This is a partially developed activity description. It is included in the collection because it contains ideas useful for teaching even though it is incomplete.

Initial Publication Date: February 11, 2008

Compare Data for Plate Tectonics

Andrew Goodwillie, Chris Condit, Pat Kennelly, Warren Tomkiewicz, Mark Leckie, Ed Nuhfer, Mark Abolins, Lensyl Urbano, Jose Hurtado, Ned Gardiner, Gareth Fanning, Elli Goeke, and Glenn Richard
Topic: plate tectonics
Course Type: intro

Description

During a class period demonstrate the different data sets available in GeoMapApp such as bathymetry, isochrons, age, sediment thickness, etc. Have the students works in groups to determine possible relationships between the various datasets and what implications they might have for understanding sea-floor spreading or plate tectonics. Have each group work in a different ocean setting (e.g. East Pacific Rise, Amazon drainage basin, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Tonga Trench).

Goals

Access and utilization of digital datasets. Relationships and correlation between diverse data sets. Tests of validity of sea floor spreading.

Assessment

Have each group present a report based on the relationships they discovered and questions about how the data is linked.

References

Introductory textbook and http://www.geomapapp.org/