Mercalli or Richter?????

Major earthquakes result in significant loss of life.  They are felt and can cause destruction in areas hundreds of miles away from their epicenters.  Explain how a magnitude 8.0 earthquake could be classified as a low-intensity earthquake.

Are earthquakes that powerful?

The violent earthquake that stroke Japan recently, shifted it's main island by 8 feet.  You can read about it using the following link:

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-12/world/japan.earthquake.tsunami.earth_1_tsunami-usgs-geophysicist-quake?_s=PM:WORLD

Can we use this fact to support any of the theories learned in class?  Explain.

Plate Tectonics = Earthquakes = Tsunamis!!!

Japan is located in a tectonically active area.  Use your knowledge of Plate Tectonics to describe the area where Japan is.  Based on the tectonic movement that just occurred in this region, can you predict where another earthquake can happen next?

Tsunamis

Tsunamis are very powerful series of waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water.  They can be exceedingly destructive, causing the loss of life, as well as property damage.  Do tsunamis occur only in coastal communities?  Are earthquakes the sole cause of tsunamis????

Earthquakes and Volcanoes!!!

Are earthquakes and volcanoes completely unrelated, or could there be a possible connection?  Propose several ideas that might explain what causes these events.