GLG112

Section:

Name

Earthquake Hazards Investigation

Part I: Determining the location and source of the earthquake
Below are three seismograms recording the most recent earthquake in this region. Each
seismometer is named after the closest town. Exact locations of each seismometer are shown on
the map on the last page. The seismograms below represent the time period from just before the
earthquake to 1.5 second after it occurred. The first arrivals of the P? Waves and S? waves are
labeled for you on each seismogram, along with the P?S time interval.

Mesavie
Hillside
W

8
6 the difference in arrival time between the P? and the S? waves, use the graph above
1.Using
right to determine the distance from each seismic station to the earthquakes epicenter. Find
the 4
appropriate time on the horizontal axis, follow it upward to the diagonal line, and read off
the corresponding distance on the vertical axis. (3 points)
2

Mesaview 7.5

km

Hillside 4.4

km

White Sands 2.5 km

2.Which
0 of the following locations was the source of the recent earthquake? (Use your answers
above and the
locations
on the illustration on the last page of this
0.2
0.4of each
0.6seismic
0.8station
1.0
0
handout to answer this question.) (1 points)
a.an eruption at Lava Mountain
b.a landslide at Red Mesa
c. fault movement at the Gray Cliffs

d. fault movement along the oceanic

trench

Part II: Earthquake Hazards

For each of the towns located in this area, determine what hazards possibly accompanied the recent
earthquake. Be sure to consider the topographic and geologic setting of each town. Then interpret
whether each town has a high, moderate, or low hazard risk relative to the other towns, and circle your
choices in the table below. There is not necessarily one right answer, so you will also need to explain
your reasons in the space provided in the table.
(2 points per town: 16 points total)

Town

Possible earthquake
hazards (circle all
that apply)

Risk of
hazards
compared
to other

Reason for your risk of hazard

rating (why did you choose high,
moderate, or low?)


a. ground shaking
b.liquefaction
Sandpoint c. landslides and other slope
failures caused by shaking

a.high
b.moderate
c. low

d.destruction by tsunami

a. ground shaking
Hillside

b.liquefaction

a.high

c. landslides and other slope

failures caused by shaking

b.moderate

d.destruction by tsunami

c. low

Sand point is a coastal town

built mainly on sand drenched
from the ocean. This material
is unstable; therefore, the
intensity of ground shaking
felt by the structures built on
it is high.
Shorelines are characterized
by high ground water levels.
This puts the town at risk of
liquefaction.
By virtue of the town being on
the shore line, it is prone to
tsunamis. All this hazard
factors
thetown
Hillside combined
town is anrate
inland
structured on a fairly leveled
area, surrounded my
vegetation and low hills. The
ground is fairly stable;
therefore, the area may be at
risk of mild ground shaking.
The area is also stable enough
to host a seismic station,
though surrounded by high

Cascade Village is an inland

town built above a steady
geology. The below structure
constitutes rocks that make
the underlay strong. The Gray
Cliff though poses a risk of
rock falls to the town in case
of an earthquake.

Mesaview is an inland town

surrounded by mountains; the
Lava and Red Messa. The
town is built at some distant
away from these mountains,
although it still suffers
moderate risk of landslides.
The ground shakes
experienced here may be
relatively low. The town is also
bordered by streams on both
sides; these streams depict
high levels of ground water

a. ground shaking
Casca
de
Villag
e

b.liquefaction

a.high

c. landslides and other slope

failures caused by shaking

b.moderate
c. low

d.destruction by tsunami

a. ground shaking
Mesaview

b.liquefaction

a.high

c. landslides and other slope

failures caused by shaking

b.moderate

d.destruction by tsunami

c. low

a. ground shaking
b. liquefaction
Ashton

c. landslides and other slope

failures caused by shaking
d. destruction by tsunami

a. high
b. moderat
e
c. low

a. Ground shaking
Cliffside

b. Liquefaction
c. landslides and other slope
failures caused by shaking
d. destruction by tsunami

a. high
b. moderat
e
c. low

Ashton town is an inland town

built directly at the base of
Lava Mountain. Lava Mountain
is a volcanic mountain that is
still active. The mountain is
also characterized by lose
rocks and constant trembles
due to volcanic gases. This
has made this towns geologic
structure weak and at high
risk of destruction in the
Cliffside is an inland town of
very low elevation named
after gray cliff. The low
elevation puts the town at
great risks of rock falls from
the cliff, the swampy ground
structure puts the town at risk
of liquefaction and its
closeness to the fault puts the
town at high risk of intense
ground shakes.

a. Ground shaking
b. liquefaction
Riverton

c. landslides and other slope

failures% caused by shaking
d. destruction by tsunami

a. ground shaking
White
Sands

b. liquefaction
c. landslides and other slope
failures caused by shaking
d. destruction by tsunami

Riverton is town found at the

bay. This factor puts the town
at risk of tsunami attack; it is
also founded over aluminum
grounds. This is very weak
ground and therefore puts the
town at high risk of intense
ground shakes and
consequently liquefaction.

White Sands is a coastal town

built along coral shores and
built on bedrock which makes
the town very stable and at
very low risk of an earthquake
attack as the grounds are
stable enough to withstand a
ground shake. On virtue of the
town being on the coast, it is
still at risk of a tsunami

a. high
b. moderat
e
c. low

a. high
b. moderat
e
c. low