Earthquakes

Earthquake Epicenters from 1963 to 1998

You have probably seen the map on this page when you studied some basic information about plate tectonics. This image depicts earthquake epicenters, or the point on the Earth's surface directly above the origination of an earthquake, from 1963 through 1998. You now know that these seismic events occur around plate boundaries. What you may not have noticed is that there are many major cities located on these plate boundaries. Some of those cities include Los Angeles, Tokyo, Istanbul, Tehran, Mexico City, New Delhi, Kathmandu, San Francisco, and many more.

Would you move to a city like Tokyo or San Francisco, where a huge earthquake could strike at any time? Why do you think people live in these locations? How big do you think the risk really is? Respond to these questions in the discussions area. Then, return to the topic several times over the next few days to read your coursemates’ posts. Reply to at least two of them, making sure to offer new insights, ask questions, and encourage further conversation.