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Friday, February 25, 2011

Tsunami Science: A Special Method


Due 23/02/11

Early Warning One World Essay

Tsunami Science

Seismograph Method

Kyle C.

Introduction:

From more than 1000 years until today, people had been disturbed with freakishly large ocean wave. This wave called “Tsunami,” meaning harbor wave in Japanese is a huge ocean wave, which can travel up to approximately (rounded) 1000km/hr. It occurs due to eruptions and sudden movements beneath surface but most devastative Tsunamis are caused by quakes underground. As to prevent death and injury from the Tsunamis, scientists had invented a measuring instrument called Seismograph; this instrument indicates when and how the size of the wave will approach. By using Seismograph, scientists (seismologists) can communicate with others who dwell near the sea shore to stay safe. I would like to explain the Seismograph method that scientists utilize to predict the signs of Tsunamis.

A) Introduction to Seismograph

An instrument called Seismograph measures the movement of the seismic waves; it amplifies, detects, and records the vibrations of the ground during the quake. Seismographs are used to gather more information of Seismic disturbances and to monitor the early warnings (signs) of seismic events. Seismographs are frequently utilized in developed or island countries. Seismologists, Geologists, Park Rangers etc utilize seismographs to record the seismic events. Earliest Seismograph was invented in A.D 136 by “Zhang Heng”, an ancient astronomer from China. However modern seismographs we use today had been created by an English Seismologist John Milne who invented the horizontal pendulum seismograph in 1880. Modern seismographs work electromagnetically; how it works is that the magnet attached to the seismograph is used to hold the mass. The pen below the mass detects and records the movement of the seismic events. When the small electric signals are produced, these signals are recorded on a monitor or a seismogram. Visual monitoring, which records the movement and the action of the seismic wave is known as “recording drum seismogram.”

As the amplitude of the wave increases, seismologists can tell that the size of the tsunami will turn out to be larger. On the other hand, as the length of wavelength increases, the slower the wave is produced per sec. By using these techniques to find about the seismic activities, seismologists can prevent danger earlier.

B) Benefits and Limitations

As I said before, Seismographs are mainly used in developed or island countries but it should also be needed to all countries which border sea; people never know when and where the waves will strike to. Almost 4/5 of Tsunamis generally build up around Pacific Ocean, they occur along countries which border “Rim of Fire” (Mostly South East Asia – Oceania). In-order for scientists to discover where the wave is heading to or at least the midpoint, scientists find the epicenter. Epicenter is the meeting center of the different locations where waves originate. It is important to know that where and when the Tsunamis approach since, it gives a sign to prevent from danger. As a fact, Tsunamis occurred in many locations in Japan; as the seismograph indicated where the wave will hit, the scientists in the urban areas could communicate with people next to the gulf/shore to stay safe before the Tsunamis had strike. This communication was the success of avoiding Tsunami danger.

On the contrary, there were some limitations. Although (Ex. Japan) was able to avoid from the hit, not all the countries that had faced Tsunamis weren’t successful (in this case Thailand). It was not the matter of fact that Seismologists in Thailand predicted incorrect, there were lack of communication between the Urban area (Bangkok the Capital) and regions next to shore. Due to the inadequate facilities, seismologists couldn’t connect to areas such as forests or areas near the shore where communities lived. It has been issued that, due to lack of communication, many people suffered. It is not that the Seismograph indicated wrong; there was a problem that should’ve been fixed. Therefore we should acknowledge the importance of seismograph; without seismograph to determine the wave, we will all be in jeopardy.

C) Social and Environmental Impact

Impact on Countries:

Though the Tsunamis are not a long term disruption, it damages our circumstances; the Earthquake, which occurred in Thailand, abolished hundreds of innocent lives. The Thailand Earthquake had great impact on their economy, as the Tsunamis swept the whole surface the entire land was a mess (spotting a dead fish on deck). This would require money to renovate however perhaps it would’ve been impossible for some countries (We can assume that Thailand can renovate). Though may the area not renovated be a mess, it would be better to stay like this since it will be possible that wave would strike the same place again. So as you can see, seismograph is not always the matter, but one thing for sure is that it can save at least one person.

Conclusion:

Seismograph method is a major importance in our society. Seismograph should be needed since it can determine the movement of the waves towards us; this machine/technology can give access to us for/to receive information from other neighbors. Nevertheless, it is a problem that this technology is overpricing so it will be formidable for all the countries to purchase this. Besides the seismograph issue, a massive problem that influences others are lack of communication, in-order for everyone to be safe, technology between rural and urban regions should develop. In conclusion, Seismograph is a useful method, which can save thousands of people’s lives; this can be a live savior today.

