Locating Earthquake Epicenter Lab - Triangulation

This is a lab to help students explore the triangulation method used to determine earthquake epicenters. I created this lab because I wanted a lab that very purposefully made students practice the analysis of seismogram data, calculate pertinent information such as "lag time" from P-wave and S-wave data and use triangulation to determine epicenter location. I wanted a lab that (a) focused on these skills and not other data (while interesting and important could also distract from the learning target) and (b) a lab that looked simple and pleasing to the eye. (If you're interested in also plotting earthquakes, CHECK OUT MY COMBO pack which includes this lab as well as my Plotting Earthquakes Lab a lab featuring current earthquakes - data updated every year!)

If you like the idea of this lab, please consider my Tsunami Investigation Simulation product! This product is a mini-unit, in which students are placed in the role of interns at the USGS-Earthquake Hazard Program. It was purposely created to use THIS LAB in an authentic way. On their first day of this unit, the interns are plunged into action due to a fictional tsunami striking the coast of Indonesia the evening before. Over the next five days, students are given several memos from the director of the hazard’s program (you) tasking them with determining the cause of the tsunami. As part of the investigation, they authentically learn to triangulate to uncover the source of the wave.

What you get:

*The lab which includes four complete sets of earthquake data (data - represented numerically in table form AND through seismograms, triangulation map, key). In other words, students will calculate the epicenter location for four different earthquakes.

*A set of student notes which explicitly show, step by step, how to use P and S wave arrival time with a P and S wave curve to calculate epicenter distance AND P and S wave travel time. With these notes I give example data sets for practice and I include a key.

*Additional practice with reading seismograms.

*A suggested lesson plan to follow.

Attention!! Please consider my Triangulation Method: Who cut the cheese?! as a precursor lab to this one. It essentially breaks down the process of learning triangulation into more manageable parts, providing additional scaffolding for those students who need extra support. Although this lab was intended for the special ed. population, I have found that using this lab with both general ed. and accelerated students made the entire learning process smoother.

***A word about PRICE: This lab is top notch. I created the data in this lab, calculated all numbers and constructed all maps and keys to represent accurate seismic data in a clear and concise way.