1. What causes the seismic waves experienced during an earthquake? 2. Explain why there is a pattern as to where earthquakes occur. 3. What is the difference between the focus of an earthquake and the epicenter?

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
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ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
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### Introduction to Seismic Waves and Earthquake Studies

#### Part A

1. **What causes the seismic waves experienced during an earthquake?**
   - Seismic waves are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic energy. This release of energy usually occurs due to tectonic plates moving, volcanic activity, or other geological processes.

2. **Explain why there is a pattern as to where earthquakes occur.**
   - Earthquakes often occur along tectonic plate boundaries where plates interact. These interactions can include convergent boundaries (where plates collide), divergent boundaries (where plates separate), and transform boundaries (where plates slide past each other).

3. **What is the difference between the focus of an earthquake and the epicenter?**
   - The focus (or hypocenter) of an earthquake is the exact point within the Earth where the seismic energy is released. The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.

4. **The energy released from an earthquake propagates as seismic waves. What is the difference between a P wave, an S wave, and a surface wave? Explain why they are recorded at different arrival times on the seismometer at a seismic monitoring station.**
   - P waves (Primary waves) are the fastest seismic waves and travel through both liquids and solids. S waves (Secondary waves) are slower than P waves and can only travel through solids. Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface and are slower than both P and S waves, but they often cause the most damage during an earthquake. Due to their differing speeds, they arrive at seismometers at different times.

#### Part B

Visit the United States Geological Survey (USGS) site [here](https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/oklahoma-has-had-a-surge-earthquakes-2009-are-they-due-fracking?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products) and then answer the following questions:

5. **Discuss some of the causes that the USGS believe are triggering the seismic activity in Oklahoma.**
   - [Example Answer] The USGS believes that the increased seismic activity in Oklahoma is likely due to the injection of wastewater from oil and gas extraction into deep underground wells.

6. **Explain how the earthquakes in Oklahoma are different from the earthquakes experienced in California near the San Andreas fault.**
   - [Example Answer] Earthquakes in Oklahoma are often induced by
Transcribed Image Text:### Introduction to Seismic Waves and Earthquake Studies #### Part A 1. **What causes the seismic waves experienced during an earthquake?** - Seismic waves are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic energy. This release of energy usually occurs due to tectonic plates moving, volcanic activity, or other geological processes. 2. **Explain why there is a pattern as to where earthquakes occur.** - Earthquakes often occur along tectonic plate boundaries where plates interact. These interactions can include convergent boundaries (where plates collide), divergent boundaries (where plates separate), and transform boundaries (where plates slide past each other). 3. **What is the difference between the focus of an earthquake and the epicenter?** - The focus (or hypocenter) of an earthquake is the exact point within the Earth where the seismic energy is released. The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus. 4. **The energy released from an earthquake propagates as seismic waves. What is the difference between a P wave, an S wave, and a surface wave? Explain why they are recorded at different arrival times on the seismometer at a seismic monitoring station.** - P waves (Primary waves) are the fastest seismic waves and travel through both liquids and solids. S waves (Secondary waves) are slower than P waves and can only travel through solids. Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface and are slower than both P and S waves, but they often cause the most damage during an earthquake. Due to their differing speeds, they arrive at seismometers at different times. #### Part B Visit the United States Geological Survey (USGS) site [here](https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/oklahoma-has-had-a-surge-earthquakes-2009-are-they-due-fracking?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products) and then answer the following questions: 5. **Discuss some of the causes that the USGS believe are triggering the seismic activity in Oklahoma.** - [Example Answer] The USGS believes that the increased seismic activity in Oklahoma is likely due to the injection of wastewater from oil and gas extraction into deep underground wells. 6. **Explain how the earthquakes in Oklahoma are different from the earthquakes experienced in California near the San Andreas fault.** - [Example Answer] Earthquakes in Oklahoma are often induced by
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