Earthquake Now: Live Tectonics

Live earthquake data investigation using real USGS events, plate boundaries and depth to uncover global tectonic patterns.

Students use the free Earthquake Now interactive from Dig Earth Studio to investigate whether earthquakes are randomly distributed around Earth.

They begin with plate boundaries hidden and identify earthquake belts, arcs and clusters from the live data. Students then reveal the mapped plate boundaries, compare different tectonic settings and use earthquake depth to explore the three-dimensional structure of subduction zones.

The activity also tackles an important misconception: a mapped plate-boundary line is only a simplified surface representation. Earthquakes can occur far from that line and still be related to the same plate-boundary system, especially where a slab descends beneath another plate.

Students finish by investigating real events from the current dataset and building a scientific claim supported by evidence.

Includes:

Student Activity Pack
Teacher Guide
Answer Key
Free online Earthquake Now interactive

Suitable for secondary / middle-school Earth science, geography and geology. Approx. 45–60 minutes, with scope for extension. Requires internet access.