Earthquakes Research paper

BACKGROUND

An earthquake is a natural phenomenon caused by seismic (sound) waves transmitted through the earth and causing the surface of the earth to tremble for a varying period of time. The degree of shaking can range from nearly undetectable to violent and devastating.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

551.2–551.29

551.59

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Earthquakes

Earthquakes—California

Earthquake prediction

Seismology

USE PAMPHLET FILE (ALSO CALLED VERTICAL FILE) UNDER THE HEADING

Earthquakes

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP

CQ Researcher, December 16, 1994.

Magill, Frank N., ed. Magill’s Survey of Science: Earth Science Series, 1990.

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 1992.

The New Book of Popular Science. Grolier, 1992.

Ritchie, David. The Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes, 1994. General encyclopedias

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe

Dialog

Internet

Prodigy
KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Earthquakes

Choose a specific earthquake as a key word; e.g., Loma Prieta.

Seismology

Seismic waves

Earthquake prediction

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

Earthquake. Vestron Video, 1992.

Predictable Disaster. Vestron Video, 1989.

FICTION BOOKS RELATING TO TOPIC

Bethancourt, T. E. The Tomorrow Connection, 1984.

Gregory, Kristiana. Earthquake at Dawn, 1992.

Gray, Genevieve S. Alaska Woman, 1977.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, 499 14th St., Ste. 320, Oakland, CA 94612–1902.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Choose a specific earthquake to research; e.g., Armenian earthquake of 1988, Northridge, California earthquake of 1994, or the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

Discuss the psychological effects of earthquakes on people.

Investigate the science of earthquake predicting.

What is the San Andreas Fault?

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Kourion (extinct city)

Plate Tectonics

Richter Scale

Tsunamis (tidal waves)

Volcanoes

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.