Quantitative Activities for Earth Science Disciplines


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Volcano Monitoring with GPS: Westdahl Volcano Alaska
Maite Agopian, EarthScope; Beth Pratt-Sitaula, EarthScope Consortium
Learners use graphs of GPS position data to determine how the shape of Westdahl Volcano, Alaska is changing. If the flanks of a volcano swell or recede, it is a potential indication of magma movement and changing ...

Quantitative Skills: Vectors and Matrices, Graphs
Subject: Geoscience: Geoscience:Geology:Geophysics:Geodesy, Environmental Science:Natural Hazards:Volcanism, Environmental Science:Natural Hazards, Engineering
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
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Exploring Tectonic Motions with GPS
Shelley E Olds, EarthScope Consortium
Learners study plate tectonic motions by analyzing Global Positioning System (GPS) data, represented as vectors on a map. By observing changes in vector lengths and directions, learners interpret whether regions are compressing, extending, or sliding past each other. To synthesize their findings, learners identify locations most likely to have earthquakes, and defend their choices by providing evidence based on the tectonic motions from the GPS vector and seismic hazards maps. Show more information on NGSS alignment Hide NGSS ALIGNMENT Disciplinary Core Ideas History of Earth: HS-ESS1-5 Earth' Systems: MS-ESS2-2 Earth and Human Activity: MS-ESS3-2, HS-ESS3-1 Science and Engineering Practices 4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data 5. Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 6. Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions Crosscutting Concepts 4. Systems and System Models 7. Stability and Change 

Quantitative Skills: Vectors and Matrices
Subject: Geoscience: Geoscience:Geology:Geophysics:Geodesy, Environmental Science:Natural Hazards, Geoscience:Geology:Tectonics, Environmental Science:Natural Hazards:Earthquakes
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
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Unit 1: Exploring the Reservoirs and Pathways and Methods to Measure the Hydrologic Cycle
Jon Harvey (Fort Lewis College) and Becca Walker (Mt. San Antonio College)
How does water move throughout the Earth system? How do scientists measure the amount of water that moves through these pathways? This unit provides an alternative way for students to learn the major components of ...

Quantitative Skills: Graphs
Subject: Geoscience: Geoscience:Geology:Environmental Geology, Geophysics:Gravity, Geoscience:Hydrology:Ground Water:Water cycle/groundwater-surface water interface, Environmental Science:Water Quality and Quantity, Environmental Science, Geoscience:Geology:Geophysics:Geodesy, Geoscience:Hydrology
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):College Introductory
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Wind and Ocean Ecosystems
Alanna Lecher, Lynn University; April Watson, Lynn University
Wind has a fundamental impact on ocean ecosystems. Wind drives physical processes, including current development and upwelling through Ekman transport. These physical processes, in turn, have cascading impacts on ...

Quantitative Skills: Spreadsheets
Software: GIS:ArcGIS, Microsoft Excel
Subject: Geoscience: Environmental Science:Ecosystems, Geoscience:Oceanography:Ocean-Climate Interactions, Biology:Biogeochemistry:Nutrient Limitation and Cycling, Environmental Science:Oceans and Coastal Resources, Biology:Ecology:Habitats:Marine, Geoscience:Oceanography:Marine Resources, Biology:Ecology
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16), College Lower (13-14)
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Sustainability Metrics
Natalie Hunt, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Sustainability is a complex term applied to many different contexts in a variety of ways. As a result, it can be challenging to determine how sustainable something really is. In this module, students will use an ...

Quantitative Skills: Probability and Statistics:Data Trends, Graphs
Subject: Geoscience: Environmental Science, Geoscience
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16)
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Unit 2: Kilauea Hawai'i - Monday Morning Meeting at the USGS Hawai'i Volcano Observatory
Kaatje van der Hoeven Kraft, Whatcom Community College and Rachel Teasdale, California State University-Chico
How do volcanologists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitor volcanoes? In a jigsaw format, students first work in teams to learn one of the four volcano monitoring data sets (GPS, Tilt, Seismic and InSAR) and ...

Quantitative Skills: Graphs
Subject: Geoscience: Geoscience:Geology:Geophysics:Geodesy, Seismology
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):College Introductory, College Lower (13-14)
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Unit 2: Earthquakes, GPS, and Plate Movement
Karen M. Kortz (Community College of Rhode Island) Jessica J. Smay (San Jose City College)
GPS data can measure bedrock motion in response to deformation of the ground near plate boundaries because of plate tectonics. In this module, students will learn how to read GPS data to interpret how the bedrock ...

Quantitative Skills: Problem Solving:Equations, Probability and Statistics:Data Trends, Spreadsheets, Geometry and Trigonometry:Triangles, Graphs, Algebra, Vectors and Matrices
Software: Microsoft Excel
Subject: Geoscience: Geography:Geospatial, Geoscience:Geology:Geophysics:Geodesy, Environmental Science:Natural Hazards:Earthquakes
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):College Introductory
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GETSI Developed This material was developed and reviewed through the GETSI curricular materials development process.
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Converging Tectonic Plates Demonstration
Shelley E Olds, EarthScope Consortium
During this demo, participants use springs and a map of the Pacific Northwest with GPS vectors to investigate the stresses and surface expression of subduction zones, specifically the Juan de Fuca plate diving beneath the North American plate.

Quantitative Skills: Models and Modeling
Subject: Geoscience: Geoscience:Geology:Tectonics, Geophysics:Geodesy, Environmental Science:Natural Hazards, Geography:Geospatial, Environmental Science:Natural Hazards:Earthquakes
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), College Lower (13-14)
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Climate Change Effects on Lake Temperatures
Cayelan Carey, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ; Kaitlin Farrell, University of Georgia
Climate change is modifying the thermal structure of lakes around the globe. Because it is difficult to predict how lakes will respond to the many different aspects of climate change (e.g., altered temperature, ...

Quantitative Skills: Graphs, Probability and Statistics, Models and Modeling
Software: R
Subject: Geoscience: Environmental Science:Ecosystems, Global Change and Climate:Climate Change, Geoscience:Atmospheric Science:Climate Change:Impacts of climate change, Environmental Science:Global Change and Climate:Climate Change:Impacts of climate change
Grade Level: Graduate/Professional, College Upper (15-16)
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Lake Modeling Module
This page was initially developed by Carey, C.C., S. Aditya, K. Subratie, and R. Figueiredo. 1 May 2016. Project EDDIE: Modeling Climate Change Effects on Lakes Using Distributed Computing. Project EDDIE Module 4, Version 1. Module development was supported by NSF DEB 1245707 and ACI 1234983. Note: An updated version of this module is available as part of the Macrosystems EDDIE project. Please visit the Climate Change Effects on Lake Temperatures module to view and download module files. We recommend using the updated Macrosystems EDDIE version of the module, as the Lake Modeling module materials have not been maintained with R code and software updates.
Lakes around the globe are experiencing the effects of climate change. In this module, students will learn how to use a lake model to explore the effects of altered weather on lakes, and then develop their own ...

Quantitative Skills: Probability and Statistics, Models and Modeling
Software: R
Subject: Geoscience: Geoscience:Atmospheric Science:Climate Change, Climate Change:Impacts of climate change, Geoscience:Geology:Environmental Geology, Geoscience:Hydrology:Surface Water, Environmental Science:Global Change and Climate:Climate Change, Climate Change:Impacts of climate change, Geography:Physical, Environmental Science:Global Change and Climate
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16), Graduate/Professional
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