Seafloor Spreading and Magnetic Anomalies
Donna M. Jurdy
, Northwestern University
Summary
Students use seafloor maps of magnetic anomalies to compare and establish the spreading rates in the Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific Oceans.
Context
Audience:
100-level introductory course on plate tectonics. Almost entire class is non-science majors taking the course for a distribution requirement.
Integrates geophysics into a core course in geology
Designed for an introductory geology course
Integrates geophysics into a core course in geology
Designed for an introductory geology course
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered:
Basic map skills. Mathematical component only involves multiplication and division.
How the activity is situated in the course:
Stand-alone exercise following discussion of magnetic anomalies and reversals in class.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity:
Understand the process of seafloor spreading and how the magnetic anomalies record the past position of the spreading ridge.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity:
Not included in the exercise is the concept of an Euler pole and spreading on a sphere.
Other skills goals for this activity:
None.
Description of the activity/assignment
Students use seafloor maps of magnetic anomalies to compare and establish the spreading rates in the Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific Oceans.
Determining whether students have met the goals
Specific questions are asked with quantitative answers.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Download teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment (Acrobat (PDF) 218kB Jul5 07)
Other Materials
Supporting references/URLs
None.
