How can we define problems that may be caused by a catastrophic event resulting from plate movements and design possible devices or solutions to minimize the effects of that event on Earth’s surface and/or human structures?

​Background Information

During this unit you may remember that catastrophic events such as earthquakes and volcanoes occur along plate boundaries.  Unfortunately, many population centers also exist along plate boundaries where these geologic activities are likely to occur.  In grades 3 -7 you may remember developing and using models to describe the characteristics of Earth's continental landforms and classify landforms as volcanoes, mountains, valleys, canyons, plains, and islands.  You may also remember obtaining and communicating information to explain how natural events such as fires, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or floods and human activities such as farming, mining, or building impact the environment. 

Introduction

Between 1994 and 2013, over 6,873 natural disasters worldwide claimed 1.35 million lives or almost 68,000 lives on average each year, and directly affected more than 218 million people each year.  Today, not only are more people in harm’s way than there were 50 years ago, but building in earthquakes zones and other high-risk areas has increased the likelihood that a routine natural hazard will become a major catastrophe.  Earthquakes  and tsunamis have sadly killed more people than all other types of disaster put together, claiming nearly 750,000 lives between 1994 and 2013.  More interestingly, higher-income countries experienced 56% of disasters but lost only 32% of lives, compared to lower-income countries which experienced 44% of disasters but suffered 68% of deaths. This means that higher levels of economic development, rather than exposure to natural catastrophes are a major factor in death rates.  Therefore, science and engineering can do a lot to help prevent the negative impacts of these catastrophes!
Picture
Click here to see more natural disaster data

Key Question

How do volcanoes and earthquakes directly impact people and what can engineers do to help prevent those impacts?

Key Terms

  1. Seismic waves
  2. Engineering Design Process

Set Goals


​Take a moment to think about something you would really like to learn this week about how earthquakes and volcanoes directly impact people and what scientists and engineers can do to help prevent these impacts and add your question(s) to your science journal.