–EXTREME EARTH – ASSIGNMENT 2

Preamble: In this assignment we will broadly cover topics relevant to modules three and four of the
ERSC 1P92 course. Part A of the assignment will be related to recent Earthquake events that have
occurred and plate tectonic boundaries. You will have a chance to explore many parts of the world
(without having to leave your home!) and find out which areas are seismically active! Part B of the
assignment will involve readings related to Earthquake events that have occurred in the past as well
as reading and answering questions about Earthquakes in Canada. The main goal of this assignment
is to introduce you to the relationships between earthquake epicenters and plate tectonic
boundaries, a topic which you will explore in depth in Assignment 3!
Work through the assignment, then, when you have it complete, go to the Tests & Quizzes tab in
Sakai to enter your answers and submit the assignment. Rules and guidelines for assignments are in
your course syllabus. As always with online tools, save your work frequently while entering answers.
Assignment Questions
REMINDER! Please answer all questions before entering your answers under the Tests & Quizzes
section in Sakai. Points per question are given in brackets (x).
PART A
A list of actual earthquakes that have occurred worldwide from June 20- July 8, 2020 are provided
for you on a separate data sheet posted on the Sakai/Isaak Assignment 2 site.
You can find the location of the earthquakes by clicking on the location site, or if you’d like to get
an ‘overall’ picture of the earthquake event locations you can plot the locations yourself on the
World Plate boundary map provided.
Please note! You do not need to plot the earthquake locations as part of this Assignment! The World
plate boundary map is ONLY provided as an assistance if NEEDED!
Hints for plotting: In order to PLOT an earthquake event, you will need to use the Latitude and
Longitude information provided. Lines of Latitude appear horizontal (“side to side”) and are
measured as degrees north (N) or south (S) of the equator (the equator is 0°). Longitude lines run
vertically (“up and down”) and measure the degrees East (E) or West (W) of the Prime Meridian (0°
runs through Greenwich, England). A sample plot of a theoretical Shallow depth earthquake at 60
deg W and 45 deg N has been plotted for you on the map.
The Earthquake events that have been provided on the separate data sheet (from June 20- July 8,
2020), can be assigned a ‘’depth code’’ according to the DEPTH (km) below the Earth’s surface that
each one occurred. Using the following criteria:

1)Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 1 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
2) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 2 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
3) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 3 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
4) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 4 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
5) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 5 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
6) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 6 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
7) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 7 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
8) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 8 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
9) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 9 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
10) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 10 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
11) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 11 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
12) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 12 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
13) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 13 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
14) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 14 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
15) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 15 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
16) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 16 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
17) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 17 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
18) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 18 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
19) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 19 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
20) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 20 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
21) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 21 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
22) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 22 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
23) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 23 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep
24) Assign a ‘’Depth’’ code to Earthquake event 24 A) Shallow B) Intermediate C) Deep

25) Which statement is correct – relating to the Earthquake events 1-24 from June 20- July 8, 2020.
(1 mk)
A) Shallow depth events are most common, followed by “Deep” depth; the Intermediate depth
events are least common
B) Intermediate depth events are most common, followed by Shallow depth, then “Deep’’ depth
events are least common
C) Deep depth events are most common, followed by Intermediate depth, then shallow depth
events are least common
D) Shallow depth events are most common, followed by Intermediate depth; the ‘’Deep’’ depth
events are least common
E) There are the same number of Deep and Intermediate depth earthquake events
The following questions (26-30) relate to the Location of the Earthquake events June 20- July 8,
2020. Use the information provided in Module 3.3 (Modern Plate Tectonics), the additional PDF
posted on the Assignment tab “Earthquake boundaries on maps” and the links provided below as a
resource. (5 mks total, 1 mk/event)
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics#/media/File:Plates_tect2_en.svg
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic.html#anchor19309449
26) What type of Plate tectonic “boundary is found near the location of Earthquake Event #2? A.
Divergent B. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Oceanic Crust) C. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Continental
Crust) D. Convergent (Continental crust – Continental Crust) E . Transform Fault
27) What type of Plate tectonic “boundary is found near the location of Earthquake Event #5? A.
Divergent B. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Oceanic Crust) C. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Continental
Crust) D. Convergent (Continental crust – Continental Crust) E . Transform Fault
28) What type of Plate tectonic “boundary is found near the location of Earthquake Event #7? A.
Divergent B. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Oceanic Crust) C. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Continental
Crust) D. Convergent (Continental crust – Continental Crust) E . Transform Fault
29) What type of Plate tectonic “boundary is found near the location of Earthquake Event #12? A.
Divergent B. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Oceanic Crust) C. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Continental
Crust) D. Convergent (Continental crust – Continental Crust) E . Transform Fault
30) What type of Plate tectonic “boundary is found near the location of Earthquake Event #23? A.
Divergent B. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Oceanic Crust) C. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Continental
Crust) D. Convergent (Continental crust – Continental Crust) E . Transform Fault

