The Caltech Office of Earthquake Programs is pleased to present this proposal to develop a short animation and video presentation that clearly, and in layman’s terms, explains how earthquakes are recorded, analyzed and reported to the public. The animation and video will be designed to provide a simple and seamless explanation of: how an earthquake begins deep in the earth; how seismic waves are generated and "captured" by instruments of the Southern California Seismic Network; how these data are transmitted to the Seismological Laboratory for processing and how they are transformed into information that is used by people to understand what has happened and for emergency services agencies to effectively respond. This presentation will vary in length depending on the context in which it is used, from about 40 seconds as an introduction to the Earthquake Research Affiliates website to approximately 10 minutes as an audio-visual aid for Seismological Laboratory tours. It will include live footage of scientists and technicians explaining their work and animation to demonstrate various aspects of an earthquake occurrence and subsequent analysis and public information.

Although there are existing demonstration products including story boards, animation and equipment devoted to the explanation of various aspects of earthquakes and their analysis, there is no program or presentation that provides a simple explanation of the total process beginning with the occurrence of an earthquake and concluding with the provision of information vital to both understanding the event and effectively responding to any hazard. In the absence of such a presentation, the information most non-scientists receive from Laboratory tours, verbal descriptions and existing animation is fragmentary. In science, as in other complex processes, comprehending linkages is critical and we are not currently explaining these linkages adequately to foster a lay understanding of seismic monitoring

This product will have multiple uses including a brief animated introduction to the new Earthquake Research Affiliates of Caltech website and a longer version designed to be shown to groups who tour the Seismological Laboratory. It will also be used to brief elected officials, news media representatives and other non-scientists who wish to gain a better understanding of how earthquakes, through the use of science and technology, are monitored and understood. The animation and video presentation will be installed in existing display monitors on the ground floor of the Seely G. Mudd Laboratory of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences on the Caltech campus as well as in the Media Center on the second floor of the same building. Copies of the presentation will be created and made available to secondary schools and universities to improve the understanding of earth science and to libraries for distribution to the public.

The current TriNet Project is an aggressive effort to upgrade the Southern California Seismic Network using state of the art digital technology and high-speed telemetry. TriNet will also deploy many new instruments and integrate the seismic network with the state’s Strong Ground Motion Instrumentation Program. This project has resulted in dramatic improvements in the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of earthquake information and will result in improved seismic safety. The animation and video presentation will assist existing outreach efforts by communicating these improvements to a wider audience. The presentation will also "tie together" other instructional media in the Seismological Lab including the CUBE, AWARE and Historic Earthquake displays already available. The presentation will provide a dramatic introduction to the new ERA website and encourage the participation of a wider array of organizations in Earthquake Research Affiliate activities.

On all recordings of the animation and video presentation, there will be an acknowledgement of the gift that made it possible to create the presentation. The method of recognition will be discussed with the family and will conform to their wishes. The Crotty family will receive copies of the animation and video presentation and, if desired, a plaque will be placed on the video monitor on the first floor of the Seismological Laboratory acknowledging the generosity of the Crotty family.

All correspondence regarding this project should be directed to the Project Manager:
James D. Goltz
Manager, Office of Earthquake Programs
Seismological Laboratory
1200 East California Blvd., MC 252-21
Pasadena, CA 91125