Lafayette St

Lafayette St. School
Newark, New Jersey
March 2002

Dear President Bush,

Recently, in my research I have found that plate tectonics are the cause of earthquakes. The plates consist of an outer layer called the lithosphere, which is cool enough to behave as a more or less rigid shell. The hot asthenosphere finds a weak place in the lithosphere to rise gently as a hotspot. The lithosphere has the strength and the behavior to crack in the earthquake.

According to the maps I have been analyzing, I have noticed that most earthquakes appear in New Zealand as well as in California. There are rarely any earthquakes in the eastern part of the United States.

I have made different graphs, based on different earthquakes’ magnitude and depth over time. By observing my graphs I have become aware that most earthquakes have a magnitude of 4.0 – 4.9. I have also found that there are hardly any earthquakes with a 7.0 – 7.9 magnitude. I have discovered that most earthquakes have a depth of 0km to 100km. Barely any earthquakes have a depth of 201km to 300km.

All around the world there are many different safety plans for earthquakes according to where you live. In Japan, the hydraulic system is a very successful system. This system lifts up the buildings a couple of inches off the ground and slides them. The result of the hydraulic system is less destruction.

I strongly believe that you should keep on funding this program. If you fund this program maybe in a couple of years, earthquakes won't cause as much destruction on important buildings. If the funding of this program is continued scientists will be able to find a way so earthquakes wont cause much destruction. Therefore, there will be less money spent on repairs. As you can see if you continue funding the program you will ensure the safety of many United States citizens as well as people around the world.

Sincerely,

Virginia