News in Review – January 2013 – Teacher Resource Guide
B.C. EARTHQUAKE
SETTING THE STAGE
On October 27, 2012 an
earthquake measuring 7.7
on the Richter scale struck
at 8:04 p.m. off the west
coast of British Columbia.
The quake, the largest in
Canada in more than 60
years, struck about 70
kilometres south-southwest
of Queen Charlotte City,
Haida Gwaii. Residents of
Haida Gwaii scrambled to
get to high ground, and
were terrified as more than
50 aftershocks rippled
through the area. Despite
the size of the earthquake,
no one was killed and there
was very little damage
because the location of the
epicenter was in the ocean.
Earthquakes in Canada
The Pacific Coast of Canada is the most
earthquake-prone region of the country. More
than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 or
greater have occurred in the offshore region west
of Vancouver during the past 70 years.
The reason for the concentration of earthquakes
along the West Coast is the active faults, or
breaks in the earth’s crust, that occur in this area.
The West Coast is one of the few areas in the
world where four tectonic plates meet and
interact. When plates move against each other,
earthquakes occur.
VOCABULARY
Tectonic Plates
Large rigid blocks that are floating on semifluid rock and are therefore able to interact
with each other at their boundaries.
Richter Scale
The Richter Scale is a measurement system
that evaluates the magnitude – or energy –
of an earthquake. The magnitude is
recorded through numerical values ranging
from 1-10.
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JANUARY 2013 — B.C. EARTHQUAKE
plate about 50 kilometres below the earth’s
surface. In a subduction zone, plates can slip
against each other vertically – rather than just
bumping up against each other horizontally –
and this can create a violent quake and tsunami.
Scientists predict that the Cascadia subduction
zone will eventually give rise to a giant,
megathrust earthquake off the Lower Mainland
of British Columbia. It is believed there is a one
in 10 chance that it will impact Vancouver in the
next 50 years. It is expected that if such a
megathrust earthquake strikes, it would result in
buckled roads, collapsed buildings, and
structural damage to water treatment plants and
other major industries. It is also expected that a
huge tsunami would be created by the
earthquake, which would do further catastrophic
damage of its own.
The area beneath the Lower Mainland is known
as the Cascadia subduction zone, where the Juan
de Fuca plate dips below the North American
Scientists hope that by studying the October
2012 BC earthquake they can learn more about
this geologically sensitive area, and be better
prepared for earthquakes that are bound to come
in the future.
To Consider
1. Have you ever felt an earthquake? If so, what was it like?
2. If you live in British Columbia, do you worry about a major earthquake hitting the region? If you live
outside British Columbia, would the fact that BC is an earthquake zone deter you from moving to the
province? Explain your answer.
3. Do you think that Canada is well prepared for an emergency like a major earthquake?
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JANUARY 2013 — B.C. EARTHQUAKE
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-viewing Activity
By yourself, or with a partner, complete the following Earthquake Quiz. The answers to the quiz can be
found at the end of this Guide.
Earthquake Quiz
1. If you were in an apartment, house, or other building, what is the safest
spot to be during an earthquake?
 (a) Under a doorframe
 (b) On the lowest level of the building
 (c) Beside a wall
2. Where do most earthquakes occur?
 (a) At plate boundaries
 (b) In areas of high urban density
 (c) In the mantle
3. How many small earthquakes occur each year?
 (a) 500 – 1,000
 (b) 1,000 – 5,000
 (c) 20,000 – 25,000
 (d) 40,000 – 50,000
4. How fast do tectonic plates move?
 (a) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per day
 (b) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per year
 (c) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per century
 (d) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per second
5. How are earthquakes measured?




(a) Richtergraph
(b) Magnetic resonance machine
(c) Wave scope
(d) Seismograph
How did you do on the quiz? If you live in a coastal area you likely did better than a student from Central
Canada. But did you know that the Ottawa Valley area in Ontario is prone to earthquakes as well?