31) Which Earthquake event number of this assignment is most likely associated with the movement
of the Juan de Fuca plate? (1 mk)
(type in the number ONLY ie. 1)
32) Which Earthquake event number of this assignment is most likely associated with the movement
of the Philippine (Filipino)? (1 mk)
(type in the number ONLY ie. 1)
33) Which Earthquake event number is most likely associated with the Great African Rift Valley? (1
mk) (Hint use the following sites for reference: https://geology.com/articles/east-africa-rift.shtml;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley)
(type in the number ONLY ie. 1)
34) What type of Plate tectonic boundary is associated with the Great African Rift valley? (1 mk)
A. Divergent B. Convergent (Oceanic crust – Oceanic Crust) C. Convergent (Oceanic crust –
Continental Crust) D. Convergent (Continental crust – Continental Crust) E . Transform Fault
35) Your friends are looking forward to the time when travel restrictions will be lifted and would like
to start planning their next vacation! They know that you are taking ERSC 1P92 and ask you to
recommend a destination that is LEAST likely to experience an Earthquake? (Hint: use the data from
earthquake events provided June 20- July 8, 2020) (1 mk)
A) A beach vacation to tropical Fiji
B) Visiting the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands
C) A surfing trip to the Hawaiian Islands
D) A trip to Disney Land In California
E) A historical tour of Istanbul, Turkey
F) Mountain climbing in the Himalayas
36) Compare AND contrast the plate tectonic boundaries that form Volcanic Arc Islands (ie. Japan)
and the Himalaya Mountains. Although the volcanic arc islands making up Japan and the Himalaya’s
formed millions of years ago, Is there evidence (based on the Earthquake Event(s)), that these
boundaries are still active (Hint: list the associated Earthquake Event numbers)? (4 mks)

Part B
In the second part of Assignment 2 we will investigate some powerful earthquakes that have been
recorded worldwide in the past few decades and also look at earthquakes in Canada. Background
information can be found in Modules 3 and 4 as well as in the links provided.
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKE 2011
On the 22nd of Febuary in 2011 a large earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch
is one of New Zealand’s most populous cities and the earthquake killed 185 people and caused
significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.
The following websites are provided as reference for answering questions 37-42 relating to the 2011
Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake.
Earthquake measurement scales – USGS FAQ’s
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-are-earthquakes-recorded-how-are-earthquakes-measured-howmagnitude-earthquake-determined?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products
Articles regarding the 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand Earthquake
(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/historic-earthquakes/13
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000huvq/executive
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000huvq/region-info
(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Earthquakes/Earthquakes-at-a-PlateBoundary
37) The 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand Earthquake was measured as a “M6.3”- What Earthquake
measurement scale is refered to in this measurement? (1 mk)
A) Rossi-Forel Scale
B) Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale
C) Richter Scale
D) Torino Scale
E) Moment Magnitude Scale
38) Name the two (major) tectonic plates that resulted in the 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand? (2
mk)
(Type in the name of the tectonic plate – spelling counts! Use the following website as reference
for proper spelling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tectonic_plates)
PLATE and the PLATE

