Welcome to the 3D Earthquake Watcher
The 3D Earthquake Watcher is an immersive, real-time visualization tool that brings global seismic activity to life on an interactive 3D globe. Powered by live data from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) and EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre), this tool offers a dynamic way to explore earthquakes worldwide. Whether you're a casual observer, a researcher, or an enthusiast, this guide will walk you through its features, functionalities, and how to use it effectively.
Key Features
- Real-Time Data: Updates every 5 minutes with the latest earthquake data from USGS and EMSC.
- 3D Visualization: Earthquakes are plotted on a rotating 3D globe with magnitude-based shapes, depth-based lines, and age-based colors.
- Interactive Controls: Zoom, rotate, and filter quakes by magnitude, depth, and age.
- Layered Insights: Toggle tectonic plates, subduction zones, mid-ocean ridges, hot spots, and basemap opacity.
- Audio Alerts: Hear unique sounds based on earthquake magnitude when events occur.
- Earthquake List: A real-time sidebar with clickable quake details for instant fly-to animations.
How to Use the 3D Earthquake Watcher
Below are detailed workflows and checklists for each interactive element on the map. Follow these steps to master the tool!
Button:
Purpose: Returns you to the Panditadata homepage.
Workflow:
- Locate the "Back" button at the top-left corner.
- Click it to exit the Earthquake Watcher.
- Browser redirects to https://panditadata.com/static/simulations/3DEarthquakeMap.html
Checklist:
- Ensure you want to leave the map.
- Click the button once.
- Wait for the page to load.
Button:
Purpose: Expands the globe to full-screen mode for an immersive experience.
Workflow:
- Find the "Full Screen" button below the "Back" button.
- Click to enter full-screen mode (text changes to "Exit Full Screen").
- Click again to exit and return to normal view.
Checklist:
- Verify your browser supports full-screen mode.
- Click to toggle full-screen on/off.
- Ensure controls remain visible.
Button:
Purpose: Shows or hides the legend explaining colors, shapes, and line lengths.
Workflow:
- Locate the "Hide Legend" button in the left control panel.
- Click to hide the legend (text changes to "Show Legend").
- Click again to reveal it.
Checklist:
- Check if the legend is currently visible.
- Toggle visibility as needed.
- Confirm the globe adjusts its position.
Legend Details: Age (0-1 hr: Pink, 1-2 hr: Green, etc.), Magnitude (Sphere: M0-3, Tetrahedron: M3-5, etc.), Depth (Line length).
Button:
Purpose: Toggles the visibility of the real-time earthquake list on the right.
Workflow:
- Find the "Hide Alerts" button in the left panel.
- Click to hide the quake list (text changes to "Show Alerts").
- Click again to show it.
Checklist:
- Decide if you need the quake list visible.
- Toggle the button accordingly.
- Verify the list slides in/out smoothly.
Button:
Purpose: Switches between auto-rotation and manual globe control.
Workflow:
- Locate the "Take Control" button in the left panel.
- Click to stop auto-rotation and enable manual control (text changes to "Release Control").
- Use mouse to rotate, zoom, or click quakes/volcanoes.
- Click again to resume auto-rotation.
Checklist:
- Ensure you want manual control.
- Click to toggle control mode.
- Test rotation with mouse drag.
- Release control when done exploring.
Button:
Purpose: Enables or disables audio alerts for new earthquakes.
Workflow:
- Find the "Mute Sound" button in the left panel.
- Click to mute sounds (text changes to "Unmute Sound").
- Click again to unmute.
Checklist:
- Check if audio is currently active.
- Toggle sound based on preference.
- Wait for a new quake to test audio.
Audio Guide: M0-3: Soft chime, M3-5: Harp arpeggio, M5-7: Bell tone, M7+: Ethereal pad.
Filters: Magnitude, Depth, Age
Purpose: Filters visible earthquakes based on magnitude, depth, and age.
Workflow:
- Locate the filter sliders at the bottom-left.
- Adjust "Magnitude" (0-10), "Depth" (0-700 km), or "Age" (0-24 hr) sliders.
- Watch the globe update in real-time as quakes appear/disappear.
- Set to 0 for "All" in any category.
Checklist:
- Identify your filter criteria (e.g., M5+, shallow quakes).
- Slide each filter to the desired value.
- Confirm quakes update on the globe.
Layers: USGS, EMSC, Tectonic Plates, etc.
Purpose: Toggles visibility of data sources and geological layers.
Workflow:
- Find the "Layer Controls" panel in the middle-left.
- Check/uncheck boxes for USGS, EMSC, Tectonic Plates, Subduction Zones, Mid-Ocean Ridges, Hot Spots.
- Adjust "Basemap Opacity" slider (0-1) for background visibility.
Checklist:
- Decide which layers to view (e.g., only USGS quakes).
- Toggle checkboxes as needed.
- Adjust basemap opacity for clarity.
- Verify changes on the globe.
Interacting with Quakes and Hot Spots
Purpose: Explore specific earthquakes or volcanic hot spots.
Workflow:
- Take control of the globe (see "Take Control").
- Click a quake marker or volcano (🌋) on the globe, or select from the quake list.
- View popup with details (magnitude, depth, etc.).
- Watch the marker pulse and hear an audio cue (if sound is on).
Checklist:
- Enable manual control.
- Click a quake or volcano.
- Review the popup info.
- Wait for animation/sound to complete.
Tips for Maximum Enjoyment
- Use full-screen mode for a cinematic experience.
- Turn on sound to feel the intensity of each quake.
- Filter by magnitude to focus on significant events.
- Explore hot spots to learn about volcanic risks.
Built with ❤️ by Pandita Data xAI. Start exploring seismic activity like never before!