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JANUARY 2013 — B.C. EARTHQUAKE
Viewing Questions
1. How large was the earthquake that occurred off the coast of BC in October of 2012?
2. How many aftershocks occurred?
3. What are tsunami warnings and why are they so important?
4. Why did the U.S. government tsunami warnings get sent out much more quickly than those of the
Canadian government?
5. Describe why Prince Rupert would be at risk during an earthquake?
6. What precautions were taken in Prince Rupert after the tsunami warning was issued?
7. Where did most people in Prince Rupert get their information about the tsunami warning?
8. Explain how the new tsunami warning system will work in BC.
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JANUARY 2013 — B.C. EARTHQUAKE
9. What information do scientists try to gather after an earthquake?
10. Record some of the physical and psychological impacts of the earthquake on residents of Skidegate.
11. How will the data gathered by scientists be used?
Post-viewing Activities
With a partner or small group, select one of the following issues to research on your smartphone, laptop,
or other electronic device. Be prepared to report back to the class on what you learned.
1. Why did Canadian authorities send out tsunami warnings much later than American authorities?
2. What changes have been made to the earthquake emergency response procedure in British Columbia
since the October 2012 quake?
3. Why did the Haida Gwaii hot springs dry up? And will they come back?
4. How have people recovered since the earthquake? Has life gone back to normal or not?
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JANUARY 2013 — B.C. EARTHQUAKE
ACTIVITY: Thinking About the Northern Gateway Pipeline
The Northern Gateway project is a proposed $6.5-billion twin pipeline that would carry crude oil from the
Athabasca oil sands near Edmonton, Alberta to a marine terminal in Kitimat, British Columbia. From
there the oil would be transported to Asia via tankers.
The pipeline project was first introduced in the mid-2000s but has been halted a number of times.
Supporters of the pipeline — mostly business people — argue that the pipeline will create hundreds of
new jobs. Opponents of the pipeline — among them aboriginal peoples whose lands will be crossed by
the pipeline, environmentalists, and many others — argue that the environmental, economic, and cultural
risks of the pipeline are too great. Critics also point out that Enbridge, the Canadian company that would
develop the pipeline, has a bad history of accidents and oil spills.
The October 2012 earthquake has made some people reconsider their position on the Northern Gateway
pipeline. Some people feel that the quake underlines the potential pitfalls of oil tankers plying the B.C.
coast. The area is prone to earthquakes, and that is a fact. It seems logical to assume that this increases the
risk of a disaster involving a major oil spill.
So what do you think?
Those in support of the pipeline, and those against the pipeline couldn’t be farther apart. The best way for
you to decide which side you support, or whether you fall somewhere in the middle, is to learn more
about the issue.
Visit at least three credible news sites and search for articles on the Northern Gateway pipeline. These
sites could include:
•
The Globe & Mail
•
The Toronto Star
•
Maclean’s magazine
•
The National Post
•
CBC News, CTV News, Global News
•
The Huffington Post
Read as much as you can about the proposed pipeline and then write an opinion piece to capture your
feelings about the pipeline. You could also record a video rant to express yourself.
Be prepared to share your opinion piece, or rant, with the class.
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JANUARY 2013 — B.C. EARTHQUAKE
Answers to Earthquake Quiz
1. (c) Beside a wall
Many people are injured by falling debris just outside buildings. If you are inside it is usually best to
stay inside near a wall. If you are outside, move away from buildings and power lines.
2. (a) At plate boundaries
Most earthquakes occur at the boundaries where the plates meet. The plates slide over, under, and
past each other causing fractures that release energy.
3. (d) 40,000 – 50,000
Although we don’t feel them all, approximately 40,000 to 50,000 small earthquakes are recorded each
year.
4. (b) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per year
About the same amount that human hair grows in a year.
5. (d) Seismograph
The seismograph has a base that sets firmly in the ground, and a heavy weight that hangs free. When
an earthquake causes the ground to shake, the base of the seismograph shakes too, but the hanging
weight does not. Instead the spring or string that it is hanging from absorbs all the movement. The
difference in position between the shaking part of the seismograph and the motionless part is what is
recorded.
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey and The Government of Canada
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