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Geophysics in the 8th Grade:

Geophysics in the 8th Grade:. Earthquake Waves Right in Their Own Backyard. Michigan Technological University. Volunteer-Run Temporary Seismograph Stations. Simple Software Run for 2-3 Months Use Volunteers; train them first Cheap, easy…. We hope!. Mexican earthquake, magnitude 6.8.

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Geophysics in the 8th Grade:

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  1. Geophysics in the 8th Grade: Earthquake Waves Right in Their Own Backyard Wayne D. Pennington Michigan Technological University

  2. Volunteer-Run Temporary Seismograph Stations • Simple Software • Run for 2-3 Months • Use Volunteers; train them first • Cheap, easy…. • We hope!

  3. Mexican earthquake, magnitude 6.8

  4. UPSeis: • Upper Peninsula Seismic Experiments In Schools

  5. The UPSeis Program • One of several established programs • In-classroom experience for K-12 • University personnel visit schools • Volunteer efforts • SEG Foundation purchased equipment

  6. Working Closely With • MichSeis • Michigan Seismology

  7. Seismogram from MichSeis Web site Can non-permanent stations record Earthquakes? • Yes, we do it all the time • Just wait long enough, for a... • Really big one • Nearby one • Both of the above

  8. How do schools get started? • Teacher or principal... • Learns about UPSeis • Calls us • We visit school and install • In classroom, away from feet • Explain to each class

  9. Step-by-Step: 1 • Place Seismograph in classroom • Leave it there for 2-3 months • Record earthquakes

  10. Step-by-Step: 2 • Record Eq’s • Locations: • www.iris.edu

  11. Step-by-Step: 3 • Return and “interpret” seismograms

  12. LR S P The Interpretation Process • Distribute • seismograms • earthquake lists • travel-time curves • string • globes

  13. Analyze the Events • Identify earthquake from times on list • Locate earthquake on globe (lat,lon) • Find distance to hometown (string) • Use travel-time curves to identify arrivals of seismic waves • Advanced classes: find magnitude

  14. What do the students learn? • About Earthquakes • About Geophysics in general • That real people can do real science • How to read a globe!!! • Charts and equations

  15. How is this now possible? 1 • New, low-cost ($1500) Broad-band Seismographs • Research quality • Easy to install and maintain

  16. How is this now possible? 2 • Low-cost computers serve as Data-Acquisition units • A-D boards are still expensive, getting cheaper • Low sample rates

  17. The Seismometer We Use • The S102 from EAI • Uses an RF distance detector EAI = Electronic Acoustics, Inc.

  18. What other equipment is used? • Macintosh Computer • (any with a full-length NuBus slot) • National Instruments A-D board • Plan to expand program with other: • Computers • A-D boards

  19. AtoD Equipment Plan That’s All!

  20. But we don’t have a seismic “pier” • That’s OK! We use the floor. • Preferably ground floor, but we’ve used upper floors • Big earthquakes are big enough to record anywhere!

  21. What about people walking? • Doesn’t make a difference • Experiments in class prove it, • and are fun!

  22. What’s Next? • Improve Software • User-friendly • Machine-independent • Utilize cheaper A-D boards • Fool-proof

  23. Why Am I Telling You? • You can get involved • Next year, we hope • to have a better program in place • any company can sponsor workers • to use equipment in schools • and help our young people be excited about science!

  24. And Whom Do I Thank? • SEG Foundation • Equipment purchase • Software re-write • Principals and Teachers • Especially Mr. Jim Luoma, Houghton • Original Software author • Dr. Larry Ruff, University of Michigan

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