Natural Disasters: Earthquakes
These sites are about earthquakes and how they are measured. Topics include plate tectonics, the Richter scale, epicenters, earthquake survival instructions, and more. Read about some of the largest earthquakes in history. There are quizzes, photos, and simulations. Included are links to eThemes Resources on the New Madrid Fault and Tsunamis.
Grades
- 3,
- 4,
- 5,
- 6,
- 7,
- 8,
- 9,
- 10,
- 11,
- 12
Links
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USGS: Latest Quake Info
Explore these links for maps, seismograms, and earthquake photographs.
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MichiganTech: What Are Seismic Waves?
Study these diagrams of P waves, S waves, and surface waves.
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How Earthquakes Work
Look at many photographs from different earthquakes. Interactive diagrams illustrate different kinds of faults. NOTE: The site includes ads.
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Elastic Rebound Animation
Watch how a road changes with the stress caused by an earthquake. Click on the image to start.
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Observe Animations of Earthquake Waves
Watch the P wave, or compressional wave, and compare it to the S wave, or shear wave.
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Geology Labs On-LIne: Virtual Earthquake
This site has students use math to measure and estimate the magnitude and source of an actual earthquake. Once they enter the data, the program maps their results and compares them to the actual findings.
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1906 San Francisco Earthquake: Personal Account
Read an eyewitness account of the 1906 earthquake and the aftermath.
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USGS: Earthquake for Kids
This site is full of earthquake information, including science project ideas on earthquakes. There are also activity ideas for teachers. Click on "Ask-A-Geologist" if you have a question about earthquakes.
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PBS: Savage Earth
Make your way through this animation to visualize an earthquake. Wait for the animation to load.
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Quake: Listening to Earthquakes
Listen to two sound files of the ground shaking. Guess which one has the higher pitch and therefore is the shorter fault.
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National Geographic:Photo Gallery: Earthquakes
This site includes photos showing scenes from an earthquake. NOTE: This site includes pop-up ads, banner ads, and sponsored links.
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TechTopics: Earthquakes
Find out how to be prepared for an earthquake. Click on "Know What to Do." Other topics include "Measuring Earthquakes" and "Structure of the Earth."
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Life Along the Faultline
Learn more about earthquakes, including the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that struck during the World Series. There are many video clips included.
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eThemes Resource: Missouri: New Madrid Earthquake of 1811-12
Learn about the New Madrid fault line and the earthquakes that hit the area in 1811-1812. Includes maps, documents, statistics, and photographs.
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eThemes Resource: Natural Disasters: Tsunamis
These sites have information about tsunamis and what causes them. See photographs, animations, and videos that show their destructive power when they reach land. Includes color sheets to print out, quizzes, puzzles,simulation models, and an online picture book.
Education Standards
- MO
- UT
