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Select a Topic Earthquake Science 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake 1906 San Francisco Quake Building Safer Structures Go to Archived Footage As coincidence would have it, on October 16 an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rumbled across the desert in California, just as the Exploratorium Faultline crew was working its way up the San Andreas Faultline producing a series of video feeds and live events about life in earthquake country. Although the earthquake and the Exploratorium Faultine project have passed, you can still get the dirt on ground-shaking earthquakes by checking out the Exploratorium Faultline Archives. Visit the Exploratorium Faultline Archives to learn why earthquakes happen, how they affect the people who live through them, and what scientists and engineers are doing to predict and protect against them. Also, get special features on "The Great Shake" of 1906 and the massive Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. Then log on to video footage shot on location in California by Exploratorium crews. If you're ready to become an earthquake expert, browse the resources and discussion questions listed below. You'll find lots of excellent earthquake sites, complete with pictures, animation, and descriptions to help you decode the details of earthquake science.  Earthquake Science Germantown Elementary School, IL Science Department Though seemingly sudden and often destructive, earthquakes are slow to form. In fact, laying the groundwork for an earthquake takes decades, according to the study of underground movement called plate tectonics. To analyze the beneath-the-surface mechanisms of earthquakes, you'll need to know some basic geology and seismology. What is an earthquake and what causes it? How have different cultures constructed myths and legends to explain earthquakes? What is seismology? And what other earthquake vocabulary is important to know when talking about earthquakes? How do earthquakes gain their earth-shattering energy? What is plate tectonics, and where are the major fault lines around the world? How do different types of faults cause different types of earthquakes? Additional Resources Exploratorium: Life Along the Faultline General Information Links United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Information Page USGS Seismology at the Science Fair (earthquake-related science projects for kids) Virtual Earthquake (geology labs online)  1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake Ten years ago, during the third game of the 1989 World Series, the Loma Prieta earthquake shook San Francisco, collapsing buildings and crumbling a section of the Bay Bridge in the P.M. rush hour. Find out how the city dug out from this ill-timed quake and get the facts on the phenomenon to prepare you for the Exploratorium's ten-year commemoration on October 17. U.S. Geological Survey How did the Loma Prieta earthquake rock San Francisco? What was the magnitude of the Loma Prieta earthquake? How do you measure earthquake magnitude? How did the Loma Prieta earthquake damage the Bay area? What were the costs of the quake? What other large earthquakes have rocked the U.S.? What recent earthquakes have made news this year? Additional Resources USGS Loma Prieta Earthquake 10th Anniversary The October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake 1989 Earthquake Reports and Photographs from the Museum of the City of San Francisco  1906 San Francisco Quake U.S. Geological Survey The nation's worst natural disaster struck on April 18, 1906 at 5:15 AM. The quake registered 8.25 on the Richter scale, a magnitude large enough to crumble the city of San Francisco in only one minute of shaking. The massive rumblings sparked a devastating fire that burned for three days and covered 4.7 square miles. What happened during the Great Shake earthquake of 1906? How big was the 1906 earthquake? Where can I find video footage of the 1906 earthquake? How did eyewitnesses like novelist Jack London and others react to the quake? What did researchers learn about earthquake science from the 1906 quake? Additional Resources: The Museum of the City of San Francisco's 1906 Earthquake and Fire Exhibit The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire 1906 Earthquake and Fire News Clippings  Building Safer Structures Even with today's advanced technology, researchers cannot pinpoint when or where earthquakes will strike. The best defense against these monster rumblings is to construct "smarter" and safer structures. What are engineers and scientists doing to make buildings safer? What methods do scientists use to try to predict earthquakes? What safe steps should you take to prepare for an earthquake? PBS Savage Earth Additional Resources The Anatomy of a Safe Building Exploratorium: Life Along the Fault Line Earthquake Engineering Home Safe Home American Red Cross's "Talking about Disasters" USGS Building Safer Structures © 2003 by EdGate All rights reserved.