Geology 101, Lab Section Name:

Due Mon 12/5 – NOTE: Labs turned in after 3pm will not be accepted.

Earthquakes and Seismic Hazards in Washington State

Part 1: Estimating Earthquake Hazards & Effects:

Information on Earthquake Hazards in the Greater Seattle Area can be found on the United States
Geological Survey’s website at: (http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/pacnw/lifeline/eqhazards.html).

 Examine Figure 1 on the website listed above (or the bag of the Earthquake Hazards Map provided in
hard copy) and draw a cross section (side-view) diagram that shows the relationship between the
Pacific Plate, the Juan de Fuca Plate and the North American Plate in the space provided below.
Clearly show the label each plate with its name. Show the locations for and label the “convergent
plate boundary” and the “divergent plate boundary.”

West East

Answer the questions below using the map provided or the electronic version or paper copy of the
map on the website listed above (you’ll find it if you scroll down to the “Earthquakes effects” section at the
bottom of the page and click on the link for “View 266 kb full-color Lifelines map.“) Note: There is a link for a
larger/ easier to read version of the legend for this map at the bottom of the map.

 Examine the Kent River valley (it is the valley that runs parallel to highway 167) and the Auburn
Area (by the intersection of 167 and 18). What kind of deposits (bedrock or loose sediment) is found
in each area?

 Does the presence of these kinds of deposits increase or decrease the probability of liquefaction and
the amount of seismic shaking during an earthquake? (If you are not sure how to answer this
questions read the section on “Attenuation and Amplification.”)

 How wide and how long is the zone of probable ground rupture along the Seattle Fault?

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  What part of the city of Seattle is built in this fault zone? (If needed: you can check out a map of
downtown Seattle at http://www.lostinseattle.com – just scroll the pointer over a section of the city to
see what the name of each neighborhood is.)

 According to the map of Earthquake Hazards What parts of Seattle would be most vulnerable to
earthquake damage (= which parts are built on “unconsolidated sediments”)?

 Which major roads in the Puget Sound area cross the Seattle Fault zone of probable ground rupture?
How would this effect emergency rescue teams after an Earthquake?

Determine how many of each type of the lifelines listed below cross the Seattle fault zone and list at least
one secondary hazard (danger that occurs after the earthquake) that would results from the disruption of
each lifeline. Explain your reasoning.

 Major electrical line:

 Major water supply line:

 Major sewer line:

 Natural gas pipeline:

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Locating the Epicenter of an Earthquake: We will now look at data from a theoretical earthquake and
determine the epicenter of an Earthquake. Scientists can determine distance to an Earthquake by noting the
difference between the arrival of the fast moving Primary waves (p-waves) and the slower moving
Secondary (S- waves). Go the website indicated and fill in the information requested below:
http://www.sciencecourseware.com/virtualearthquake/VQuakeExecute.html

Select the option for a San Francisco area earthquake and fill in the information below. Then go back to
the first page and do the same for the Japan Region Earthquake.

Epicenter Distance: Use these three seismograms provided to estimate the S-P time interval for each of the
recording stations. Record your measurement below:

San Francisco Japan Region

Station S-P Interval Station S-P Interval
Eureka, CA seconds Pusan Station seconds
Elko, NV seconds Tokyo Station seconds
Las Vegas, NV seconds
Akita Station seconds

Determining Distance from S-P: Use the S-P graph on this webpage and the estimates you made for the S-
P time intervals for the three seismograms (listed above) to complete the table below. The horizontal grid is
in one second intervals.

Station Epicenter Distance Station Epicenter Distance

Eureka, CA  KM Pusan Station  KM
Elko, NV  KM Tokyo Station  KM
Las Vegas, NV  KM Akita Station  KM

When you’ve recorded the distances, click the Epicenter button to see how you did, then describe
how your result compare the actual figures and list them below.
Note: if your calculation are listed as “Excellent Work” there will not be a button for error, so put
write the words “Excellent work, error = 0 km” across the relevant table(s).
San Francisco Actual Difference from Japan Actual Epicenter Difference from
Recording Distance your Recording Distance your calculations
Station (km) calculations Station (km)
Eureka, CA Pusan
Elko, NV Tokyo
Las Vegas, NV Akita

 What was you’re biggest source of error (if any)? IF your score was perfect – just say “I was
was perfect” here.

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Maps from the United States Geological Survey and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network website
http://www.pnsn.org/earthquakes/recent.

Washington & Oregon Earthquakes: Time and date of you check this website.