39) The Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake was actually an ‘’aftershock’’ from the earlier larger
Darfield, NZ earthquake? (1 mk)
a) True
b) False
40) A Christchurch resident filmed a demonstration of the ‘liquefaction’ that occurred in the area.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/32122/liquefaction-demonstrated
View the video. In your own words briefly explain how the Christchurch earthquake caused
liquefaction to occur and how liquefaction was a factor in damaging homes in the Christchurch area.
(Hint: relate your answer to the underlying geology (ie. Soil, rocks etc) of the area.) (You may also
want to reference information from Module 4.3) (4 mks)
41) The 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand was felt at a magnitude of VIII. Using information provided
at the USGS website explain how Christchurch was (specifically) affected by the Earthquake:
https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science/modified-mercalli-intensityscale?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects (1 mk)
A. Felt by all, many frightened.
B. Considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures.
C. Some dishes, windows broken. Unstable objects overturned.
D. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls.
E. Well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb
F. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the passing of a truck.
G. Most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations
42) Based on the Earthquake events listed in Part 1 of this assignment (June 20- July 8, 2020), the
following statement can be made. “The region surrounding Christchurch is still seismically active
even in the year 2020”. (1 MK)
A) True
B) False
EARTHQUAKE IN CENTRAL ITALY 2009
On April 6th, 2009 a magnitude M6.3 earthquake occurred in and around L’Aquila located in Central
Italy. At least 308 people were killed and many of the surrounding villages were also heavily
damaged. One of the controversy’s surrounding this earthquake event was the subsequent trial and conviction of six scientists for involuntary manslaughter due to failing to give adequate warning of
the earthquake.
The following websites are provided as reference for answering questions 43-45 relating to the
Central Italy 2009 earthquake.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000gvtu/executive
(n.d.). Retrieved from
earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000gvtu/region-info
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_L%27Aquila_earthquake
43) Although the area in Central Italy is tectonically complex name the two (major) tectonic plates
responsible for the Central Italy 2009 earthquake? (2 mk)
(Type in the name of the tectonic plate – spelling counts! Use the following website as reference
for proper spelling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tectonic_plates)
PLATE and the PLATE
44) Which of the following methods of ‘short term earthquake prediction’ (Module 4.5) did an Italian
laboratory technician claim to have used to predict the Central Italy Earthquake? (1 mk)
A) Ground Level Deformation and microfracturing
B) Seismic Gaps
C) Groundwater chemistry and/or increase in Radon emissions
D) Microearthquake storms
E) Luminous phenomena such as light glows, flashes, lightening, flames
On October 22, 2012 seven people (including six scientists) were convicted in Italy in association
with the April 6, 2009 earthquake.
Reference websites:
Nosengo, N. (2011). Scientists on trial over L’Aquila deaths: seismologists charged for giving
apparent reassurances on Italian earthquake risks. Nature, 474(7349), 15-16.
https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110601/full/474015a.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/22/us-italy-earthquake-court-idUSBRE89L13V20121022
The journal ‘Nature’ ran an editorial stating the ‘verdict is perverse and the sentence ludicrous’.
Editorial (2012). Shock and Law. Nature, 490 (446)
http://www.nature.com/news/shock-and-law-1.11643
https://www.nature.com/news/italian-court-finds-seismologists-guilty-of-manslaughter-1.11640
However, D. Ropeik in Scientific American states that it was not ‘a judgement not against science,
but against a failure of science communication.”

Earthquakes in Canada

The following questions (46-52) are based on a paper published by
Cassidy, J. F., Rogers, G.C., Lamontagne, M.,Halchuk, S., and Adams, J. (2010). Canada’s Earthquakes:
‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’. Geoscience Canada. 31. 1.
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/historic-historique/GeoScienceCanada2010_Cassidyetal.pdf
46) Based on Figure 1. (Map of Earthquakes with magnitude >/= 2.5 in Canada 1660-2008)on
page 2 from Cassidy et. al. (2010) which province/territory is LEAST likely to experience an
Earthquake. (1 mk)
A) British Columbia
B) Nova Scotia
C) Nunavut
D) Manitoba
E) Alberta
F) Ontario
G) New Brunswick
H) Yukon
I) Quebec
47) Causes of Earthquakes in Canada (Which of the following statements is CORRECT) (1 mk)
A) Canada Experiences approximately 400 earthquakes each year
B) The Largest earthquakes occur along the West coast of Canada
C) The Earthquakes of the East coast of Canada are generally related to strike-slip faults within
the Mackenzie Mountains
D) The breakup of Pangea created the central Craton of Canada creating multiple faults and
earthquakes in this region
E) Western Quebec and Eastern Ontario experience earthquakes that are related to an ancient
ocean-continent collision zone.

48) Canadian operated Earthquake Monitoring networks include the POLARIS network and the
GSC network. (1 mk)
TRUE FALSE
49) The first earthquake reported in Canada is based on Huron oral traditions. (1 mk)
TRUE FALSE
50) The 1929 Earthquake of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland triggered a tsunami. What was
the cause of tsunami? (1 mk)
A) The displacement of fault blocks in a megathrust earthquake
B) An Underwater volcanic eruption
C) An Underwater Landslide (or slump of material)
D) An Asteroid/comet impact in ocean
E) None of the Above
51) The 1970 Earthquake in the Queen Charlotte Islands, BC (now Haida Gwaii) suggests that a
seismic gap existed along the Queen Charlotte fault. Based on information provided in
Module 4.5, this ‘’area’’ (Northern BC) is no longer in a seismic gap zone. (1 mk)
TRUE FALSE
52) Some of the efforts that Canada has in place to reduce future Earthquake losses include: (1
mk)
A) Implementing building codes so that structures will be designed to resist moderate
earthquakes.
B) Produce Seismic hazard maps and update them regularly
C) Conduct Subduction zone studies using GPS, marine mapping and paleoseismological studies
D) Produce crustal models to understand seismic wave propagation and earthquake shaking in
various geological settings
E) All of the above
After entering your answers in the ‘’TES