1. By Becky Simonov Investigating Earthquakes

2. Questions from step 3 and 4 -What do you notice about the distribution of these earthquakes? Answer: The earthquakes are all close to or on the plate boundaries -How does the distribution of these earthquakes compare to the others? Answer: Most of the larger earthquakes happen where plates are colliding. -What type of plate boundary is associated with earthquakes that have a magnitude of 7.0 or greater? Answer: Convergent boundaries are associated with large earthquakes 

3. Questions from step 3 and 4 cont. -What percentage of big earthquakes occur within 100 miles of a convergent plate boundary? Answer: 47 % -What percentage of big earthquakes occur within 200 miles of a convergent plate boundary? Answer: 71% -What new tools or techniques are seismologists using to help them better predict earthquakes? Answer: Scientists are using satellites to help predict earthquakes by using them to find infrared radiation and measure magnetic Signals.

4. Top Ten Top ten places that might Experience a significant earthquake: 1) Southern Europe (Greece, Italy) 2) Asia (around India and the Himalayas) 3) Around Singapore and Malaysia 4) The Middle East 5) Around Japan 6) The Andes Mountains 7) New Zealand 8) The U.S. west coast 9) Southern Alaska 10) Spain Significant, big earthquakes (magnitude 7.0-10.0):

5. Reasons for each place Southern Europe-Lies almost right on the Eurasian and African plates. Asia-Mountainous region that lies right on a fault line. Singapore and Malaysia-Both are islands that lie on a fault line. Islands seem more prone to earthquakes (sometimes) than the mainland. For example, Haiti and Japan. The Middle East- Close to the Eurasian and African plates. Japan- Right on a very active fault line, judging by the amount of earthquakes shown in that area. The Andes Mountains- Lies right in between the Nazca plate and the South American plate. The Nazca plate is right next to the Pacific plate, which seems to have a lot of earthquakes. New Zealand- Right on the Pacific plate, which seems to have the most earthquakes. The U.S. west coast- Right on the Pacific plate and the U.S. west seems to get a lot of earthquakes. Southern Alaska- Right next to a fault line and it is also a mountainous region. Spain- Right next to the African plate and the Eurasian plate.

6. Next place on Earth to experience the “Big One” Based on my research, I believe that New Zealand will receive the next “Big one” or big earthquake. The Pacific Plate, and places around the Pacific Plate have been experiencing very dangerous earthquakes in the past year or so (i.e. Haiti, Chile, and Japan). New Zealand also seems prone to earthquakes as it is right on a fault line. The particular area of the fault line that New Zealand lies on gets many large earthquakes based on the map of large earthquakes shown in the last slide.

7. Questions

8. What have you learned about earthquakes and earthquake predictions? From the data I have collected and the earthquake map on ArcExplorer, I learned that most earthquakes happen on, or close to fault lines. Earthquakes in the last year: I have also learned that earthquakes can be predicted based on past earthquakes. Scientists can predict earthquakes by using satellites that can measure magnetic signals.

9. What factors influence earthquake prediction? There are many factors that influence earthquake predictions. Where the last earthquake is one very large factor. There is also the magnitude of the earthquake, the type of boundary that it is on, and the amount of earthquakes in that area.

10. Where on Earth do most of the really big earthquakes strike? Most big earthquakes seem to strike very close to the Pacific plate and the Eurasian plate. This can be seen by this map showing large earthquakes all over Earth:

11. The end