Plate Boundaries > Step One

Display earthquake data from a year of your choice (between 1964-1994).

• If you don't have a QUEST window open mouse over the Tools button along the top banner of this page. Scroll down to Web Tools and click on the Launch QUEST button.
  

• After QUEST opens, click on the Menu button in the bottom left corner of the QUEST window.

• Click on Map Area and the map area window will appear.

• Next, select World in the Region pull down menu and click OK to close the window.

• Now, click on Data Sets (on the Menu button) and the Data Sets window will appear in the middle of your QUEST window. Select EARTHQUAKES from the pull down menu and then choose SELECT EARTHQUAKE CRITERIA.

• Now, begin by selecting a time period of one month by clicking on the Time Period button and using the pull down menus. (Do not alter the default values for depth or magnitude ranges)

• When you are finished click OK button in the blue Earthquakes window and the OK button in the tan Data Sets window.

• Next click the GET MAP button, and a global map of earthquake locations will appear in the main map area. (the Get Map text will turn red when your map has been submitted)
  

• Next, make more maps and increase the length of time one month at a time. (For each map you'll need to go to the Earthquakes window and follow the steps listed above)

  For example, your first request might be:
  Map 1 01/01/1994 - 01/31/1994, and would be followed by:
  Map 2 01/01/1994 - 02/28/1994
  Map 3 01/01/1994 - 03/31/1994
  Map 4 01/01/1994 - 04/30/1994
  Map 5 01/01/1994 - 05/31/1994
  

Now, take a few minutes to think about the maps that you just plotted by answering the following questions and turning them into your instructor.

1. How many earthquakes occur in a typical month on a global basis?

2. On average, how many earthquakes occur per day?

3. How many months of data are required for the plate boundaries to emerge?

 

Discovery Topics > Plate Tectonics > Plate Boundaries > Step One <