Say ''earthquake,'' and most Americans think of California. Buta new museum opening at The University of Memphis will remindpeople that one of North America's biggest earthquakes occurred inthe Mid-South.
The Public Earthquake Resource Center will open a two-roommuseum at The U of M's Center for Earthquake Research andInformation. The center plans to open the museum by May, said JoanGomberg, researcher for the U.S. geological survey and theearthquake center.
Many U of M students and Memphians have little knowledge of thegreat earthquake of 1811 that caused the Mississippi River to flowbackward and formed Reelfoot Lake in Northwest Tennessee. That'sone reason research along the New Madrid seismic zone in theMid-South is so important.
"Traditionally, at the center here, there are three U.S.geological survey employees researching as a joint effort," Gombergsaid. "We are opening a museum to give tours and lectures and togive the general public information about earthquakes."
The museum will have exhibits and equipment to give people abroader understanding on the subject.
"Especially with children, visuals are important in education,"Gomberg said. "We educate children with visual exhibits and handson activities."
One exhibit is a model depicting trenches researchers dig tolearn the history of an earthquake in a certain area.
"This is one way we find out if there were earthquakes in thearea before and how big they were," Gomberg said. "One way we cando this is find Indian artifacts in the soil, which helps us datethe earthquakes."
Equipment on display in the museum includes a seismograph, whichmeasures motion in the ground
The museum will also contain a seismometer, which measures thewaves in the ground.
"The ground shakes, and the seismometer shows how the wavestravel," Gomberg said.
Take-home information about earthquakes and how to be safe willbe provided by the museum, as well as lesson plans for teachers whobring classes for field trips.
"I think the museum is a great way to introduce young minds toideas about the earth and earthquake hazards," said Eugene Schweig,geologist and researcher at The U of M Earthquake Center.
Schweig said a moderate earthquake could cause damage inMemphis, which is along the New Madrid seismic zone.
"We estimate that there's a 25 to 40 percent chance of anearthquake of a magnitude of six or greater hitting this area inthe next 50 years," Schweig said. "As for a repeat of the 1811earthquake, there's about a 7 to 10 percent chance."
Sophomore mechanical engineering major Mark Grizzard said he islooking forward to the opening of the museum.
"We need to understand as a society what happens in anearthquake," Grizzard said. "We also need to know what measures andprecautions need to be taken to keep loss of life and propertydamage to a minimum."
