GEO 104 - Earthquake!

5 Credits

Earthquakes and tsunamis of the Pacific Northwest and around the world, including their cause and relationship to plate tectonics as well as why, where and when they occur. Covers how earthquakes affect human life: shaping landscape and hazards. This class will also focus on the hazards from earthquakes, including tsunamis, and how to prepare for the big one.

Course Note Previously GEOL 104
FeesSC

Quarters Typically Offered
Spring Day

Designed to Serve General students as an elective to satisfy distribution requirements.
Active Date 20210403T10:08:52

Grading Basis Decimal Grade
Class Limit 24
Contact Hours: Lecture 55
Total Contact Hours 55
Degree Distributions:
AA

Science

Course Outline

Plate Tectonics and basics of rocks and the rock cycle.
Hazard and Risk.
Seismic Waves - their measurement and impacts.
Earthquakes - hazards, mitigation, risk in the Pacific Northwest.
Earthquakes - hazards, mitigation, risk globally.
Causes of earthquakes.
Earthquake forecasting.
Faults and deformation.
Measurement of earthquakes.
Earthquake hazards.
Tsunami generation.
Tsunami propagation.
Tsunami evacuation and mitigation.
Earthquake/tsunami forecasting and prediction.
Earthquake preparedness, response, and recovery.

Student Learning Outcomes
Student will explain seismic and tsunami hazards and risk locally and globally using appropriate detail and terminology in a clear and accurate manner.

Student will evaluate personal and community risk from seismic and tsunami events using appropriate detail and terminology in a clear and accurate manner.

Student will explain and apply mitigation techniques to reduce personal and community risk from seismic and tsunami events.

Student will describe the geologic setting of the Pacific Northwest and the major seismic and tsunami hazards using appropriate detail and terminology in a clear and accurate manner.

Student will accurately analyze seismographic data.

Student will make accurate quantitative earthquake forecasts and describe earthquake forecasting methods.

Student will correctly make quantitative calculations on seismic data.

Student will articulate the impacts of geoscience on everyday life using appropriate detail and terminology in a clear and accurate manner.