Fluvial Geomorphology of the Upper Yellowstone River Drainage Basin: Using Google Earth to Analyze Rivers

Lindley Hanson

Salem State College

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Activities collection and has been reviewed by 1 other review process (view details)

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Initial Publication Date: June 24, 2008 | Reviewed: November 3, 2013 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

Students will learn how to make measurements and collect data using Google Earth and NIH ImageJ.

GIS/Mapping/Field Techniques, Fluvial | College Lower (13-14)

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Context

Audience

2nd year geology majors.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Basic computer skills.

How the activity is situated in the course

stand-alone exercise

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

analyze various parameters of streams and drainage basins, identify features on topographic maps, measure and plot profiles, etc.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Make interpretations, quantify observations, compare and contrast

Other skills goals for this activity

Using Google Earth, Excel, ImageJ and topographic maps

Description of the activity/assignment

Students load a topographic overlay into Google Earth. Rather than working with paper maps they will learn to make observations and collect data directly from digital maps, in this case while learning about fluvial systems. The lab is designed to introduce student to the power and usefulness of freely available software and data found on the internet.
Designed for a geomorphology course