EARTHQUAKES! - Tentative Schedule
Autumn, 2005

Week of August 22: getting familiar with WebCT and Web sites featuring earthquake seismology.
        Personal introductions
        Set up times for weekly chat - check the WebCT Bulletin Board for this course.
        Check out the links page arranged by chapter

Week of August 29: Bolt, Chapter 1.
       
Personal accounts of earthquakes and what people experience
        Pay close attention to the various seismic waves.

Week of Sept. 5: Bolt, Chapter 2.
        Where earthquakes occur - we will visit the National Earthquake Information Center to see where earthquakes occurred during the past day, week and month.

Week of Sept. 12: Bolt, Chapter 3.
        Faults in the earth.  I have a collection of fault zone rocks but they are difficult to appreciate via photos alone.  Shall we schedule a short meeting here on campus for 'show & tell' on rocks from fault zones?  I will be in the field from the 15th through the 18th, perhaps sometime next week?

Week of Sept. 19: Bolt, Chapter 4.
        Elastic rebound, induced seismicity, 'beach balls',

Week of Sept. 26: Bolt, Chapter 5.
        Measuring earthquakes.  Pay close attention to Box 5.3 and the 3 sets of seismograms: acceleration, velocity and displacement.  'Show & tell' meeting for a demonstration of UT's seismographs?

Week of October 3: Bolt, Chapter 6.
        Exploring inside the earth: crust, mantle and core.

Week of October 10: Bolt, Chapter 7.
        Plate tectonics.

Week of October 17: Bolt, Chapter 8.
        The size of earthquakes.  This is 'fall break week so we will spend 2 weeks on Chapter 8.  Each student will have a mid-term project I will assign during the last half of October.

Week of October 24:  Chapter 8, first project.

Week of October 31:  Bolt, Chapter 9.
        The tsunami of 12/26/2004 occurred after Bolt's 5th edition went to press.  Web links will help you understand the most deadly tsunami in recorded history.

Week of November 7: Bolt, Chapter 10.
        Earthquake prediction?

Week of November 14: Bolt, Chapter 11.
        How earthquakes can kill you, and how to protect yourself.

Week of November 21 (Thanksgiving week) Bolt, Chapter 12.
        Reducing risks associated with earthquake hazards.

Week of November 28: Term papers due in my electronic mailbox by 11:59 PM on November 28!  
        Finish Bolt, Chapter 12.

Week of December 5: Discuss term papers.

Final on-line quiz: date and time to be agreed upon.

Return to Syllabus

Hit Counter