Do You Live in an Earthquake Hazard Region?

Citizen and student scientist looking for a good science project need look no further than the map shown nearby.

This map is the U. S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazard Map for the United States. The map indicates regions that have a 10 percent probability of experiencing ground shaking during the next 50 years.

Even a casual look at this map shows that most of the United States is subject to ground shaking from earthquakes. While the West is by far the most susceptible, there is a significant hotspot at the New Madrid fault south of the Great Lakes. Note that the entire island of Hawaii is at high risk for earthquakes.

Amateur scientists who reside within or near the colored regions on the map can use relatively simple seismometers to detect earth movements. A recent editorial in The Citizen Scientist suggested that the great Sumatra earthquake of Christmas 2004 might motivate more amateur and student scientists to become interested in seismometry. There are many good articles on the web about seismometry and how to make do-it-yourself seismometers.

Readers who are actively involved in seismometry are invited to send comments and information about their monitoring programs to "Backscatter."

Forrest M. Mims III