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 Earth and Space Sciences 8

8. Earthquakes. (5)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, one hour; one field day. Causes and effects of earthquakes. Plate motion, frictional faulting, earthquake instability, wave propagation, earthquake damage, and other social effects. Hazard reduction through earthquake forecasting and earthquake-resistant design. P/NP or letter grading

Syllabus
ESS 8: Earthquakes
Spring 2005

Time and place

Lectures Tuesday, Thursdays 9:30-10:45 am
Knudsen 1220B

Labs Tuesday & Wednesday 1-1:50pm; 2-2:50 pm; 3-3:50 pm; 4-4:50 pm
Geology 4691

Instructor

Prof. Emily Brodsky, 6-6256, brodsky@ess.ucla.edu, Geology 1708
Office Hours: 10:45-11:45 Tuesdays (directly after class)
Other times by appointment

T.A.s

Wednesday labs: Jean El-khoury, elkhoury@moho.ess.ucla.edu, Geology 1834/1707 Office Hours: Wed. 11-12

Tuesday labs: Rebecca Harrington, rebecca@moho.ess.ucla.edu, Geology 3685
Office Hours: Thurs. 10:45-11:45 (directly after class)

Course Goals

1. To learn earthquake facts: what they are, where they happen and what their effects are.
2. Introduction to solid Earth science: Earth structure, plate tectonics
3. To build physical intuition and quantitative skills

Recommended background

High school algebra and geometry. Ability to solve math word problems like: If a car travels at a speed of 80 kilometers/hour for ½ hour, how far does it travel? Note that kilometers, meters and centimeters will be used as units of distance.

Requirements

1. Weekly lab exercises
2. Field trip or 12-page paper (see below)
3. Exams (Midterm and final)

Students must either attend the field trip (described below) or write a 12-page paper for this class.

Field trip option
(Three sections: Saturday April 30, Sunday May 1 or Saturday May 7)

Requirements for credit for the field trip
- Attend field trip (9AM-5 PM)
- Do exercises on trip
- Write 3-4 page (typed) summary of what you learned

Paper option

- Write 10 page (typed) paper on earthquakes and/or seismic hazard anywhere on the globe except the greater Los Angeles region.
- Details of the writing assignment will be discussed after midterm

Grading

30% Lab. Assignments (mostly computer exercises)
20% Paper or Field trip
20% Midterm
30% Final

Books

Strongly recommended
Hough, S.E. Earthshaking Science, Princeton Univ. Press, 2003.

Supplementary reading (on reserve in Geology library)
On earthquakes:
Bolt, B.A., Earthquakes, 5th ed.,W.H. Freeman, 2004.

General geoscience:
Davidson, J.P., et al., Exploring Earth: Introduction to Physical Geology, Prentice Hall, 2002.

Honors Discussion

If there is sufficient interest, we will hold an honors discussion seminar once a week to discuss current research articles related to the topics discussed in class. Please contact the professor if you are interested.

Preliminary Course Outline

Part I – The basic science of earthquakes

April 5 Intro; Course overview
7 Plate Tectonics I

12 Plate Tectonics II
14 Earthquake faulting

19 Waves
21 Instruments

26 Magnitudes
28 West Coast Faults/Geology

April 30, May 1 and May 7 (3 sections) FIELD TRIP
(Attend one date or write paper)

May 3 Mainshocks, foreshocks and aftershocks
May 5 Midterm

Part II Earthquakes and Society

10 Famous Earthquakes
12 Earthquake prediction and probability

Paper topics/Field trip reports due
17 Seismic hazard
19 Landslides and tsunamis

24 How to build for earthquakes I - Principles
26 How to build for earthquakes II/What to do in an earthquake

31 Volcanoes I
June 1 Volcanoes II

7 Earthquakes that people make
9 Review
Papers due

Final
Thursday, June 16
11:30-2:30