Mankind has long dreamed of a way to predict earthquakes and escape their terrible power. Scientists and amateurs alike have tried to link quakes to phenomena as diverse as animal behavior, tides, weather, the movements of the planets, the rise and fall of water in wells, even to psychic visions. Unfortunately, none of these factors can be linked consistently enough with earthquakes to provide a useful forecasting tool.
For now, the most reliable clues to future quakes are the patterns of past earth movements. These allow geologists to suggest where earthquakes are most likely to strike. Areas most at risk of earthquakes can develop and implement strategies to minimize harm to people and property when the inevitable occurs. Geologists are still seeking a way to predict exactly when a quake will happen, so that people can be evacuated and valuable or dangerous substances can be secured.
The map below shows the type of data that helped geologists understand where and why most earthquakes occur. Study the global distribution and depth of large earthquakes that occurred between 1975 and 1995. Then move the slider bar below the map to compare the locations of earthquakes with plate boundaries. Compare the location of earthquakes and plate boundaries. Then answer the questions that follow.
Look again at the map, and see that earthquakes can begin close to the
Earth's surface or deep inside the crust. Geologists classify earthquakes
as shallow (those that start 70 kilometers or less underground), deep (earthquakes
beginning 300 km or more below the surface), and intermediate (quakes between
70 and 300 km). Earthquakes can only start within the solid rock of the lithospheric
plates, not in the soft mantle below.
Now lets consider two of the most important earthquakes to strike the
United States.
In 1906, a shallow earthquake struck San Francisco. The ground surface jumped horizontally as much as 30 feet along a 300-mile long crack. Thousands of people died in collapsed buildings and in fires that swept the city after the quake.
The largest known earthquake to hit the continental United States began
near the town of New Madrid, Missouri in 1812. It affected an area more than
10 times larger than the 1906 San Francisco earthquake - the shaking even
rang church bells more than 1,000 miles away. The Mississippi River was thrown
out of its channel and ran backwards for a time, and the terrain was so distorted
that lifelong residents got lost on their own land.
The 1812 New Madrid earthquake was actually only one of a series of powerful quakes to hit the area in the winter of 1811-1812, including 3 that are among the 10 largest earthquakes in U.S. history. Fortunately, very few people were killed in these events. The next time the area experiences such an enormous quake, how do you think the death toll would compare? Justify your answer.
Scientists seek to understand and explain how the natural world works. Many of the questions raised in this endeavor have no absolute answers.
The death toll will undoubtedly be very high in the next large earthquake. In the early 1800’s, there weren’t too many people living in that part of the country, but now there are millions, especially in the large cities of St. Louis and Memphis. And this area seems like such a surprising place to have big earthquakes that it is unlikely that the people living there are prepared for the next one. In a place like California, earthquakes happen all the time, so there are strict building codes and most residents are aware of ways to safeguard their property. In the Mississippi River area, earthquakes are uncommon, so building standards are lower and most inhabitants are unaware of what to do to protect themselves before or during an earthquake.