Works Cited

About.com. “Famous Seismologists and Earthquake Detection.” About com. Inventors. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. .

How Stuff Works. How does a seismograph work? What is the Richter scale? N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. .

Webquest. “Killer Waves strike the Coast.” Tsunami Webquest. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. .

More information about seismograph method was in textbook. (Sections that were on the test)

Monday, February 7, 2011

Earthquake occurred in South Korea

Earthquake occurred in South Korea
Kyle C.
2/7/2011

On February 2nd 2010, An Earthquake has disturbed South Korea; the earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 occurred with its epicenter located at South West Seoul, though this wasn’t a massive earthquake such as the recent clash of earthquake occurred in Haiti, this disturbed South Koreans from their relaxed time (that’s annoying…) No one was injured however no one noticed what happened; according to Korea Meteorological Administration, earthquake occurred at around 6:10 in Gyeonggi Province 10km (approximately) away from Seoul.

The Administration responded after the earthquake that this was the strongest tremor out of recorded earthquakes since 1987; other two Earthquakes occurred on Sept.15, 2004 and June.14, 1990. In Conclusion, we can notice that South Korea is a safe place to live in and no damages or injuries will be seen.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Notes for Ch.2-3

Notes for Section 2-3

2/4/2011

Seismic waves cause the seismograph's drum to vibrate. But the suspended weight with the pen attached moves very little. Therefore, the pen stays in place and records the drum's vibrations.

Patterns called seismogram, is record of an earthquake's seismic waves produced by a seismograph.

To monitor faults, geologists have developed instruments to measure changes in elevation, tilting of the land surface, and ground movements along faults.

Tiltmeter measures tilting or raising of the ground

Creep meter uses a wire stretched across a fault to measure horizontal movement of the ground.

Laser-Ranging Device use a laser beam to detect horizontal fault movements

Scientists can monitor changes in elevation as well as horizontal movement along faults using a network of Earth-orbiting satellites called GPS, Global Positioning System was developed to help ships and planes find their routes

Seismographs and fault-monitoring devices provide data used to map faults and detect changes along faults. Geologists are also trying to use these data to develop a method of predicting earthquakes.

Mapping Faults: When seismic waves encounter a fault, the waves are reflected off the fault. Seismographs can detect these reflected seismic waves.

Friction is the force that opposes the motion of one surface as it moves across another surface. Friction exists because surfaces are not perfectly smooth.

Where friction along a fault is low, the rock on both sides of the fault slide by each other without much sticking.

Questions:

1. What is a seismograph?

Seismograph is an instrument which indicates the severe seismic waves/movement.

How does a seismograph record seismic waves?

Seismic waves cause the seismograph's drum to vibrate. When vibration occurs, scientists can notice the movement. A seismograph's heavy weight resists motion during a quake.

How would the seismograms for the two earthquakes compare?

The height of the jagged lines drawn on the seismograph's drum is greater for a more severe earthquake or for an earthquake close to the seismograph. This seismograph explains the difference of two earthquakes by giving the movements.

2 What four instruments are used to monitor faults?

The 4 major instruments are tilt-meters,

Creep meters,

Laser-ranging devices,

and GPS Satellites.

What changes does each instrument measure?

Tiltmeter measures tilting or rising of the ground

Creep meter uses a wire stretched across a fault to measure horizontal movement of the ground.

Laser-Ranging Device uses a laser beam to detect horizontal fault movements.

Scientists can monitor changes in elevation as well as horizontal movement along faults using a network of Earth-orbiting satellites called GPS, Global Positioning System was developed to help ships and planes find their routes

A satellite that monitors a fault detects an increasing tilt in the land surface along the fault. What could this change in the land surface indicate?

I assume that the seismograph detects an increasing tilt in land surface along the fault.

3. What are three ways in which geologists use seismographic data?

The three ways in geologists use to seismograph the data are map faults, develop method of prediction of earthquakes, and they detect the changes along faults

How do geologists use seismographic data?

Seismographs and fault-monitoring devices provide data used to map faults and detect changes along faults. Geologists are also trying to use these data to develop a method of predicting earthquakes.

Why do geologists collect data on friction along the sides of faults?

