Geol 112Study guide for Quiz #2
The difference between hazard and risk as applied to "natural disasters" discussed in this course.

How does rock temperature affect whether an earthquake occurs?

Three main types of faults: thrust, normal, strike-slip (right or left)
each is typical of, but not limited to, one type of plate boundary

What is a fault, and how do geologists identify them?
How can geologists determine whether faults are activeor not?
What is meant by an activefault, anyway?

elastic rebound theory vs. displacement pulse ("rug") hypothesis
focus = hypocenter;epicenter
relative speed and strength of P, S, and surface waves
movement of seismic waves within the Earth: refraction, reflection, and weakening


Measuring and describing intensity
some (at least 3) criteria that serve as the basis of the Modified Mercalli scale
how and why maps of damage contours are constructed

Measuring magnitude
magnitude scales are logarithmic scales, with no upper boundary
Richter scale: southern California only (other magnitude scales used elsewhere)
moment magnitude scale: depends on area of fault rupture

California earthquakes
motion between Pacific and North America plates does NOT occur only on the San Andreas
fault; motion also occurs on many other active faults in California, and in Basin and Range
locations (on a map) of Calaveras, Hayward, Rodgers Creek, and San Andreas faults

Things you don't have to know
the difference between Love and Rayleigh waves
how to identify waves on a seismogram
how to use the equation for determining distance from an epicenter
classification of EQs according to seismic energy released
the names and locations of minor faults in the Bay Area
the rate of motion on any fault in Bay Area
the amount and direction of Pacific-North America motion (the vector diagram)