Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Sediments and the Global Carbon Cycle part of Cutting Edge:Sedimentary Geology:Activities
This is a series of exercises designed to introduce undergraduate students to the role of sediments and sedimentary rocks in the global carbon cycle and the use of stable carbon isotopes to reconstruct ancient sedimentary environments. Students will make some simple calculations, think about the implications of their results, and see an optional demonstration of the density separation of a sediment sample into a light, organic fraction and a heavier mineral fraction.
Sediment production and distribution across the margins part of MARGINS Data in the Classroom:MARGINS Mini-Lessons
The aim of this exercise is for students to explore the relationships among tectonics, sediment production, oceanographic forcing, coastal morphology, and sediment accumulation at the margins. The students will receive data on the size, runoff, and sediment discharge of a suite of watersheds, including the Amazon, Columbia, Eel, Fly, Mississippi, and Waipaoa. Students will use GeoMapApp 2.0 to locate the watersheds, characterize their tectonic settings, collect additional data on watershed relief and coastal morphology. Their task will be to compare these twelve systems and to draw conclusions about the factors that explain their differences .