Geologists study the types of movement that occur along faults. How rocks move along a fault depends on how much friction there is between the sides of the fault.

More to Explore:

You have just located an earthquake's epicenter. Find this earthquake's location on the map of Earthquake Risk in the United States. What is the risk of earthquakes in the area of this quake?

What conclusions can you draw from this map about the cause of earthquakes in this area.

The earthquake's epicenter in the Map of America is just located South-West of Tennessee; as far as I know (I researched FEMA), Tennessee State is high risk or the earthquakes occurred there are high risk. In conclusion, I discovered that finding the earthquakes's epicenter is not "piece of cake," in-order to find the epicenter of the earthquakes, we should focus on difference between P and S waves. (The key to the epicenter result)

Write a paragraph explaining how measuring changes in the land, along a fault might help scientists to predict earthquakes. Scientists can discover and notice the hit of the "earthquakes," by measuring the changes in the land. Scientists utilize instruments such as the 4 major instruments tilt-meters,Creep meters, Laser-ranging devices, and GPS Satellites; Tiltmeter measures tilting or rising of the ground. Creep meter uses a wire stretched across a fault to measure horizontal movement of the ground.Laser-Ranging Device uses a laser beam to detect horizontal fault movements. Scientists can monitor changes in elevation as well as horizontal movement along faults using a network of Earth-orbiting satellites called GPS, Global Positioning System was developed to help ships and planes find their routes. By utilizing these materials to see and predict the earthquakes, scientists can discover where and how and when the earthquake is hitting and heading.

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Thursday, February 3, 2011

Locating an epicenter discovery lab

Locating an epicenter discovery lab

Kyle C.

2/3/2011

I. GUIDING QUESTION/S (State the guiding question/s):

How can you locate an earthquake's epicenter (meeting point)?

Where will be the epicenter of the 3 cities (Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois?)


II.HYPOTHESIS:

I believe that, the epicenter of 3 cities will be approximately around Oklahoma (just a guess); since I assume that it is the middle of the 3 cities.

Materials:

Pencil

Compass

Map

Marker to locate

IV. RECORD & ANALYZE:

Data Table:

City

Difference in P and S Wave Arrival Times

Distance to Epicenter

Denver, Colorado

2 min 40 seconds

1600 km

Houston, Texas

1 min 50 seconds

1000 km

Chicago, Illinois

1 min 10 seconds

600 km

Short Analysis:

By using the Seismic Wave Arrival Times to calculate the distance to/of Epicenter in bold above, I could use the scale of the map to draw a circle. By drawing the circles with the compass in the United States of America (U.S.A), I could find the epicenter. The epicenter is shaped in a triangle, located at south-west of Nashville, Tennessee.


IV. Concept Acquisition (CONCLUSION) and More Analysis:

1. Drawing Conclusions: Observe the three circles you have drawn. Where is the earthquake's epicenter?

The epicenter of the three cities is located at south-west of Nashville, Tennessee.

2. Measuring: Which city on the map is closest to the earthquake epicenter? How far, in kilometers, is the city from the epicenter?

Nashville is the closest city from the epicenter location; the epicenter and the town is nearly 40-50 km

3. Inferring: In which of the three cities listed in the data table would seismographs detect the earthquake first? Last?

Although I might be wrong, I assume that Chicago, Illinois which is the closest (600 km away) from the Epicenter, since the seismograph will locate and tell which earthquake is occurring first and the closest so it will be easier for people there to move hasty before the chaos.

4. About how far from San Francisco is the epicenter that you found? What would be the difference in arrival times of the P Waves and S Waves for a recording station in San Francisco?

The distance from San Francisco to the epicenter will be around 2800 km (round up to 3000 km), the difference in P and S wave arrival will be 4 and 2/3 minutes (4 min 40 sec).

5. Interpreting Data: What happens to the difference in arrival times between P Waves and S Waves as the distance from the earthquake increases?

I assume that when the distance from the earthquake increases, the difference in P and S wave arrival time will increase too (the time) for example the difference in P and S Waves will be larger of San Francisco than Chicago, Illinois since San Francisco will far and it takes more time for the earthquake to arrive.

6. Communicating: Review the procedure you followed in this lab and then answer the following question. When you are trying to locate an epicenter, why is it necessary to know the distance from the epicenter for at least three recording stations?

It is good to know three locations to find the epicenter since it forms a triangle; we can see that locating an earthquake epicenter produces more accuracy when reading.