3rd Orientation Activity: Earth System Science

This activity provides more practice with Earth system analysis and working the ESS model. This practice will pay off later in the course when you will research Earth science topics within some context, then build an Earth system model based on the interactions among the spheres.

Note: This orientation has only acquaints you with an Earth system science analysis and building an ESS model. Be prepared as the course gets slightly more intense than these orientation assignments.

Assignments

• If you haven't already, read all of the Resource Readings listed in 1st Orientation.
• Revisit your initial ESS analysis and reflect on how to improve it using the Rubrics.

Ess Analysis on an Event (Earthquake)  by Dara K. Cepeda     EDTC 6341.63

When an earthquake strikes:

E>H  Garbage and waste mixes with water by contaminating it.

E>L   The earth’s upper layer collides by making vibrations and collapsing.

E>B   Earthquake causes animal and human life losses. 

E>A   Due to earthquake destruction chemicals and contaminated gases could be on the air making it hazard to breath.

1985 Mexico City earthquake

The 1985 Mexico City earthquake, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake that struck Mexico City on the early morning of 19 September 1985 at around 7:19 am (CST), caused the deaths of at least 10,000 people and serious damage to the greater Mexico City Area. The complete seismic event consisted of four quakes. A pre-event quake of magnitude 5.2 occurred on 28 May 1985. The main and most powerful shock occurred 19 September, followed by two aftershocks: one on 20 September 1985 of magnitude 7.5 and the fourth occurring seven months later on 30 April 1986 of magnitude 7.0. The quakes were located off the Mexican Pacific coast, more than 350 km away, but due to strength of the quake and the fact that Mexico City sits on an old lakebed, Mexico City suffered major damage. The event caused between three and four billion USD in damage as 412 buildings collapsed and another 3,124 were seriously damaged in the city. While the number is in dispute, the most-often cited number of deaths is an estimated 10,000 people but experts agreed that it could be up to 40,000.^[2]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_Mexico_City_earthquake

• Read and analyze the scenario and situation. Inevitably, these types of events are going to continue to happen.

Educating the people on what to do could have saved a lot of lives. Earthquakes sometimes are very strong and could make a lot of destruction. 

• List personal understanding, ideas, or hunches.

When this earthquake in Mexico happened, I was five years old.  My family and I were living in Acapulco Guerrero, Mexico in 1985.  Acapulco is very far away from Mexico City but we also felt the effects of the earthquake.  Acapulco is surrounded by water-sea and mountains. I remember that the bell from my elementary school had just rang when I started to feel a little bit dizzy. I looked down the floor and saw how the dirt was cracking.  Then I saw the people started screaming, little did I know about what was happening.  I saw that parents immediately went to pick up their kids, I was waiting for my big brother to go walking home.  Thankfully my dad was also there to pick us up.  We saw how the top of a mountain was sliding down towards houses up there.  I was scared but thank God there were no lives lost in Acapulco, only some material damages, nothing compared to Mexico city.  It was there were I got to see and feel an earthquake.  I learned that when you think there's an earthquake, you need to evacuate the buildings, run for outside and cover your head.  I'd been in other earthquakes, in the 1990's I happened to be in one at Mexico city.  It felt weird because we as soon as we found out something was wrong, we (my family and I) started evacuating a two story house, but we couldn't walk.  The force of the earth movement it's stronger that I think it has a lot to do with gravity.  

• List what is known.  

Mexico City suffered a massive earthquake back in 1980

The 1985 Mexico City earthquake, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake that struck Mexico City on the early morning of 19 September 1985 at around 7:19 am (CST), caused the deaths of at least 10,000 people and serious damage to the greater Mexico City Area. The complete seismic event consisted of four quakes. A pre-event quake of magnitude 5.2 occurred on 28 May 1985. The main and most powerful shock occurred 19 September, followed by two aftershocks: one on 20 September 1985 of magnitude 7.5 and the fourth occurring seven months later on 30 April 1986 of magnitude 7.0. The quakes were located off the Mexican Pacific coast, more than 350 km away, but due to strength of the quake and the fact that Mexico City sits on an old lakebed, Mexico City suffered major damage. The event caused between three and four billion USD in damage as 412 buildings collapsed and another 3,124 were seriously damaged in the city. While the number is in dispute, the most-often cited number of deaths is an estimated 10,000 people but experts agreed that it could be up to 40,000.^[2]

• List what is unknown. 

How can a person be prepared in case of a sudden earthquake?

Where can people go when an earthquake happens?

What should people do during and after an earthquake?

How dangerous can an earthquake be?

How strong is an earthquake?

Can scientist find out the cause of an earthquake?

Can they predict an earthquake?

• List what needs to be done.

Earthquake safety should not be a big concern when traveling to Los Angeles, but in the unlikely event that an earthquake does occur while you're in town, it doesn't hurt to know what to do during an earthquake and have a plan. Small tremors occur pretty regularly in Southern California, but larger earthquakes that do damage are much less frequent.

Here are FEMA's recommendations for surviving an earthquake, with a few additions.

If you are indoors:

• DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture, window or anything else that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place (i.e. under a desk or in an inside corner).
• Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway. Brace yourself on the side with the hinges to avoid the door swinging at you.
• Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
• DO NOT use the elevators, even if they are working. There may be aftershocks.
• If you're in your hotel room, stay there. There are usually aftershocks, and sometimes they may be worse than the original earthquake. Under a sturdy desk or in an inside corner of your room is the safest place to be, even if you're on the 40th floor. If there's a heavy bookcase next to a match-stick desk, don't get under the desk.
• If you are in a restaurant, get under the table.

CAVEAT: All the advice about getting under furniture assumes that you are in California in an earthquake retrofitted building, and that the biggest danger is from falling and flying debris. If the walls are crumbling and the ceiling is falling in, it is recommended that you lie down NEXT TO a bed, sofa, desk or heavy piece of furniture. In these conditions, the triangle of space created when a bookshelf, wall or part of a ceiling falls against a large piece of furniture is your best chance of not getting crushed.

If outdoors

• Stay there.
• Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

• Pull over to the side of the road and stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires. (Guide Note: an earthquake while you're driving feels like there's something wrong with your car. Don't stop in the middle of the freeway if traffic is still moving around you. Slow down and put on your turn signal to get to the side of the road. If everyone else is doing the same thing, it was most likely an earthquake.)
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

• Do not light a match.
• Do not move about or kick up dust.
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
• Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Things to pack that can help you survive an earthquake:

• A crank radio or battery operated radio, including MP3 players with radio. They don't take up much room and if the power goes out, you will be able to get current information.
• A small flashlight in case the power goes out.
• Travel snacks like granola bars, beef jerky and trail mix in case you're stuck in one place for a while.
• Water. You can't pack it if you're flying, but keep a couple bottles in your hotel room once you settle in, and in your rental car if you have one.

 Source : http://golosangeles.about.com/od/latravelplanning/a/EarthquakeTips.htm

• Develop a problem statement.

     People from all over the world should be aware of natural disasters, such as an earthquake, to educate them selves and be prepared to protect their lives.

• Gather information.

Earthquake in 1985- Mexico.  In this video you can depict some of the destruction caused by this massive earthquake. 

THIS OTHER VIDEO YOU CAN SEE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY EARTHQUAKE IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

• Present findings.

We can survive an earthquake if we