Exploring Evidence of Plate Tectonics Using GeoMapApp part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Teaching the Methods of Geoscience:Activities
Sean Cornell, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
This activity requires students to explore a range of datasets that help substantiate Plate Tectonic Theory. Students investigate plate tectonic environments (convergent, divergent, transform boundaries), topography/bathymetry of continents and ocean basins, the distribution and pattern of earthquakes, the distribution of volcanoes, as well as ages of the sea-floor, and more.

Using GPS data to analyze crustal strain -or- Where is the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates? part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Engineering, Sustainability, and the Geosciences:Activities
Laurel Goodell, Princeton University
Students determine and interpret crustal strain along the Pacific/North American plate boundary in southern California. They do this by using GPS time series data to plot strain ellipses in the study area, first by hand (to understand how the method works) and then by using provided Matlab code.