1. EARTHQUAKES
IN THE MIDWEST
Slideshow to Accompany NOVA scienceNOW Episode Aired
09.01.09
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/earthquakes-
midwest.html

2. The earth’s crust is made up of pieces called plates. When the plates
move, they rub against each other. This causes the ground to shake.
THE EARTH IS LIKE A PUZZLE

3. Illinois is near the center of the United States. It is not near a plate
boundary, yet it still gets earthquakes.
ILLINOIS

4. California is on the western edge of the United States. It lies along
the North American plate boundary.
CALIFORNIA

5. Seismologists are Earth scientists who
study earthquake and their energy waves.
They use seismometers to measure ground
motion. The larger the line recorded, the
more energy in the wave.
WHAT IS A
SEISMOGIST?

6. NEW MADRID MARKER

7. HOW DO YOU STUDY A 200 YEAR OLD EARTHQUAKE?
Scientists look for clues the earthquake left behind. The light
patches in this aerial photo show old sand blows caused by earthquakes.

8. STALAGMITE
RINGS

9. OTHER EVIDENCE: SAND BLOWS
Why do you think geologists look at both stalagmite
sand blow evidence? Isn’t one type of evidence good enough?

10. Geologists estimate the hazard of the New Madrid Seismic Zone is as high
as California and Alaska.
U.S. EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MAP

11. The New Madrid Seismic Zone has several
faults hidden beneath 100- to 200- foot
thick layers of soft river soils.
UNDERGROUND
FAULTS

12. THE MIGHTY
MISSISSIPPI
The Mississippi River
runs right through
the New Madrid
Seismic Zone.

13. Geologists estimate a 25-40% chance a
significant New Madrid area earthquake will
happen in the next 50 years.
WHEN IS THE NEXT BIG NEW MADRID
EARTHQUAKE?

14. PREDICTION OF
DAMAGE FROM A
LARGE NEW
MADRID
EARTHQUAKE

15. Check out these earthquake websites!
United States Geological Service Education Links
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/
Shake, Rattle and Slide
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/earth/
Facts About the New Madrid Seismic Zone
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/geores/techbulletin1.htm
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EARTHQUAKES?

16. See how much you learned today. Click the link below to take the
New Madrid Earthquake quiz.
https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0fwqla08fgSswGF
NEW MADRID QUIZ