
3
4
5
6
8
9
15
16
21
22
23
27
28
29
30
Hannukah Begins
(Sundown)
Nov. 27-28, 2013:
Thanksgiving
Nov. 3-6, 2013:
Geoscience Event:
ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual
Meetings, Tampa, Florida
Happy Birthday!
Marie Curie,
Polish Geochemist and
Physicist, Born 1867
Daylight Saving
Time Ends
10
11
12
13
18
14
Happy Birthday!
Charles Lyell,
Scottish Geologist,
“Principles of Geology”
Author, Born 1797
Veterans Day
17
7
Nov. 7-9, 2013:
Geoscience Event: NSTA
Area Conference, National
Science Teachers Association,
Charlotte, North Carolina
19
20
GIS Day
(Geographic Information
Systems Day)
24
25
26
American Geosciences Institute | www.agiweb.org