Local Scale of Southern California Earthquake Patterns

Lat: 34.24

Lng: -117.11

34°06’27.43” N

117°17’16.85” W

February 11,2016

http://mapmaker.education.nationalgeographic.org/?ls=000000000000

Pattern

The pattern shows dispersed small, medium, and large earthquakes within an estimated 75-mile radius in southern California. From the local scale, earthquakes appear to happen inland. California tends to have more earthquakes than other states due to the San Andreas Fault. The San Andreas Fault runs about 800 miles through California. If there were to be more friction, like more compacted dirt, there may be a way to prevent harsh earthquakes. Earthquakes run off energy and when there is no more energy like friction the earthquake must stop.

Regional Scale of California Earthquake PatternsLat: 44.40

Lng: -104.63

36°46’41.74” N

119°25’04.56” W

February 11,2016

http://mapmaker.education.nationalgeographic.org/?ls=000000000000

Pattern

Pattern shows larger earthquakes along the west coast of California. In this scale, earthquakes appear to happen along the coast line of California. I believe the waves from the ocean give earthquakes a greater amount of energy to jump from one fault to the next. Earthquakes near bodies of water can easily create tsunamis or flash floods. Many earthquakes are triggered by bodies of water however, they are often small and most people don’t even notice them. Although, there isn’t a real solution for preventing earthquakes, there are ways to ensure you are safe. For example, in the event that there is an earthquake one should get under a desk or in between a doorway to ensure there isn’t falling pieces coming down.

Global Scale of Earthquakes in the Northern Hemisphere

Lat: 62.10

Lng: -79.98

38°29’58.25” N

123°14’43.52” W

February 11,2016

http://mapmaker.education.nationalgeographic.org/?ls=000000000000

Pattern

Patterns show that earthquakes fall along the coast lines through the Gulf of Alaska, South America, and the United States. This map clearly shows that earthquakes tend to happen along bodies of water than anywhere else. When too much pressure from earth’s crust attempts to move along a fault, the “glue” that holds the crust together can slip causing an earthquake. I believe a solution to prevent this from happening along coast lines would be ships importing and exporting through the ocean, should land more gently rather than slamming into land. Slamming into the ports may cause more pressure along earth’s crusts.