The Geosphere: Plate Tectonics
Focus Question
Why do humans often settle around fault lines? Introduction The upper part of the mantle and the crust, along with processes of chemical erosion and physical weathering, shape the surface of our planet. This system creates the diverse landscapes, such as mountains, valley, and plains, that we see. This system also plays a critical role in recycling chemical elements that are essential for life. During this course, we will refer to this system as the Geosphere. The interior of the planet is extremely hot due to pressure, friction, and radioactive decay. The middle layer, or mantle, is made of semi-solid rock, and the crust, the outer most region that 'froze' due to exposure to the cold of space, 'floats' on top of the mantle. The crust is broken up into giant slabs, or plates, of continental or oceanic crust. The movement of these plates continually separate and move together again. Despite the geohazards, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, many humans live near plate boundaries because the rich soils and mineral wealth that are found in these locations. The theory of the crust in motion is known as plate tectonics. |
Introduction
Mapping the Haiti Earthquake (2010)
NPR: When Disaster Strikes, He Creates A 'Crisis Map' That Helps Save Lives
BBC: The volunteer mappers who helped Haiti
NPR: When Disaster Strikes, He Creates A 'Crisis Map' That Helps Save Lives
BBC: The volunteer mappers who helped Haiti
Download: Large Blank Physical Map (6 Sections)
Map Exercise I
- Draw the plate boundaries
- Show the direction of movement of the plates
- Use different colors to indicate if the boundary is convergent (i.e. red), divergent (i.e. blue), or transform (i.e. green)
- Name all of the plates
- Give the map a title
- Create a key if necessary
- Color the plates different colors
Image Source: Wikipedia
Map Exercise II
- Represent the Plate Boundaries as a Dotted Line
- Draw and name the Mid-Ocean Ridges
- Draw and name the Deep Ocean Trenches
- Draw and name the Orogenic Zones (See: Cenozic Era: Paleogeography)
- Draw and label the Geohazard Zone
- Give the map a title
- Add a key if necessary
- Color the entire map like a satellite physical map
Geohazards Map: Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes
Major volcanic regions of the world
Caption: Use this map of major world volcanic regions to find connections between the other activities that are related to plate tectonic boundaries, such as orogenic zones, deep sea trenches, and earthquakes.
Source: Image courtesy of FAO
Source: Image courtesy of FAO
Virtual Tour of Plate Activity
For this assignment, you will take us on a virtual tour of places on the planet that have been impacted by plate tectonics. You can select from the following options:
Option 1: Plate Boundaries
Option 2: Wilson Cycle
Evaluation: You will be graded based on the following:
Levels:
Option 1: Plate Boundaries
- Take us a virtual tour of areas that are impacted by the following 3 types of plate boundaries: Convergent, Divergent, and Transform.
- Allow us to visit all three types of plate boundaries both on land and underwater. (You should take us to a total of 6 different locations).
- Explain (both show and tell) how plate tectonics impacted each area.
Option 2: Wilson Cycle
- Progress through the 6 stages of the Wilson Cycle, and take us to locations on the planet that are in the various stages of this process.
- Explain what is happening in the area, and how it shows what is happening in each of the stages of the cycle.
Evaluation: You will be graded based on the following:
- Organization: Does your virtual tour have a logical order?
- Content: Did you help the class feel as if we were going to each one of these areas?
- Design/Presentation: Was it visually rich? Were you able to engage the class with the information and ideas you were presenting? Did you demonstrate creativity and imagination?
Levels:
- 4: Excellent (Highly Professional)
- 3: Good (Enjoyable and engaging. However, there was some room for improvement. Needs a little more work to reach perfection.)
- 2: Average (The assignment was completed, but it could have been significantly improved in several areas.)
- 1: Needs Improvement (Parts of this assignment were incomplete, or significantly lacking. More work needs to be provided.)
- 0: Non-existent or non-evident. (It was not completed or included.)
Wilson Cycle
The movement of the Earth's crust is not random. It follows a regular cycle of ocean basins opening and closing, known as the Wilson Cycle.
Geology: Wilson Cycle
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Earth Over Time: the following video to see how our planet's surface has changed over time.
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Article
Read the following article: What a crack up: hefty continents got tectonic plates moving
Answer the following questions:
Read the following article: Lava Surfers
Answer the following questions:
Remember, the Geosphere is formed by the global processes that shape the outside surface of our planet. It is made up of the upper portion of the mantle, the crust, and actions at the surface (erosion and weathering)
Provide 7 to 10 examples from the article that demonstrate the Geosphere in action. Make your descriptions vivid and detailed. Explain where this is happening, what is happening, and what evidence shows that something is happening.
Answer the following questions:
- Define and explain about the Lithosphere.
- Explain the process of how plates grow larger and then eventually start to get smaller.
- What is the central questions among geo-scientists? Explain why this is so important.
Read the following article: Lava Surfers
Answer the following questions:
- What does the author mean that we are all Lava Surfers?
- Summarize the article. (1/2 page)
- Why is it shaped in such a perfect arc?
Remember, the Geosphere is formed by the global processes that shape the outside surface of our planet. It is made up of the upper portion of the mantle, the crust, and actions at the surface (erosion and weathering)
Provide 7 to 10 examples from the article that demonstrate the Geosphere in action. Make your descriptions vivid and detailed. Explain where this is happening, what is happening, and what evidence shows that something is happening.