IRIS (the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, an NSF-funded research and education consortium in seismology) announces a new program for K-12 science teachers and schools to promote awareness and learning of seismology and related Earth science topics in the pre-college science curriculum. As part of the Seismographs in Schools Program, IRIS will provide an educational seismograph (yearly renewable loan) and related materials to selected teachers for use in the classroom. The seismograph can be used in the laboratory to teach about seismic waves, earthquakes, how a seismograph works, and data collection principles. It can also be used to monitor earthquakes on a continuous basis so that, in seismically active areas, local and regional earthquakes can be recorded frequently, and, even in low seismicity areas, large earthquakes from around the world can be recorded at least several times per year. Use of the seismograph by teachers and students and recording actual data from local and significant events from around the world can stimulate interest and motivation to further learning in seismology and Earth science and to explore and use additional information and activities about seismology and the Earth. Using seismograms recorded at the school, one can study seismic waves in the Earth, the distribution of earthquakes, plate tectonics, the concepts of earthquake magnitude and intensity, earthquake location techniques, earthquake hazards, and many other topics that are interesting and relevant to students. The seismograph is easy to set up and use and only requires a Windows-based (Win 95 or 98 or more recent; Pentium processor, 32MB RAM and 100MB available Hard Drive space, internal or external zip drive recommended; available serial port) computer (supplied by the school) to operate.
Initially, the educational seismograph program will be limited to participation by teachers who have participated in one of our earthquake workshops (EARTHQUAKES -- A One Day Workshop for Teachers, at the NSTA meeting or other locations; the EPIcenter or PEPP programs) or teachers who have had substantial education in Earth science or Physics. During the initial phase of the program (about 12 months) we will work with the first group of teachers to develop and refine the program and related materials based on feedback from the teachers from their experience in the classroom. We then expect to advertise this opportunity more broadly and include many additional K-12 science teachers. The operation of the seismograph, computer data handling and seismology topics are most appropriate for the middle and secondary schools. Selection and participation will be based on submission and evaluation of a brief proposal, the teacher’s background (experience in seismology and Earth science through workshops or college and university courses), and the teacher's interest and willingness to include seismology and related Earth science teaching in their classroom and to provide assessment and feedback to our program.
The AS-1 Seismograph: The Seismograph in Schools Program will utilize the AS-1 seismograph (Figure 1) and Windows software (AmaSeis, http://www.geol.binghamton.edu/faculty/jones/as1.html) that has been developed for this program by Prof. Alan Jones (SUNY – Binghamton).
Oil for Damping Spring Coil IRIS Seismographs in Schools Program
AS-1
Seismometer
Boom (knife-edge hinge)
Magnet
Mass
To amplifier, A/D and computer
Figure 1. Photograph of the AS-1 Seismometer. When the ground moves up and down (for example, from earthquake vibration), a relative motion between the magnet (attached to the base and suspended by the spring and boom) and a coil of wire produces an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier (to enhance the small signal), a digitizer (an A/D or analog to digital converter), and the computer for storage and display of the data (see example in Figure 2).
An example of data recorded by the AS-1 seismograph is shown in Figure 2. The seismograph can be operated in a laboratory or classroom environment to learn about how seismographs work, to collect seismic data, and to experiment with ground shaking. For earthquake monitoring, the seismograph works best when placed on a ground level floor in an area where it will be relatively undisturbed. The computer, that continuously displays seismic data (see Figure 2), can be placed a few meters away from the seismometer. In low seismicity areas, one can expect to record about 3-5 distant earthquakes (magnitude 6 or above depending on distance of the seismograph from the earthquake) per month as well as local ground vibrations (seismic noise caused by machinery, people walking, wind, etc.). In active earthquake regions, the seismograph will also record local events depending on magnitude and distance to the epicenter. Time synchronization or corrections (so that reasonably accurate time of arrival can be
Figure 2. Example of 24-hour data display (upper image) from the AS-1 seismometer and the AmaSeis software showing an earthquake recorded on August 9, 2000 at West Lafayette, Indiana. The extracted and filtered seismogram is shown in the lower image. The earthquake is a magnitude 6.5 event from Michoacan, Mexico.
determined from the seismogram) can be obtained by comparing the computer clock with WWV radio time signals or periodic automatic time synchronization of the computer clock if an internet connection is available. A computer running Windows 95 or 98 and continuously connected to the seismograph during earthquake monitoring is necessary to run the software. The software is also capable of being used as a viewer for seismic data from IRIS (see WILBER, available from the IRIS DMC at http://www.iris.edu ) and other sources.
(02/02)
To be considered for the second distribution of seismometers, please submit your application by April 12, 2002. If you are not selected to receive a seismometer in the this distribution, you will be informed within a month after April 12, and your application will be retained to be considered again when additional seismometers will be available. If you have questions about the program or the application, please email Dr. John Taber taber@iris.edu (phone: 202-682-2220) or Professor Larry Braile at braile@purdue.edu (phone: 765-494-5979).
Please provide the following information: