Base your answers to questions 1 through 4 on the passage and the map below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The map indicates the epicenter (*) of a major earthquake that occurred at 38 N 142 E. This map also shows some smaller plates believed to be part of the major tectonic plates. Letter A represents a location on a plate boundary. Devastating Tsunami On March 11, 2011, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded (magnitude 9.0) produced a 7-meter-high tsunami that devastated Japan's eastern coast. Thousands of people died and billions of dollars in damage occurred. Several hours after the earthquake, the tsunami reached the Hawaiian Islands and parts of North America's west coast. 1. Identify one geologic feature that was most likely produced by plate interaction at point A. 2. Describe one immediate action that was most likely taken in the Hawaiian Island to prevent the loss of life as the tsunami approached.
3. On the cross section of the tectonic plate boundary, draw one arrow in each circle to indicate the general direction of plate motion near the earthquake epicenter. 4. Identify by name the two tectonic plates labeled on the map above that are located directly on each side of the earthquake epicenter.
Base your answers to questions 5 through 7 on the modified Mercalli scale of earthquake intensity below, on the map of Japan in your answer booklet, and on your knowledge of Earth science. The modified Mercalli scale classifies earthquake intensity based on observations made during an earthquake. The map indicates the modified Mercalli scale intensity values recorded at several locations in Japan during the March 11, 2011 earthquake, which triggered destructive tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean. 5. Describe one way the P-waves and S-waves recorded on seismograms at Ishinomaki and Nagano were used to indicate that Ishinomaki was closer to the earthquake epicenter than was Nagano. 6. The epicenter of this earthquake was located at 38 N 142 E. Identify the type of tectonic plate boundary that is located nearest to the epicenter of this earthquake.
7. Above lists some observations that might be made during an earthquake according to the modified Mercalli scale. Place a check mark (ã) in the box if that observation most likely was recorded at Yamagata during the March 11, 2011 earthquake. More than one box may be checked. Base your answers to questions 8 through 11 on the map below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The map shows the generalized ages of surface bedrock of Iceland, an island located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift. The location of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift is indicated. Points A and B represent locations on the surface bedrock, which is igneous in origin. The ages of the surface bedrock, in million years (my), are indicated in the key. 8. On the map, identify the two tectonic plates, one on each side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift at Iceland, by writing their names on the lines provided on the map.
9. On the map, draw one arrow through point A and one arrow through point B to indicate the relative direction that each plate is moving to produce the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift. 10. Identify one feature in the mantle beneath Iceland that causes larger amounts of magma formation in Iceland than at most other locations along the rest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift. 11. Identify one dark-colored, mafic igneous rock with a vesicular texture that is likely to be found on the surface of Iceland. 12. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents a portion of Earth's crust. Letters A, B, C, and D indicate sedimentary rock layers that were originally formed from deposits in a sea. The rock layers have not been overturned. Describe one piece of evidence represented in the cross section that indicates Earth's crust has moved at this location.
Base your answers to questions 13 through 15 on the data table below, on the graph in your answer booklet, and on your knowledge of Earth science. The data table shows the velocity of seismic S -waves at various depths below Earth's surface. The graph shows the velocity of seismic P-waves at various depths below Earth's surface. Letter A is a point on the graph.
13. State the pressure and temperature of Earth's interior at the depth indicated by point A on the graph. 14. What property of Earth s interior causes the S-waves to stop at 2900 km, but allows the P-waves to continue? 15. On the graph above, plot the S-wave velocity at each depth given on the data table. Connect the plots with a line. 16. Identify a process occurring in the plastic mantle that is inferred to cause tectonic plate motion.
Base your answers to questions 17 and 18 on the block diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the pattern of normal and reversed magnetic polarity of the seafloor bedrock on the east side of a mid-ocean ridge center. The magnetic polarity of the bedrock on the west side of the ridge has been omitted. Arrows represent the direction of seafloor movement on either side of the ridge. 17. Describe the general relationship between the distance from the ridge center and the age of the seafloor bedrock. 18. Complete the diagram by shading the pattern of normal polarity on the west side of the ridge center. Assume the rate of plate movement was constant on both sides of the ridge center. Your answer must show the correct width and placement of each normal polarity section.
Base your answers to questions 19 through 21 on the geologic cross section of Earth's crust and on your knowledge of Earth science. Letters A through F identify rock units. Letter X identifies a fault. Wavy line YZ represents an unconformity. The locations of contact metamorphism and the map symbols for sedimentary rock layers B and E have been omitted. 19. On the cross section draw the contact metamorphism symbol to indicate all locations where contact metamorphism has occurred. 20. Layer B is composed of clay-sized particles and layer E is composed of halite crystals. On the cross section fill in layer B and layer E on both sides of the fault with the correct sedimentary rock map symbols. 21. On the cross section draw two arrows, one on each side of fault X, to show the relative direction of movement of the rock units that occurred during faulting.
Base your answers to questions 22 and 23 on on the diagram below, which shows a seismograph that recorded seismic waves from an earthquake located 4000 kilometers from this seismic station. 22. How long does the first S-wave take to travel from the earthquake epicenter to this seismograph? 23. Which type of seismic wave was recorded first on the rotating drum? Base your answers to questions 24 through 26 on the map below, which is an enlargement of a portion of the Tectonic Plates map from the Earth Science Reference Tables. Points A and B are locations on different boundaries of the Arabian Plate. 24. Identify the type of tectonic plate boundary located at point A. 25. On the map shown, a valley is located south of point B and a mountain range north of point B. State the tectonic process that is creating these two land features.
26. The block diagram below represents Earth's surface and interior along the East African Rift. Draw two arrows, one through point X and one through point Y, to indicate the relative motion of each of these sections of the continental crust.
Base your answers to questions 27 through 29 on the map below and the cross sections on the next page. The map shows a portion of the Indian Ocean and surrounding landmasses. The location of the epicenter of a large undersea earthquake that occurred on December 26, 2004, is shown by an X. The isolines surrounding the epicenter show the approximate location of the first tsunami wave produced by this earthquake in half-hour intervals after the initial earthquake. Cross sections I and II illustrate how this undersea earthquake produced the tsunami. Cross section III shows the tsunami approaching a shoreline. The cross sections are not drawn to scale.
RR#8 - Free Response
27. Based on cross section III, describe the ocean water-level change at the shoreline that people observed just before the first tsunami wave approached the shore. 28. Identify the overriding tectonic plate at the convergent plate boundary where this earthquake occurred. 29. According to the map, how long after this earthquake did the first tsunami wave arrive at Bengkulu, Sumatra?
30. Base your answer to the following question on the map below, which shows a portion of southwestern United States. On January 17, 1994, an earthquake occurred with an epicenter of Northridge, California. List two actions that a homeowner could take to prepare the home ro family for the next earthquake.