Fill in the blanks below to indicate how many earthquakes there have been in the state of Washington and
surrounding area? (Note: the total number of EQs on this map on the gray bar at the top of the map.)

the last 2 hours: the last 2 days: the last 2 weeks:

 What part of WA State had the highest number of earthquakes (West, North, South, or East)? Why
don’t we have an equal distribution of earthquakes across our state.

 What is the location and magnitude of the largest earthquake on this map and when did it occur?

 Zoom in so that Everett is at the top your map view, Olympia is at the bottom left, and Snoqualmie is
at the right side. Your view should include Seattle, Kent, and Tacoma. How many of the
Earthquakes in the last two weeks occurred in the area shown in this close up view ?

Click on the dot for each EQ to get information on each event. What town is closest to the largest EQ in
this map:

And what was the magnitude , and depth of this event?

 Click on the link at the top of the page for “Volcano Seismicity.” These maps show the locations of
the last 20 EQ to occur around each. Scroll down to each volcano’s name to bring up the relevant
map, then fill in the table below:
Location Mt. St. Helens Mt. Rainier
Date of earliest EQ
Date of earliest EQ
Total number of days shown
Size of largest EQ

The biggest EQ to strike our region in the last 50 years occurred on February 28, 2001. It was a 6.8
magnitude EQ. The epicenter of this earthquake was 17 km NE of Olympia, and the focus was 52 km below
the surface. A map showing how much the ground shook in this earthquake is posted on the class Canvas
website. Examine the map answer the questions below. Note: the epicenter (source) of the earthquake is
shown by the black star)

 What degree of shaking, according to the map, was there in:

Tacoma vs Seattle ?

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  Which place is farther from the epicenter Tacoma or Seattle (circle one)?

 Which had the strongest shaking Tacoma or Seattle (circle one)?

 Suggest a reason for this pattern (hint: consider the “Lifelines and Earthquake hazards in the Greater
Seattle Area” map)

US Earthquakes- go to: http:/earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/

Click on gear symbol at the top-right side of the map and change settings to show “7 Days, All
Magnitudes U.S.”
 How many earthquakes in total were there in map area showing the lower 48 US states in the last

week (date you checked = )

(No you don’t have to count them- the total is at the left side of the map)

Use the drop down menu on the zoom bar to zoom and compare “Alaska,” “California,” and the “Central
US” note the number of Earthquakes on Each Map (make sure you are still seeing “7 Days, All Magnitudes
U.S.” earthquakes.”

 Which region or state had the most earthquakes- and how many earthquakes did they have in this
state and the surrounding

region ? Total number of Earthquakes:

What was the size of the largest quake ?

 Is there any type plate boundary is associated with these Earthquakes? If so, which type of boundary
is it? (Hint: Check chapter 2 in your book if you need to double check the type of plate boundaries we
have in the USA).

 Now go to the map for the US and select the “List sort order” option under settings. Then and
list the dates, magnitudes, and locations for the FOUR largest Earthquakes that have occurred in the
last week in the United States.

Date Magnitude Location (= US State or County name, if not in the US)

1.

2.

3.

4.

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 Next Select the option for “7 day, magnitude 2.5+”

 Which region of the lower 48 states has the most earthquakes with magnitude of 2.5+?

Are there any active plate-tectonic boundaries associated with this state? If so what kind of boundary
or boundaries?

 Next scroll down to the Alaska map (make sure that the map remain set to showing EQ = 2.5+).
How many earthquakes occurred in Alaska over the past week, and how does this compare to the
number and size of the earthquakes along the West Coast of the US?

 Where do most Earthquakes occur in Alaska, and what type of plate boundary accounts for this
pattern?

Fill out the table below that summarized how the number of 2.5+earthquakes in Washington State in the last
week compares with those in California; the Midwest excluding Oklahoma; Alaska; and the East Coast
Which region listed has the Which region has largest EQ
most EQ? (the EQ w. the biggest magnitude)

Washington vs. California: Washington or California: Washington or California:

Washington vs. the Midwest:

Washington or the Midwest: Washington or the Midwest:

Washington vs. the East Coast: Washington or the East Coast: Washington or the East Coast:

Washington vs. Alaska Washington or Alaska Washington or Alaska

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Now zoom to “Hawaii.” Set the map to “7 days, all magnitudes.” Examine the detailed map of Hawaii.

 Which of the Hawaiian Islands has the most earthquakes?

 What geologic feature accounts for this pattern? (If needed, you can review Hawaiian geography on
page 402-403 or your text):

Now zoom to the map for the whole world. Record how many Earthquakes there have been in the
last week, and the requested information for the largest EQ?

 Number of total EQs worldwide in the last week =

 Largest EQ in the last week =

Size:

Depth:

Location: